In this guide, you will learn how to properly configure the streaming encoding settings in the OpenBroadcaster (OBS) software for Storm Streaming Cloud.
Before we choose the appropriate parameters for our stream, we need to take three key issues into consideration:
Firstly, we must ensure that our computer (or any other device we use) has a sufficiently fast and stable Internet connection. By speed, we mean the rate of data upload to the Internet (which is not the same as "download"), and stability as the percentage of lost/dropped packets to the server. We will be responsible for some things (our local network), and our Internet Service Provider (ISP) for others.
The second issue is the hardware itself. The process of encoding images is very resource-intensive. Modern computers, phones, or tablets have no major problems playing back images even in 4K resolution. However, image encoding is a much more demanding process and not every device can handle it.
It's worth mentioning a phenomenon called "thermal throttling" here as well. This refers to the decrease in performance, for example, the processor when it starts to overheat. We may find that initially our stream is smooth, but after several minutes the performance starts to drop drastically.
The last, but no less important, issue is your viewers' hardware and Internet. If you use the Transcoding option, your streams will automatically be converted to lower versions with lower resolution and bitrate. It's worth then broadcasting with the highest possible quality. However, in the case of Passthrough subscriptions, the stream you broadcast is exactly the one your viewers will see. It's worth lowering the requirements in relation to the connection as much as possible.
Additionally, here are a few tips from us:Further encoder settings:
Resolution | FPS | Bitrate |
---|---|---|
1920x1080 | 60 | 6000 |
1920x1080 | 30 | 4500 |
1280x720 | 60 | 4500 |
1280x720 | 30 | 3000 |