Question / Help Reducing Stream quality to Twitch [SOLVED]

J

JackWills

New Member
So I'm totally new to streaming, but have spent a few hours reading/playing with settings in OBS.
One problem I'm getting is screen lag during twitch streams, I know the problem is related to my internet speed.
This may be a completely stupid question but the biggest problem I'm having is I CAN'T turn DOWN the quality of my stream.
I tested the stream on Orcs Must Die 2 and League of Legends whilst having my brother watch it and recall how it's looking on his side. The actual stream is very high quality but because of my upload speed it freezes quite a lot.

I know I should provide a log of my computer specs / obs settings but I really think this is going to be a one-answer question.
Once again I'm looking to turn down the quality of my stream, currently I'm using these settings:

Max Bitrate: 800kb/s (I have an upload rate of 1mb)
Use CBR [Tick] (Wasn't sure where to put the quality balance so figured ticking this would be the best option)
Resolution Downscale: 2.25 (852x480) <- I think this may be where the problem lies but I've tried everything from 1920x1080 to 852x480 and the quality of the stream on twitch looks the same
Filter: Bilinear (fastest) <- I think my CPU can handle it quite well.

If there's any other information I'm missing just ask!

Sorry for being a noob.
 
L

Lain

Forum Admin
Lain
Forum Moderator
Developer
Re: Reducing Stream quality to Twitch

Can I see a log file? I'm sort of confused. If you are having network issues such as frame drops due to low upload, the only real thing you can do is lower bitrate until it stops, and change the downscale until it looks "acceptable" with the given bitrate.

(Also bumping threads isn't necessary as they are always marked as "new" for us until we have read it regardless)
 
J

JackWills

New Member
Re: Reducing Stream quality to Twitch

I'm in work for the time being (still on obs forums but "work" none the less) so I can't link log files for the time being. Basically I see all these mentions of "lower your quality to 480p" but I can't quite understand where this quality is lowered from. I'm a complete noob when it comes to this sort of thing you see. Do I lower the quality through downscaling the resolution, or through FPS, or both/neither/more? Thanks
 
J

JackWills

New Member
Re: Reducing Stream quality to Twitch

Still having this issue. For some reason no matter what I change in my settings the quality of stream is always the exact same.
 
J

JackWills

New Member
Re: Reducing Stream quality to Twitch

Code: 
19:25:14: Open Broadcaster Software v0.584b - 32bit (´・ω・｀)
19:25:14: -------------------------------
19:25:14: CPU Name: AMD Athlon(tm) II X2 270 Processor
19:25:14: CPU Speed: 3415MHz
19:25:14: Physical Memory:  4093MB Total, 1074MB Free
19:25:14: stepping id: 3, model 6, family 16, type 0, extmodel 8, extfamily 0, HTT 1, logical cores 2, total cores 2
19:25:14: monitor 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}
19:25:14: Windows Version: 6.1 Build 7601 S
19:25:14: Aero is Enabled
19:25:14: -------------------------------
19:25:14: OBS Modules:
19:25:14: Base Address     Module
19:25:14: 01240000         OBS.exe
19:25:14: 55DB0000         OBSApi.dll
19:25:14: 62E90000         DShowPlugin.dll
19:25:14: 68360000         GraphicsCapture.dll
19:25:14: 637E0000         NoiseGate.dll
19:25:14: 630A0000         PSVPlugin.dll
19:25:14: ------------------------------------------
19:25:14: Adapter 1
19:25:14:   Video Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650
19:25:14:   Video Adapter Dedicated Video Memory: 1020985344
19:25:14:   Video Adapter Shared System Memory: 1877755904
19:25:14:   Video Adapter Output 1: pos={0, 0}, size={1920, 1080}, attached=true
19:25:14: =====Stream Start: 2013-12-09, 19:25:14===============================================
19:25:14:   Multithreaded optimizations: On
19:25:14:   Base resolution: 1920x1080
19:25:14:   Output resolution: 852x480
19:25:14: ------------------------------------------
19:25:14: Loading up D3D10 on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650...
19:25:14: ------------------------------------------
19:25:14: Audio Format: 48000hz
19:25:14: Playback device {0.0.0.00000000}.{8f265c1e-e365-4dc5-9b6a-f0481698f612}
19:25:14: ------------------------------------------
19:25:14: Using desktop audio input: Speakers (2- HP Premium Digital Headset)
19:25:14: ------------------------------------------
19:25:14: Audio Encoding: AAC
19:25:14:     bitrate: 96
19:25:14: Using graphics capture
19:25:14: Scene buffering time set to 700
19:25:14: ------------------------------------------
19:25:14: Video Encoding: x264
19:25:14:     fps: 30
19:25:14:     width: 852, height: 480
19:25:14:     preset: faster
19:25:14:     profile: high
19:25:14:     keyint: 60
19:25:14:     CBR: yes
19:25:14:     CFR: yes
19:25:14:     max bitrate: 600
19:25:14:     buffer size: 600
19:25:14: ------------------------------------------
19:25:14: MMDeviceAudioSource: Frequency for device 'Speakers (2- HP Premium Digital Headset)' is 352800, samples per sec is 44100
19:25:16: Using RTMP service: Twitch / Justin.tv
19:25:16:   Server selection: rtmp://live-lhr.justin.tv/app
19:25:16: SharedTexCapture hooked
19:25:17:   Interface: Atheros AR8151 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller (NDIS 6.20) (ethernet, 100 mbps)
19:25:18: Completed handshake with rtmp://live-lhr.justin.tv/app in 495 ms.
19:25:19: SO_SNDBUF was at 8192
19:25:19: SO_SNDBUF is now 65536
19:25:47: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1781 ms to write 129764 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:25:51: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2188 ms to write 130970 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:25:53: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1681 ms to write 127525 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:25:55: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2304 ms to write 131012 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:25:56: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1639 ms to write 84807 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:03: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1524 ms to write 130214 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:05: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1576 ms to write 130804 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:07: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1593 ms to write 112595 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:09: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1734 ms to write 127032 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:13: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2204 ms to write 128839 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:14: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1510 ms to write 130922 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:17: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1661 ms to write 128072 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:20: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1524 ms to write 82314 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:26:24: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1539 ms to write 73065 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:28:01: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1573 ms to write 129402 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:28:04: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1513 ms to write 107754 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:28:09: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1924 ms to write 127305 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:28:13: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1583 ms to write 129359 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:29:38: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2476 ms to write 130492 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:29:43: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1515 ms to write 129182 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:29:49: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1959 ms to write 130875 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:29:51: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1920 ms to write 130304 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:20: x264: VBV underflow (frame 10905, -4504 bits)
19:31:33: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1581 ms to write 130994 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:36: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1950 ms to write 127053 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:38: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1872 ms to write 120840 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:39: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1622 ms to write 128882 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:41: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1670 ms to write 128406 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:43: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1581 ms to write 130860 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:46: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1828 ms to write 130953 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:48: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1685 ms to write 130945 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:54: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2048 ms to write 128388 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:57: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1798 ms to write 128872 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:31:58: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1552 ms to write 129894 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:00: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1984 ms to write 129883 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:03: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1509 ms to write 119678 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:04: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1504 ms to write 129917 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:48: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1792 ms to write 129859 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:50: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2189 ms to write 129315 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:52: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1625 ms to write 129508 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:54: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1752 ms to write 128533 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:32:56: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1686 ms to write 108323 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:33:00: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1717 ms to write 127186 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:33:02: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1778 ms to write 130890 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:33:05: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1808 ms to write 107233 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:33:57: x264: VBV underflow (frame 15614, -3560 bits)
19:34:10: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2177 ms to write 3080 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:34:24: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1697 ms to write 87866 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:35:21: GraphicsCaptureSource::NewCapture:  eliminating old capture
19:35:21: SharedTexCapture hooked
19:36:51: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1713 ms to write 131012 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:36:55: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2348 ms to write 129472 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:00: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2406 ms to write 128537 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:04: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 3990 ms to write 130962 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:07: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2358 ms to write 129232 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:09: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1925 ms to write 128090 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:13: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1900 ms to write 129020 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:16: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1897 ms to write 130701 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:19: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2255 ms to write 130833 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:21: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2231 ms to write 130993 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:23: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2514 ms to write 127593 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:25: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2120 ms to write 131000 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:36: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2318 ms to write 127578 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:39: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 2060 ms to write 104813 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:41: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1696 ms to write 128310 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:43: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1893 ms to write 130954 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:44: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1586 ms to write 127671 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:37:46: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Stalled for 1894 ms to write 128417 bytes (buffer: 0 / 131072), unstable connection?
19:38:56: Total frames encoded: 24647, total frames duplicated: 20854 (84.61%)
19:38:56: Number of frames skipped due to encoder lag: 19769 (80.21%)
19:38:56: Total frames rendered: 4587, number of late frames: 697 (15.20%) (it's okay for some frames to be late)
19:38:56: RTMPPublisher::SocketLoop: Graceful loop exit
19:38:57: Average send payload: 6951 bytes, average send interval: 81 ms
19:38:57: Number of times waited to send: 140, Waited for a total of 435142 bytes
19:38:57: Number of b-frames dropped: 892 (3.6%), Number of p-frames dropped: 919 (3.8%), Total 1811 (7.4%)
19:38:57: Number of bytes sent: 69740132
19:38:57: 
19:38:57: Profiler time results:
19:38:57: 
19:38:57: ==============================================================
19:38:57: video thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 7.895 ms] [children: 66.4%] [unaccounted: 33.6%]
19:38:57: | scene->Preprocess - [0.0253%] [avg time: 0.002 ms]
19:38:57: | GPU download and conversion - [66.4%] [avg time: 5.244 ms] [children: 55.5%] [unaccounted: 10.9%]
19:38:57: | | flush - [5.74%] [avg time: 0.453 ms]
19:38:57: | | CopyResource - [49.6%] [avg time: 3.919 ms]
19:38:57: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [0.127%] [avg time: 0.01 ms]
19:38:57: Convert444Thread - [100%] [avg time: 2.793 ms] [children: 94.6%] [unaccounted: 5.44%]
19:38:57: | Convert444toNV12 - [94.6%] [avg time: 2.641 ms]
19:38:57: encoder thread frame - [100%] [avg time: 29.685 ms]
19:38:57: ==============================================================
19:38:57: 
19:38:57: 
19:38:57: Profiler CPU results:
19:38:57: 
19:38:57: ==============================================================
19:38:57: video thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.836 ms, total 3837.63 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: | scene->Preprocess - [cpu time: avg 0.003 ms, total 15.6 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: | GPU download and conversion - [cpu time: avg 0.115 ms, total 530.405 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: | | flush - [cpu time: avg 0.061 ms, total 280.803 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: | | CopyResource - [cpu time: avg 0.03 ms, total 140.4 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: | | conversion to 4:2:0 - [cpu time: avg 0 ms, total 0 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: Convert444Thread - [cpu time: avg 0.913 ms, total 4165.23 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: | Convert444toNV12 - [cpu time: avg 0.909 ms, total 4149.63 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: encoder thread frame - [cpu time: avg 0.998 ms, total 24585.8 ms] [avg calls per frame: 1]
19:38:57: ==============================================================
19:38:57: 
19:38:57: =====Stream End: 2013-12-09, 19:38:57=================================================


Last game capture log:
2013-12-09, 19:25:14: we're booting up: 
19:25:14: D3D9 Present
19:25:14: (half life scientist) everything..  seems to be in order
19:25:16: D3D9EndScene called
19:25:16: D3DPRESENT_PARAMETERS {
19:25:16: 	BackBufferWidth: 1920
19:25:16: 	BackBufferHeight: 1080
19:25:16: 	BackBufferFormat: D3DFMT_A8R8G8B8
19:25:16: 	BackBufferCount: 1
19:25:16: 	MultiSampleType: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
19:25:16: 	MultiSampleQuality: 0
19:25:16: 	SwapEffect: D3DSWAPEFFECT_DISCARD
19:25:16: 	hDeviceWindow: 722154
19:25:16: 	Windowed: false
19:25:16: 	EnableAutoDepthStencil: true
19:25:16: 	AutoDepthStencilFormat: D3DFMT_D24S8
19:25:16: 	Flags: D3DPRESENTFLAG_DISCARD_DEPTHSTENCIL 
19:25:16: 	FullScreen_RefreshRateInHz: 60
19:25:16: 	PresentationInterval: 2147483648
19:25:16: };
19:25:16: successfully set up d3d9 hooks
19:25:16: D3D9Present called
19:25:16: DoD3D9GPUHook: success
19:25:16: D3DSURFACE_DESC {
19:25:16: 	Format: D3DFMT_A8R8G8B8
19:25:16: 	Type: D3DRTYPE_SURFACE
19:25:16: 	Usage: D3DUSAGE_RENDERTARGET 
19:25:16: 	Pool: D3DPOOL_DEFAULT
19:25:16: 	MultiSampleType: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
19:25:16: 	MultiSampleQuality: 0
19:25:16: 	Width: 1920
19:25:16: 	Height: 1080
19:25:16: };
19:25:16: successfully capturing d3d9 frames via GPU
19:35:20: D3D9Reset called
19:35:20: ---------------------- Cleared D3D9 Capture ----------------------
19:35:21: successfully set up d3d9 hooks
19:35:21: D3D9Present called
19:35:21: DoD3D9GPUHook: success
19:35:21: D3D9EndScene called
19:35:22: D3DSURFACE_DESC {
19:35:22: 	Format: D3DFMT_A8R8G8B8
19:35:22: 	Type: D3DRTYPE_SURFACE
19:35:22: 	Usage: D3DUSAGE_RENDERTARGET 
19:35:22: 	Pool: D3DPOOL_DEFAULT
19:35:22: 	MultiSampleType: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
19:35:22: 	MultiSampleQuality: 0
19:35:22: 	Width: 1920
19:35:22: 	Height: 1080
19:35:22: };
19:35:22: successfully capturing d3d9 frames via GPU
 
Krazy

Krazy

Town drunk
Re: Reducing Stream quality to Twitch

Well, your primary problems are:
Using an old dual core processor that's not very powerful
Using a slower preset than default
Network congestion

Basically your CPU is being completely overloaded. You will need to start by going back to Veryfast encoding preset, and possibly downscaling even further.

The network stuff you might be able to resolve by taking a look at this thread: http://obsproject.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8870 but if you're having network issues at even 600 bitrate, there's probably not much you can do.

Unfortunately, streaming requires pretty strong hardware, and a stable internet connection with decent upload speed. There may not be all that much you can do with a system that underpowered.
 
J

JackWills

New Member
Re: Reducing Stream quality to Twitch

I appreciate the reply. However, it turns out it wasn't to do with my old processor, I read that Twitch London, UK has server issues so I switched to Frankfurt and I've been able to stream with those settings fine.
 
Krazy

Krazy

Town drunk
19:38:56: Total frames encoded: 24647, total frames duplicated: 20854 (84.61%)
19:38:56: Number of frames skipped due to encoder lag: 19769 (80.21%)

This is not fine, though. It means your hardware is seriously overworked and I'm surprised your stream is even watchable as a result. It means that 80% of the frames your CPU was trying to encode had to be skipped...
 
J

JackWills

New Member
Could explain why I had 0 viewers. Thanks for the help so far, by the way. One thing I should mention is that I had Twitch archive my stream for editing purposes and I found the videos totally watchable. I know this is more of a Twitch related question but are the archive videos not representative of what my stream looks to watch live?

Now I know what to look for in the log I will try again tonight and compare.
 
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