Netsync issues - can't get it to work at all, please help

[defusion]

Ok, so I was playing around with the streaming, setup a stream using UDP with the following:

:sout=#duplicate{dst=display,dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=192.168.1.66:1234},dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=192.168.1.67:1234}}

And everything worked fine, the 2 clients connected fine and streamed the audio. Obviously it was out of sync so I started to look around and found netsync, so I closed VLC on all the machines and did the following:

1. Launch on 'server' using vlc --control netsync --netsync-master
2. Start UDP stream (file > open ... etc.) using :sout=#duplicate{dst=display,dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=192.168.1.66:1234},dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=192.168.1.67:1234}}
3. Launch client using vlc udp://@2:1234 --control netsync --netsync-master-ip 192.168.1.65

The stream seems to load, but I get silence on the client (one client is OS X the other is XP, the server is XP), if I launch the clients just by vlc udp://@2:1234 then the stream loads and plays fine (although out of sync).

I'm really stumped and have spent the best part of a hour trying to find the answer, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

-D

[defusion]

Ok, this morning I figured out how to setup netsync via the GUI, did the following:

Server/Master:
1. Interface > Control Interface > Control : Added netsync
2. Advanced > Network Sync > (enable advanced settings): Tick act as master
3. Start UDP stream (as above)

Client:
1. Interface > Control Interface > Control : Added netsync
2. Advanced > Network Sync > (enable advanced settings): Master client IP address 192.168.1.65
3. Open stream

This time the stream plays, but it's still not in sync, seriously I have no idea what is wrong. Does the syncing need a specific port to be open on my master machine, as that's all I can think of now. However for the stream (port 1234) I didn't have to open that port on my firewall.

Really stumped, please help.

Cheers,

-D

[defusion]

I still can't get netsync to work properly, but I found out that not having the server play the stream it's streaming seems to fix the issue, so I'm posting my setup in case anyone else has a problem.

So now my setup is (with 3 machine, server [A] & two clients [B & C]):

Server (A) :sout=#duplicate{dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=192.168.1.65:1234},{access=udp,mux=ts,url=192.168.1.66:1234},dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=192.168.1.67:1234}}

Client (A) Yes this is the server, I have two VLCs running on this - the stream server & a client.
Client (B)
Client (C)

And everything seems to stay in sync (touch wood).

-D

[antonylord]

I've been trying to do the same here on a network of Windows XP machines (multicasting an internet radio stream so multiple users can all listen in sync).

The solution of having 2 instances of VLC on the "server" machine is required if you want to have it play a copy of the stream in sync. If you 'play file locally' (only one instance) it isn't in sync with all the clients.

The only other thing I've noticed under XP with 2 instances of VLC is that the preferences (act as master, master IP address) are shared so you need to check your settings (GUI) to make sure each instance is doing the right thing, or just do it on the command line.

I'm sure there's a way to make separate pereferces files - time to trawl the forums...

Cheers, Antony.

[Snelsel]

I've tried the feature sync-sync master with these setups. [A=server, B=client xp, C=client xp, D=client OSX]

First up. A streaming itself and sync master=works with either B, C or D(never had the time to run between them) on one track/mp3, buffer at next song in playlist unsyncs again.

Second. A, icecast2 with "Data burst on connect"=0 (0 buffer on serverside), and B,C,D with Accessmodules -> http cache =150 and UDP/RTP cache=150,
works in sync for about 30 secs, then starts choking and buffert is empty. I've been trying to get some balance between the buffers in order to get anything that doesnt sound like sh**.

Third. Same as above, but 64kb buffer on server. http cache=100ms, UDP cache=100ms, some echo(but not more than the aucustic echo), but working as i write. This setup probably uses up the buffer over time, but i'm thinking of buffering a megabyte or so, so it works until the party ends(hehe...).

Forth. Same as above, but 6400kb buffer on server. Works just fine . There's a catch though: every time you change track/media, you get to wait some, hahaha.

I probably sound like the biggest n00b ever on this forum, but since I'm close to my goal, I find this setup worth checking out.

Note: This is a 100/100 network.

Good Luck.

[Snelsel]

It seems the sync varies on cpu load and computer setups as well, after a longer period of time the streams differ again and some unsync occur. Although resyncing at fades, my sync disapperad after about 20 min. Small differences in buffers and playback may have disturbed of course.

[bugmenot]

Why not multicast? These issues generally are non-issues with MC.
Besides, by multicasting you save tons of bandwidth/data access from your server (try streaming hd video to 3 clients, your server and router will puke).
If your LAN has a cheapo router, you may need to upgrade.. and not all mc capable routers are equal. Get a recommendation from Netstreams (google). Their multicast routers work well with tons of sources/zones. As an added plus, you can stream uncompressed with most audio and video.
Bottomline, Multicast.