A set of notes for how I set up my twitch stream

Video_Enc_Notes.txt

Twitch official notes:
https://stream.twitch.tv/encoding/

Why use I NVENC (NVIDIA Turing and better) GPU ASIC encoding instead of CPU encoding?
https://youtu.be/6fyP7kg0QAc?t=434

NVENC is available on Maxwell arch. GPU's (GTX 10XX and later), but is vastly improved starting w/ the RTX (Turing & Ampere) cards. 

GPU encoding = Fast but dumb
CPU encoding = Smart but slow:
https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/15/nvenc-vs-x264-does-cpu-or-rtx-gpu-encoding-work-best-for-twitch/

Video stream debugging tools and more info:
https://inspector.twitch.tv
https://stream.twitch.tv

GPU encoding is usually preferable for my use case:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/c8ec2h/guide_x264_encoding_is_still_the_best_slow_isnt/
(I disagree with some of this link, the author didn't have a RTX GPU, and I've found that)
(double-pass NVENC encoding with the "Max Quality" setting provides superior visual quality)
(than I could reasonably achieve with CPU encoding on my platform)


Open Broadcaster Studio settings:

  Plugins:
    github.com/univrsal/input-overlay

  Streaming
 
    ----MAIN----
        (This works best for the majority of viewers, esp. those with slow internet)
    Rate Control: CBR
    Bitrate: 6000 Kbps
    FRAMERATE: I have found using 59.97 fps instead of 60 has solved some screen tearing issues
    Resolution: 3840x2160 59.97fps
    Downscale to: 1664x936 59.97fps (MOAR bits/pixel = less potato!)
    (or whatever, stick to green:)
    https://pacoup.com/2011/06/12/list-of-true-169-resolutions/
    Downscale Filter: Lanczos (or Area weighted sum)
    Keyframe Interval: 2 (or your best judgement, but <= 4)
    Psycho-visual tuning: enabled
    Preset: Max Quality (this setting enables two-pass encoding for better visual per unit bitrate, very important)
    Profile: high
    Max B-frames: 2-4 (usually 4)
    
    ----ALT High Quality----
        (This works best if you want a good looking picture)
    Rate Control: CBR
    Bitrate: 8000 Kbps
    FRAMERATE: I have found using 59.97 fps instead of 60 has solved some screen tearing issues
    Resolution: 3840x2160 59.97fps
    Downscale to: 1920x1080 59.97fps
    Downscale Filter: Lanczos (or Area weighted sum)
    Keyframe Interval: 2 (or your best judgement, but <= 4)
    Psycho-visual tuning: enabled   
    Preset: Max Quality (this setting enables two-pass encoding for better visual per unit bitrate, very important)
    Profile: high
    Max B-frames: 2
    
    
    https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/6wn3q1/why_do_big_streamers_use_1600x900/
    https://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/fpkyvd/streaming_at_936p_or_900p/
    
  Recording Locally:
    Rate Control: CQP
    CQP Target: 23
    FRAMERATE: 59.97
    Resolution: monitor native
    Keyframe interval: 2 (or your best judgement, but <= 4)
    Preset: Max Quality (note: some users may encounter errors using this setting for recording and streaming simultaneously)
    Profile: high
    Psycho-visual tuning: enabled
    Max B-frames: 2-4 (usually 4)