Post your streaming setup!

Flip

Edit history:

Flip: 2010-11-10 09:32:21 am

Flip: 2010-09-06 05:17:05 pm

Flip: 2010-09-06 05:16:49 pm

Flip: 2010-09-06 04:50:34 pm

2010-09-06 04:49:33 pm

1-Up!

I know many of us (myself definitely included) have struggled with streaming on ustream and also reducing lag, improving picture quality etc.

The purpose of this thread is for SDA members with good streaming setups to post their specifications for those of us who are either buying the wrong products or using our own products incorrectly to copy so that more of us can have high quality streams.

AGAIN, if your stream has no more than a few seconds of lag and has decent picture quality, please post with as many details as possible.

Include items like:
-Make/Model of your capture device.
-software used to stream
-Operating System
-Browser

+ any extra information that we might find helpful. I personally have gone through 2 capture devices that ended up being worthless, and I'm sure there are others who would find your information and help to be highly beneficial.

Thread title:

mikwuyma

Edit history:

mikwuyma: 2010-09-06 06:07:25 pm

mikwuyma: 2010-09-06 06:05:56 pm

mikwuyma: 2010-09-06 05:57:12 pm

2010-09-06 05:56:47 pm

My feelings on The Demon Rush

-Grabster MX 150 (Thanks Tigger77!) for video
-Onboard laptop web cam for audio (chicony web cam using conexant real audio or something like that)
-Flash Media Encoder
-Windows 7 Home Edition 64-bit
-Mozilla Firefox (I disable the ustream chat because it leaks way too much memory)
-Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5076 (it's still on discount!)

Most important thing about the computer is AMD P920 quad core (1.6 ghz) and 4 gb of ram.

FME video settings:

-S-video
-frame rate: 29.97
-bit rate: 350 kbps
-Codec: H.264
-320x240, though maybe I should try 640x480 for ps2-era games and above.

I'd like to do 59.94 fps someday, but I don't think the grabster can deinterlace (the option is grayed out in FME)

Audio settings:

-MP3
-Stereo
-128 kbps (this is probably too high but whatever)
-44100hz

I use degrade quality rather than drop frames to maintain stream frame rate, but I don't think my stream drops many frames with this computer. Smiley

I did have an audio problem with game audio initially, but that was eventually solved when I turned down my web cam mic input and muted the speakers (I'm not sure which one did it, I can test later)

Everyone says the stream works fine, you can see a recorded video here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9389693

I might use webcammax or wirecast to stream in the future, so you all can see my beautiful face. Wink

Using those programs will take up more resources, but I'm pretty sure I have enough ram and cpu to use them.

-Grabster MX 150 (Thanks Tigger77!) for video
-Onboard laptop web cam for audio (chicony web cam using conexant real audio or something like that)
-Flash Media Encoder
-Windows 7 Home Edition 64-bit
-Mozilla Firefox (I disable the ustream chat because it leaks way too much memory)
-[url=http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834114936]Toshiba Satellite L655D-S5076 [/url] (it's still on discount!)

Most important thing about the computer is AMD P920 quad core (1.6 ghz) and 4 gb of ram.

FME video settings:

-S-video
-frame rate: 29.97
-bit rate: 350 kbps
-Codec: H.264
-320x240, though maybe I should try 640x480 for ps2-era games and above.

I'd like to do 59.94 fps someday, but I don't think the grabster can deinterlace (the option is grayed out in FME)

Audio settings:

-MP3
-Stereo
-128 kbps (this is probably too high but whatever)
-44100hz

I use degrade quality rather than drop frames to maintain stream frame rate, but I don't think my stream drops many frames with this computer. :)

I did have an audio problem with game audio initially, but that was eventually solved when I turned down my web cam mic input and muted the speakers (I'm not sure which one did it, I can test later)

Everyone says the stream works fine, you can see a recorded video here: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9389693

I might use webcammax or wirecast to stream in the future, so you all can see my beautiful face. ;) Using those programs will take up more resources, but I'm pretty sure I have enough ram and cpu to use them.

Hattori HANZo

Edit history:

Hattori HANZo: 2010-09-06 06:02:57 pm

2010-09-06 06:01:19 pm

contraddicted

Hardware:
Laptop with Intel C2D T7500 (2.2GHz)
Intel IGP (X3100) with S-Video out

10€ USB capture device ("dazzle")
Jabra BT 800 Bluetooth Headset

Software:
Win7 Pro
FMLE current version
Virtual Audio Cable (not using the repeaters coming with it)

Browser:
I don't know why that's important, but current Opera as remote app. Current IE running locally for watching streams.

Well, my setup is completely bastardized because I can't screencast. It either is slow as hell or crashing my system. So I am capturing my own S-video out and stream that. This also limits me to one screen and a resolution of 1024x768. If I had some USB thing to capture component signals, I could use component out and keep my 2048x1152 or go to 1920x1080.
So basically I capture my screen by recapturing the analogue ouput of it. Wicked, but works!

The sound to this is coming not through the dazzle, but through capturing the system sound via some "What you hear" mixer device and adding the mic from the bluetooth headset. I do this by "listening to" the What you hear mixer on the VAC and doing the same for the bluetooth mic of the headset. Then the VAC is audio source for encoding.

This setup could easily be switched to stream a real console, would just need to plug the console's video out into the capture dongle and also its audio, then exchange the system mixer device for the audio in of the dazzle.

Settings for the stream are as follows:
VP6 (because of CPU usage)
FPS: 30
Input and Output size: 352x288 (640x480 uses too much CPU, this is the next smaller option)
Bitrate for video is 500kbps. I could do more, but then some of my regulars start cursing their internet connection and this seems to be ok for video quality.

Sound is MP3, again because of CPU usage
Sampling rate is 44.1kHz and bitrate is 128k. So it should be good even with proper audio equipment, especially when I stream shmups and have some music playing.

I already tried to outsource the processing work to my server by using some USB over Ethernet app, but it did not work. Because then I could stream at full VGA resolution easily, as the quadcore in that one can pull nearly 4 times the GFlops of my laptop and does not need to run MAME or SNES emulation, too.

Edit: For chatting I use my tablet PC and put it on the desk. Since ustream changed the layout, I use a real IRC client. Why a second machine for just IRC? One screen limitation because of S-Video out -_-

Hardware:
Laptop with Intel C2D T7500 (2.2GHz)
Intel IGP (X3100) with S-Video out

10€ USB capture device ("dazzle")
Jabra BT 800 Bluetooth Headset

Software:
Win7 Pro
FMLE current version
Virtual Audio Cable (not using the repeaters coming with it)

Browser:
I don't know why that's important, but current Opera as remote app. Current IE running locally for watching streams.

Well, my setup is completely bastardized because I can't screencast. It either is slow as hell or crashing my system. So I am capturing my own S-video out and stream that. This also limits me to one screen and a resolution of 1024x768. If I had some USB thing to capture component signals, I could use component out and keep my 2048x1152 or go to 1920x1080.
So basically I capture my screen by recapturing the analogue ouput of it. Wicked, but works!

The sound to this is coming not through the dazzle, but through capturing the system sound via some "What you hear" mixer device and adding the mic from the bluetooth headset. I do this by "listening to" the What you hear mixer on the VAC and doing the same for the bluetooth mic of the headset. Then the VAC is audio source for encoding.

This setup could easily be switched to stream a real console, would just need to plug the console's video out into the capture dongle and also its audio, then exchange the system mixer device for the audio in of the dazzle.

Settings for the stream are as follows:
VP6 (because of CPU usage)
FPS: 30
Input and Output size: 352x288 (640x480 uses too much CPU, this is the next smaller option)
Bitrate for video is 500kbps. I could do more, but then some of my regulars start cursing their internet connection and this seems to be ok for video quality.

Sound is MP3, again because of CPU usage
Sampling rate is 44.1kHz and bitrate is 128k. So it should be good even with proper audio equipment, especially when I stream shmups and have some music playing.

I already tried to outsource the processing work to my server by using some USB over Ethernet app, but it did not work. Because then I could stream at full VGA resolution easily, as the quadcore in that one can pull nearly 4 times the GFlops of my laptop and does not need to run MAME or SNES emulation, too.

Edit: For chatting I use my tablet PC and put it on the desk. Since ustream changed the layout, I use a real IRC client. Why a second machine for just IRC? One screen limitation because of S-Video out -_-

bmn

Edit history:

bmn: 2010-11-10 07:44:16 am

bmn: 2010-11-04 04:49:35 am

bmn: 2010-11-04 04:46:58 am

2010-09-06 07:19:38 pm

Hardware:

3-core 2.6GHz CPU
4GiB DDR3 RAM

Console connections:

Blackmagic Intensity Pro PCIe
Xbox 360 connected via HDMI (720p)
PS2 connected via component + phono

Broadcast software:

Flash Media Live Encoder
540x360 (Xb360), 640x480, 640x448, 320x240 or 320x224, depending on crop settings and performance
20, 29.97 or 30fps, depending on game
H.264 200-700Kb/s (again, depending on game; 8/16-bit emus can look fine at 200, so test different bitrates and look at picture quality specifically)
HE-AAC 32Kb/s, 44100Hz, stereo (requires non-free plugin)
If using interlaced footage, enable deinterlacing (not normal SDA advice, I know ;p)
Auto adjust: Degrade quality
If performance is poor, lower res/frame rate and/or use VP6 and MP3 (22050Hz, 32Kb/s, mono; or 44100, 56Kb/s, mono)

I have FMLE profiles for each type of stream I do (emulator, PS2 game, etc), so to improve performance I run FMLE in CLI mode, feeding it the profile I want to use at the time. This can be done with shortcuts by making one to the FMLECmd.exe program and changing the shortcut to e.g.

Quote:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Flash Media Live Encoder 3.1\FMLECmd.exe" /p "C:\Users\Ian\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Flash Media Live Encoder 3.1\bmn-emulator.xml"

Basic screen capture:

SCFH DSF
In FLME, change the Input Size to the same resolution you wish you broadcast at and select framerate based on performance

Broadcast while recording:

Record with VirtualDub
After starting capture, focus SCFH on the console picture in VDub
Select SCFH in FLME

Hardware:
[list][*]3-core 2.6GHz CPU
[*]4GiB DDR3 RAM[/list]

Console connections:
[list][*]Blackmagic Intensity Pro PCIe
[*]Xbox 360 connected via HDMI (720p)
[*]PS2 connected via component + phono[/list]

Broadcast software:
[list][*]Flash Media Live Encoder
[*]540x360 (Xb360), 640x480, 640x448, 320x240 or 320x224, depending on crop settings and performance
[*]20, 29.97 or 30fps, depending on game
[*]H.264 200-700Kb/s (again, depending on game; 8/16-bit emus can look fine at 200, so test different bitrates and look at picture quality specifically)
[*]HE-AAC 32Kb/s, 44100Hz, stereo (requires non-free plugin)
[*]If using interlaced footage, enable deinterlacing (not normal SDA advice, I know ;p)
[*]Auto adjust: Degrade quality
[*]If performance is poor, lower res/frame rate and/or use VP6 and MP3 (22050Hz, 32Kb/s, mono; or 44100, 56Kb/s, mono)[/list]

I have FMLE profiles for each type of stream I do (emulator, PS2 game, etc), so to improve performance I run FMLE in CLI mode, feeding it the profile I want to use at the time. This can be done with shortcuts by making one to the FMLECmd.exe program and changing the shortcut to e.g.

[quote]"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Flash Media Live Encoder 3.1\FMLECmd.exe" /p "C:\Users\Ian\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Flash Media Live Encoder 3.1\bmn-emulator.xml"[/quote]

Basic screen capture:
[list][*]SCFH DSF
[*]In FLME, change the Input Size to the same resolution you wish you broadcast at and select framerate based on performance[/list]

Broadcast while recording:
[list][*]Record with VirtualDub
[*]After starting capture, focus SCFH on the console picture in VDub
[*]Select SCFH in FLME[/list]

romscout

2010-09-12 10:06:11 pm

that Metroidvania guy

Hardware:
Duo Core 2.40GHz CPU
3 GB RAM

Video source:
Dazzle (with feed ran through WebcamMax)
Hooked to DVD recorder

Audio source:
on-board webcam/mic on laptop

FME video settings:
-Device: WebcamMax Capture
-Format: H.264 (Main, level 5.1, 5 seconds keyframe frequency)
-Frame Rate: 60 fps
-Input Size: 640x480
-Bit Rate: 500 kbps
-Output Size: 640x480
-Checked "Deinterlace"

FME audio settings:
-Device: Integrated Microphone Array
-Format: Mp3
-Channels: Stereo
-Sample Rate: 44100 Hz
-Bit Rate: 96 kbps

Flip

2010-11-09 08:16:52 pm

1-Up!

I figured I'd post my setup, since people have told me it looks alright.

Operating System: OS X 10.6
Capture Device: Dazzle for Mac
Software: Pinnacle program packaged with Dazzle, CamTwist.

I've got my console plugged into the Dazzle and the Dazzle plugged into my laptop. I display the video in the Pinnacle software and use CamTwist to select that portion of my desktop. Ustream takes video from CamTwist and the audio from the laptop built in mic.

I haven't bothered with FME yet but when/if I do I'll update this post accordingly. Also unannouncing this thread now.

ZenicReverie

Edit history:

ZenicReverie: 2010-11-09 10:06:40 pm

2010-11-09 09:53:08 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

OS: Windows XP
Pentium 4 2.8GHz, 2GB RAM

Capture Device: I have a Haupaugge WinTV-HVR-1850
Software: FME

Format: VP6
Frame Rate: 29.97 fps
Input Size: 640x480
Bit Rate: 800 Kbps
Output Size: 640x480
Deinterlace: Checked (depends on input, but since I'm streaming the DVD Player, it always needs it)

Audio: Realtek Line In (on board audio)
Format: Mp3
Channels: Stereo
Sample Rate: 22KHz
Bit Rate: 48 Kbps

I have my consoles plugged into an electric switch with 2 outputs, one is going to the DVD recorder, one is going to a TV. The DVD recorder has S-video out going to the capture card along with sound. That's the basic setup. It's actually a little more complicated, but doesn't affect streaming.

Kryal

2010-11-10 12:30:44 am

from red to blue

OS: Windows 7
AMD Sempron SI-42, 2GB RAM

Capture Device: Easycap/SCFH/USB Webcam
Software: FME

Format: VP6
Frame Rate: 20.00
Input Size: 320x240px
Bit Rate: 180kbps
Output Size: 320x240px
Deinterlace: Unchecked

Audio: USB Headset
Format: Mp3
Channels: Stereo
Sample Rate: 22kHz
Bit Rate: 40kbps

This setup is kinda sucky because my laptop is kinda sucky.

Greenalink

2011-01-23 01:54:03 pm

DS Dictator

Quick question, are Macbooks good for streaming. Because I'm planning to buy a new PC roughly £400-500 but my brothers suggest me buying a Macbook. If I did end up getting a Macbook, the only good thing is that I don't need to get long cables between the Console to the PC and I can quickly check the ustream chat to reply back.

Nuagedecube

2011-02-04 03:50:19 pm

OS: Windows XP pro sp3
Cpu: Intel e7500 2.9GHz
Ram: 1G
Capture Device: VHScrCap
Preset: I tested Custom but now, it is High Bandwidth (800kbps) - H.264
Format H.264
Frame Rate: 30.00 fps
Inpute size: it depends on the size of the window that I record
Bit Rate: 650Kbps

Audio Sound Blaster Live 5.1
Format: mp3
Channels: Stereo
Sample Rate 44100 Hz
Bit Rate: 128 Kbps