Need some assistance with Streaming

[dotfx]

So, I finally built my new system but while trying to stream I'm running into some issues. I've tried to work them out by changing settings here and there but to no avail.

It appears that when FME is running I'm getting some stuttering, that I clearly notices, and FME is outputting 20 frames (while not playing 30, but when I'm doing stuff it drops to 25-28).

I'm using FME 2.5 with VHScreenCap.

I'm using an Intel i7 950 @ 3.06GHz for that matter.

I've followed the streaming guide Tim was so nice to throw togheter exactly, but I've tried to uncheck AutoAdjust aswell as FPS set to 30, since I want to stream at 1280x720, with a bitrate of all between 1500 up to 3500.

VHScreenCap I have set to:

Frame rate: 30
Align video, show mouse, show clicks, resize to output size and specify output size at 1280x720.
VHScreenCap is capturing at 1920x1200.

Besides what I've said above, everything else should be the same as in Tims guide.

I have a 100/100Mbit connection so bandwidth is not an issue.

Also, while having WoW and FME running the CPU usage is about 20-30% so I'm not running it too hard.

Any suggestions on what to do? I've tried googling, tried some suggestions, but still the exact same issue.

[dotfx]

Okay, after some further testing without Resize to Output Size it appears to be fine, but how on earth are you suppose to resize it without using such?

I've tried doing it in FME, same issue if not even worse.

I know there's plenty of people playing at 1920x1080 or above who streams at 1280x720 and doesn't get this issue.

I'm not sure what to do, so I'll leave it at this for now and do some more testing while I wait and see if there's anyone who has any suggestions on what may be causing this.

[Tim]

Record at a 16:9 resolution. This means record at 1920x1080. Doing a resize is only going to reduce the quality, and for high rez gaming, its going to reduce the quality significantly. Resizing to 1280x720 can be done, and look decent, because the aspect ratio is preserved. However, 1920x1200 to 1920x1080 does not have a proper aspect ratio.

If you are using H.264 then framerate is always preserved, but differencing will change depending on resources. VP6 the quality is preserved but framerate varies. So keep that in mind.

Also, FME3.x H.264 is multithreaded, so for high end systems, that is the preferred route to go. For medium systems, FME 2.5 w/VP6 is generally better.

I stream my high quality stream with H.264 on FME 3.1.

[dotfx]

Thank you, Tim.

I'll have to have a look at it, since my monitor is a 19:10 I'll have to live with a black border at the top and bottom of the game - at least while streaming.

I'll switch on over to FME 3.2 and try that with H.264, I should be able to handle a 1080p stream fine - at least when I get the new CPU cooler, so it's worth a shot. Beats having a stuttering game and stream.

Thanks yet again, lets hope this doesn't mess with me anymore now.

[dotfx]

Running with 1920x1080, on the stream, on a second monitor with the resolution set to 1920x1080 aswell - still getting major issues. It's not lag, but you could easily call it that. While the stream is off, WoW and any other game is very smooth. But as soon as I turn the stream on it gets choppy, or at least close to choppy.

CPU usage with the stream running is below 30%, so it's not that. Now, I don't know how to dig for more specific information about this, but could it be just about anything?

Google isn't of much help, really.

If I set VHScreenCap to 1280x720 and FME to the same, it's fine - no issues what so ever. But higher, it gets choppy.

I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate x64 by the way.

[Tim]

Check what the FME commandline window shows. Paste a screenshot of it in this thread at the exact moment you are experiencing choppyness. Note: Make sure your FME key isn't being shown.