Wowza Community

RTSP performance for live events

Wowza server is receiving live video feed via RTMP, and we want to stream via both RTMP and RTSP. RTMP for web, and RTSP to play in VLC player.

Here is the difference that I see between RTMP and RTSP.

  1. RTSP takes about 20 seconds to start playing video/audio.

  2. RTPM payback is smooth, vs RTSP is very choppy. During playback video and audio pauses for fractions of a second and then continues again.

Both RTMP and RTSP connections are made to the same box and the same stream. This was tested on latest Wowza 2.1.2

Have anyone seen such behavior? Please share how you use RTSP in your environment.

Thanks.

There is something here with the fact that the stream re-buffers. I will look at it but it will most likey take a few days. Maybe early next week.

Charlie

No draw backs.

Charlie

i’ve also noticed a lag of 10 to 20 seconds before the video starts to play using rtsp, but no quality problem

the server is configured using best practices exposed by Charlie on this forum

Also, try lowering the key frame interval. Also, there may be buffer settings in the players. When streaming using RTSP/RTP we do not do any initial blast to fill the client side buffer. So this could explain the startup lag.The player might be buffering. We may add an instant startup feature in the future but at this time we do not do any initial buffer fill.

Charlie

i can’t lower the keyframe interval, it’s a matter of bandwidth and quality.

using mplayer, there’s no buffer. It issue the PLAY instruction and then wowza reply with a 200 code (ok), and then, it waits 10 to 20 seconds before the stream starts, when it starts (sometimes, it seams to reach a timeout. Vlc says "no data received within 10s’).

It’s strange to notice that if i use the origin server to view the stream, i takes several seconds but always works, and on the edges, it takes much more time to start and it often does not start at all.

Something else is wrong. Do you see that same behavior with our mobile stream?

http://www.wowza.com/mobile.html

direct:

rtsp://184.72.239.149/vod/mp4:BigBuckBunny_175k.mov

If I play this stream in VLC (version 1.1.2 with default settings) the stream starts in 1 second. What do you see? Do you have a stream on the Internet that I can test that exhibits the problem?

Charlie

I do need to study this more. There does seem to be some issue with RTCP packets that is causing the VLC player (and other players) to re-buffer once it receives the second set of RTCP packets. I need to carefully look at why this is happening. It will take me some time to sort this out. I will report back on this thread when I learn more.

Charlie

Interesting. Charlie

try this patch:

WowzaMediaServer2.1.2-patch2.zip

It changes the frequency that RTCP packets are sent when the stream starts. It seems to help for me. Also, a more frequent key frame interval will help as well. The key frame interval is the biggest factor.

Charlie

No, nothing additional needs to be set. It is something with your setup. Others have reported better results. I would verify your key frame interval is 2 seconds.

Charlie

@Pytkin,

RTSP out was not support in Wowza 1.7.

@All,

I’m not see this. 10 - 20 second lag is typical of HTTP streaming, but not RTSP. Maybe you are not specifying a port.

If I publish a stream named “myStream” to Wowza with Wirecast or FMLE to an application named “live” with StreamType “live” and /RTP /Authentication /PlayMethod “none”, I can play that in the Wowza example player:

Server: rtmp://[wowza-address]:1935/live

Stream: myStream

And in VLC by choosing Media > Open Network Stream then entering:

rtsp://[wowza-address]:1935/live/myStream

And it starts right up.

Richard

Test by removing the authentication module, by elimination. And run everything local. What I did:

FMLE publish rtmp > Wowza rtsp out > VLC

All on same machine.

If you are using httpUtils to authenticate, despite your test results, that’s where I would look.

Richard

With VLC 1.05 I get normal playback. Starts quickly and plays continuously. So either the version of VLC is not good, or there is a network issue.

Richard

Pytkin,

I can’t account for the difference between what you and I experience from this same rtsp stream. I will defer to Charlie’s comment and inquiry.

I did just test again, and it lights up right away for me on VLC 1.05

Richard

Have you had anyone else outside your network test this?

Each of these work about the same for me:

rtsp://184.72.239.149/vod/mp4:BigBuckBunny_175k.mov

rtsp://184.72.239.149:554/vod/mp4:BigBuckBunny_175k.mov

rtsp://184.72.239.149:1935/vod/mp4:BigBuckBunny_175k.mov

No significant delay here

Richard

Lights right up for me, faster than usual actually, less than 2 seconds.

Richard

I am using VLC 1.05.

Richard

I have a router. The first set of logs could be me. I only played for about 10 seconds. I’m not sure why the 2nd set would be different, but that’s the patttern you would see if udp ports are blocked

Richard

same problem here … RTMP works great and RTSP have very long starting … On Xtreamer rtsp will start , but no video/audio playback … XBMC not start too … on Wowza 1.7 this was work …

@Pytkin,

RTSP out was not support in Wowza 1.7.

Yes … Sorry … You Are Right …

Its problem rtmp -> wowza -> rtmp …

it worked with Wowza 1.7 on XBMC … on 2.0 not works …