Question / Help Will Not Stream or Record

[Diabetic_Gam3r]

Log:
https://gist.github.com/67ad3f78ad79039b9ca890998cc8d959

Issue:
Hoping it's something small, but I've had this problem with Win8 and Win10 (that I just upgraded to) where I can access the program freely, add scenes and what-not, but when I go to click "Start Streaming" or "Start Recording" nothing happens. Not even a small glitch. Nothing.
I thought maybe it was my twitch info, but it seems correct. Would love any feedback to get this thing working.

I've been deferring to OBS, which works all around for me. Thanks.

- Diabetic_Gam3r

 

[RytoEX]

I think your GPU setting in your recording settings is what's causing the issue.

21:41:42.033: [NVENC encoder: 'streaming_h264'] settings:
21:41:42.033:     rate_control: CBR
21:41:42.033:     bitrate:      3500
21:41:42.033:     cqp:          0
21:41:42.033:     keyint:       120
21:41:42.033:     preset:       default
21:41:42.033:     profile:      main
21:41:42.033:     level:        2
21:41:42.033:     width:        1920
21:41:42.033:     height:       1080
21:41:42.033:     2-pass:       true
21:41:42.033:     GPU:          5
21:41:42.033:
21:41:42.264: [NVENC encoder: 'streaming_h264'] Failed to open NVENC codec: Invalid argument

Your log shows that it's set to 5. Since you only have one graphics card, try setting it to 0?

 

[Diabetic_Gam3r]

I think your GPU setting in your recording settings is what's causing the issue.

21:41:42.033: [NVENC encoder: 'streaming_h264'] settings:
21:41:42.033:     rate_control: CBR
21:41:42.033:     bitrate:      3500
21:41:42.033:     cqp:          0
21:41:42.033:     keyint:       120
21:41:42.033:     preset:       default
21:41:42.033:     profile:      main
21:41:42.033:     level:        2
21:41:42.033:     width:        1920
21:41:42.033:     height:       1080
21:41:42.033:     2-pass:       true
21:41:42.033:     GPU:          5
21:41:42.033:
21:41:42.264: [NVENC encoder: 'streaming_h264'] Failed to open NVENC codec: Invalid argument

Your log shows that it's set to 5. Since you only have one graphics card, try setting it to 0?

It's definitely the encoder. I tried lowering the GPU to 0, with no affect. I switched from NVEC encoder to the standard x264 encoder, and that seemed to have done it. Both Streaming and Recording worked when I switched the encoder to x264. I feel like I'm not harnessing the power of my graphics card, but no bother. It works. I'm hoping to upgrade to a GTX1080 soon anyway, so I'll attack this issue when that happens.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction! I really appreciate it!

 

[RytoEX]

The GPU setting specifies which GPU is being used to encode. Since you only have one GPU, 0 is the one and only number it should be set to. I'm on a single graphics card system, and if I change my GPU setting to anything other than 0, I see the same behavior (when I go to click "Start Streaming" or "Start Recording" nothing happens) and see the same error in my logs ([NVENC encoder: 'recording_h264'] Failed to open NVENC codec: Invalid argument).

If you changed the GPU setting and tried to record/stream again, do you have a log to go with that? I'm wondering if the error message changed, or if there is some other setting in your NVENC settings that is causing an issue.


Actually, after some testing of my own on a new profile, I think I see the issue. Go ahead and re-enable NVENC, and change your "Level" to "auto" (see this thread for a bit more info). That fixed it in my case. Did you manually set the Level?


Two more asides... If you're streaming to Twitch, NVENC might not be the right tool for streaming anyway. The current opinion seems to be that NVENC is better suited for local recordings, but give it a try and see how it works for you.

If you're on 64-bit Windows, give the 64-bit OBS Studio a try as well.

 

[Diabetic_Gam3r]

The GPU setting specifies which GPU is being used to encode. Since you only have one GPU, 0 is the one and only number it should be set to. I'm on a single graphics card system, and if I change my GPU setting to anything other than 0, I see the same behavior (when I go to click "Start Streaming" or "Start Recording" nothing happens) and see the same error in my logs ([NVENC encoder: 'recording_h264'] Failed to open NVENC codec: Invalid argument).

If you changed the GPU setting and tried to record/stream again, do you have a log to go with that? I'm wondering if the error message changed, or if there is some other setting in your NVENC settings that is causing an issue.


Actually, after some testing of my own on a new profile, I think I see the issue. Go ahead and re-enable NVENC, and change your "Level" to "auto" (see this thread for a bit more info). That fixed it in my case. Did you manually set the Level?


Two more asides... If you're streaming to Twitch, NVENC might not be the right tool for streaming anyway. The current opinion seems to be that NVENC is better suited for local recordings, but give it a try and see how it works for you.

If you're on 64-bit Windows, give the 64-bit OBS Studio a try as well.

Had to spend some time in the program...
You saved me! I tried switching back to the NVEC encoder with the level at "auto" and it worked! I don't recall changing that particular setting, but I must have because when I switched back it all went back to default settings. I tried a really long stream and it seemed to have worked nicely, despite my slow internet speed.

I believe I do see a difference in recordings as well. x264 at 3500mbps wasn't any better than NVEC at 3000mbps (downscaled to 720p). However, I think I saw some inconsistent framerates with NVEC. Might have been the monitor I was watching it on (doesn't really have a super fast refresh rate). I even tried running Premiere Pro at the same time as Star Wars Battlefront, along with a video player, spotify, and multiple tabs in Chrome. It performed admirably.

But all in all, those changes made it work and made it better! Thank you for the suggestions!