Need help optimizing my stream for Twitch

[yourdad165]

So I've been wanting to start streaming for a while now, and I would like to stream Minecraft. However whenever I try to stream it, no matter what the stream starts to become pixelated when there is motion in the game.

 

My download speed is 30

My upload speed is 5 (really it is 2 because Rogers lies)

 

My PC is good enough to stream and I know my network should be okay...

 

I can't figure out why this happens, no one will want to watch a stream that becomes pixelated when I move.

[xXxYOLOxSWAGxXx_420BlazeIt]

So I've been wanting to start streaming for a while now, and I would like to stream Minecraft. However whenever I try to stream it, no matter what the stream starts to become pixelated when there is motion in the game.

 

My download speed is 30

My upload speed is 5 (really it is 2 because Rogers lies)

 

My PC is good enough to stream and I know my network should be okay...

 

I can't figure out why this happens, no one will want to watch a stream that becomes pixelated when I move.

For livestreaming I use the folowing x264 settings. Im sure your streaming software will allow you to input your own x264 settings somewhere in the options menus. I know that OBS does.

 

Video bitrate: 3500Kbps, audio: 192Kbps libfaac (a lot more efficient than MP3 so bitrate doesnt need to be as high), resolution: 1280x720, 60FPS

 

Ref: 3

Subme: 7

bframes: 16, b-adapt: 2

me: hex or umh if you have more than 4 physical cores.

if youre using umh motion estimation then set merange as 16

 

default deblock settings are fine

 

These will give you the best looking video for fast paced games, you can read the x264 documentation to tweek them if youre playing slow games. If you cant transcode at 60FPS then lower it. Make sure you stay above 23 though.

[NJDFisher]

It might be because of the bitrate you are using. Too low a bitrate may harm your quality.

 

What do you use to stream? Open Broadcaster software is good with its automatic GPU accelerated H264 encoding, and a bitrate of 3500kbps is recommended (about 500kb/s) for 1080p at 30FPS.

 

If you have 2mbps upload, divide that by 8 to get the byte equivalent. That means you have 250kb/s upload, which with 300kb/s being recommmended for 720p, might be your issue.

[yourdad165]

For livestreaming I use the folowing x264 settings. Im sure your streaming software will allow you to input your own x264 settings somewhere in the options menus. I know that OBS does.

 

Video bitrate: 3500Kbps, audio: 192Kbps libfaac (a lot more efficient than MP3 so bitrate doesnt need to be as high), resolution: 1280x720, 60FPS

 

Ref: 3

Subme: 7

bframes: 16, b-adapt: 2

me: hex or umh if you have more than 4 physical cores.

if youre using umh motion estimation then set merange as 16

 

default deblock settings are fine

 

These will give you the best looking video for fast paced games, you can read the x264 documentation to tweek them if youre playing slow games. If you cant transcode at 60FPS then lower it. Make sure you stay above 23 though.

 

I use OBS, I'm thinking I can stream @480p 60 FPS. 

[xXxYOLOxSWAGxXx_420BlazeIt]

I use OBS, I'm thinking I can stream @480p 60 FPS. 

Use 852x480 instead of 1280x720 then. the rest of the settings I gave you will still make it look great. you can also just try out the "high" profile in x264 without having to worry about the rest of the settings I specified. The high profile @ 2.5mbps should look very good.

[LogicalDrm]

I use OBS, I'm thinking I can stream @480p 60 FPS. 

 

Going 60fps is useless unless you are playing very fast fps game. It makes image smoother for viewer. With that resolution use sub 2000kbs bitrate. I see too many people using 3000kbs+ for 720p video. For pro streamer its ok since their viewers can scale down resolution and quality. But for everyone else it can be too good for their internet. My top bitrate is 2200 for 720p. After that the advantages are so little in way of better quality.

[Verne]

Stick to 30 FPS and 720p. With 2000kbs you should get plenty good image quality even when moving (use x264, QuickSync and Nvidia NVENC are trash for anything that has movement). 2500kbs would be optimal if your connection can handle it. I believe according to Netflix average download speeds, the average is around 2000kbs to 2500kbs anyway, so any more makes people unable to watch your stream. For audio, AAC@128kbs is enough, but you can lower to 96kbs if you need to save a bit of bandwidth.

 

The quality is also dependent on which CPU you have. The games themselves might also affect the image quality. FPS and MMO games tend to have faster camera movement, meaning either using 30fps or increasing bitrate and/or x264 preset in order to have non-blocky 60fps. But for the most part, 30 fps is enough.

 

Quick quality settings for OBS (from default settings):

• Encoding: x264, use CBR enabled, max bitrate: ~2200kbs
• Audio: AAC, bitrate: 96 or 128kbs
• Video: 1280x720, 30fps
• Advanced: x264 preset: veryfast, use CFR enabled, keyframe interval: 2