Streaming on LAN - can't find needed settings

[OsakaWebbie]

I hate being the ignorant newbie, but the help pages and tutorials I find don't seem to match my interface, and searching the forums has not turned up enough clues. I am experienced with video/audio concepts and normal computer networking, but I am brand new to streaming and to VLC in general.

I'm trying to stream from a Sony camcorder connected via USB (on a tiny Windows XP netbook) to another Windows PC on the same LAN (server will be on wireless running through a repeater and the client will be wired on the main router, but right now I'm testing with both wired). It should be what VLC was born to do. But I can't get it to work ("...unable to open the MRL..."), and although it seems like there are a zillion settings, I can't find ones I suspect I need. Ultimately I would be happy to get a command line solution working and make it into a batch file, because non-technical people will have to start this up every week (it's a worship service for a church), but I don't know enough about the command line option syntax to do that yet, so I'm trying to navigate the interface for now, and that's why I'm posting here. The help page about streaming talked of a Wizard which seemed to have more settings, but I don't see any Wizard menu item on my copy, for some reason. If you prefer to guide me using command line suggestions instead of the GUI, and therefore want to send me to the streaming forum, that's fine - either way.

I can successfully select my capture device and get a local display, although one time when my camera turned off nothing short of a reboot of the computer would get it to work again. For a while the audio was also working, but recently it stopped - probably another reboot is in order, but that's a different question. For purposes of this discussion, let's say it is working locally - I'll kick it in the teeth more later.

But I don't know how to get the stream to go out in a way that the other PC can find it. A tutorial I found said to use MMSH for the protocol, but I don't have that selection - only MMS, and that doesn't seem to work (I don't actually have a clue what MMSH or MMS are, but I was following instructions). Then I tried HTTP and UDP, but I suspect I need to specify a destination IP address and/or port, but neither are available in the interface - all I can find is a pulldown to select the protocol. In the client I tried specifying the IP address of the server, but I still didn't know what port the server was sending on, so that didn't help. I'm open to recommendations of what protocol to use - this network will be virtually unused for anything else at the time the video is streaming, so traffic is not an issue. As for IPs, my first choice would be to multicast to the local subnet (192.168.11.*) and set the client to respond accordingly, so that I don't have to check every week what IP addresses are assigned to whom.

Finally, I have a question about encoding, size, etc. I ultimately will connect the client PC to a TV, so somewhat large would be good, but there isn't much fast action, so I'd be happy to use a slower frame rate (15fps or maybe even 10) to help keep the data to a reasonable level. But where do I set the frame rate? I can't find that either. And the original tutorial I found (the one that said to use a protocol I don't have, and had screenshots that didn't look at all like what I have) said to use WMV2 and MP3, but is that the best for this situation? I don't know what codecs these machines have, but probably nothing more than comes with a standard Windows XP box with basic free media players, as they are just used for office work, not multimedia. Recommendations for these settings are appreciated. I did find all the audio settings I care about, and was pleased to see that I could specify 1 channel (mono) to save a little data, but I will eventually need to figure out the command line syntax for that stuff.

[VLC_help]

Streaming wizard only exists in VLC 0.8.6 and older.

With MMS and HTTP you don't specify destination address, just leave it to port (so something like :8080). With UDP you specify destination (you can broadcast with UDP).

For setting frame rate, you specify it to transcoding options

Code: Select all

--sout-transcode-fps=<float> Video frame-rate Target output frame rate for the video stream.

or just fps=15 to trancode line.

[OsakaWebbie]

Thanks for replying.

Streaming wizard only exists in VLC 0.8.6 and older.

Ah, that explains why the rest of the help tutorial about streaming also doesn't look anything like my interface - it is probably also for an old version...

So, which protocol would you recommend using in my case? I'm not sure I know what the word "broadcast" means in this context, and whether that's what I want to do. And if your recommendation is UDP, can you tell me where in the server's interface I can set the port?

And for any of the protocols, where do I set the destination IP address(es)? Or do I instead just "pull" from the client, specifying the IP address of the server? I tried that with HTTP (not specifying a port on either the server or the client because I couldn't, and on the client specifying the source IP address), but it didn't work.

[VLC_help]

HTTP and MMS are pulled. UDP is push method.

Before you try to open the stream, open Tools -> Messages... (set Verbosity to 2), it should complain about problems.

[OsakaWebbie]

Okay, I gave up on using the Windows GUI - I just can't find the settings I need. So I'm working on the command line, and have found a lot more examples online, but my results are quite weird.

Here is what I am currently using on the server:

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D:\Programs\VLC\vlc.exe -vvv -I rc --ttl 12 dshow:// vdev="Sony Digital Imaging Video2" adev="USB オーディオ デバイス" size="320x240" --sout=#transcode{vcodec=WMV2,vb=800,scale=1,fps=15,acodec=mp3,ab=32,channels=1}:duplicate{dst=display{noaudio},dst=rtp{mux=ts,udp=224.0.0.1,sdp=sap,name="OIC"}}

What I see on the display window that comes up is

• a smaller size video than what I asked for (I think it's the size that appeared as default before I started specifying size, so probably my size syntax is wrong, even though I copied an example in the docs)
• weird "reversed" colors - my skin is blue, my dark blue shirt is reddish-brown, and my light-blue jeans are tan

Also, on the DOS window that comes up with all the debugging info flowing by at warp speed, after the dust settles awhile, most of what goes by are repeated lines of "vbv buffer overflow". I assume that means something in my system can't handle the video fast enough? I have no idea, and searching for that error didn't produce any useful info.

On the client side, I tried this command:

Code: Select all

C:\\Program Files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe rtp://@224.0.0.1

I assume I should be able to somehow use the "OIC" alias, but I don't know the syntax for that (I found no examples in the docs). What I get is a VLC window with "rtp://224.0.0.1 - VLC media player" in the title bar, but no activity. In Tools->Messages, verbosity is set to 2, but there are absolutely no messages. I get the same result if I try to use the interface - Media->Open Network Stream... then choose RTP and type the IP address. However, if I try (stabbing in the dark for syntax) typing "OIC" instead of "224.0.0.1", I get an immediate error message that VLC can't open the MRL, like I did when I was trying HTTP and UDP. So I guess 224.0.0.1 is closer to correct, but I don't know why no video happens - something to do with the buffer overflows on the server side?

[OsakaWebbie]

Additional information: I decided to look closer at my codec situation - I haven't gotten any better results, but I thought I should share my attempts in case they are helpful.

I originally thought that in Windows I would get the strongest support for WMV as a codec, but upon further inspection on the server machine, I didn't see it in the list of "properties" of my Video CODEC item in the control panel's Sound and Audio -> Hardware tab (which is a bit mysterious - I have WMP10, which would presumably come with the codec). So I downloaded and installed ffdshow, hoping it would provide a bunch more codecs. I then tried MPEG4 (vcodec=mp4v, acodec=mpga) - in that case, once the stuff was started up, I got a continuous stream of warnings that it couldn't process each frame because the header was bad (I forget the exact wording), and the video looked just as psychodelic as before. Then I found this Wiki page which says that MPEG1 is the most widely supported codec, so I tried that (vcodec=mp1v, acodec=mpga). But that one didn't even get as far as the others - my video window never appeared at all, and sifting through the verbose output, it looks like it started to set everything up, got "[0xb77b8c] stream_out_duplicate stream out debug: - failed for output 0", and shut it all down again.

[VLC_help]

VLC has all codecs build-in. Installing additional codecs won't help.

For color issues, you might want to specify chroma (e.g. :dshow-chroma=YV12), also add : before adev and vdev. And it is :dshow-size not :size

And I would avoid RTP in basic streaming scenarios since it features aren't really needed.

[OsakaWebbie]

Thanks. If I already have all the codecs, then when I attempted MPEG1 I had done something else wrong, and for MPEG4 and WMV2 my stream of warnings about buffer overflows or not reading the header of each frame must also be my fault somehow. But I'm using examples from the Wiki as best I can. One of the various pages I have referenced is here, and making changes based on their example (like "access=udp,url=224..." instead of "udp=224...") and your corrections to the code I posted previously (dshow-size and the colons), here is my most recent attempt:

Code: Select all

D:\Programs\VLC\vlc.exe -vvv -I rc --ttl 12 dshow:// :vdev="Sony Digital Imaging Video2" :adev="USB オーディオ デバイス" :dshow-size="640x480" --sout='#transcode{vcodec=mp4v,vb=800,scale=1,fps=15,acodec=mpga,ab=32,channels=1}:duplicate{dst=display{noaudio},dst=standard{access=udp,mux=ts,url=224.0.0.1,port=1234}}'

I tried the dshow-chroma suggestion, but I got the error: 'The capture device "Sony Digital Imaging Video2" does not support the required parameters.' I was emboldened to try a larger size, and it seems to work okay. I'm still getting a spew of warnings, but they are all about the audio, not the video, like "audio drift is too big", "PTS is out of range", "buffer is late", etc. But I can hear the audio on the server's speakers, so I'll ignore those for now. But I still can't get anything on the client. I used the GUI, selected Media->Open Network Stream..., then selected UDP and typed "224.0.0.1" in the Address spot, and made sure the port was 1234 (which it always is). Nothing happens, and even with verbosity at 2, there are absolutely no messages. From the command line (from the correct directory, I typed "vlc -vvv -I rc udp://@224.0.0.1:1234"), I get information in the rc window, but I can't figure out how to capture the text in order to share it in the forum (right-click does nothing in that window - it must be really special). I don't have the patience to type everything, but there are no failure-sounding entries, it sounds like it found the multicast, and the last thing it says is "pre buffering". But nothing else ever happens.

The weird color problem has become off-topic, as I have discovered that it is not related directly to VLC or settings, but for the sake of readers who might be curious... It turns out that it was going on all along with this camera (on USB, that is - Firewire is fine, as this is actually a very good camera) - I just didn't notice it at first because it was sitting on my desk in such a way that the only colorful item in its view was a green cable. Also, a little webcam that comes on this netbook doesn't have the problem. And it's not a problem with memory or something on the netbook - I installed the Sony driver on another computer and tested, and it had the same problem. I don't know if the camera itself is sending the weird color shifts when connected to USB, or if the driver is screwing it up somehow. I've never seen anything like it - even if I could have used your dshow-chroma suggestion, I seriously doubt that anything could properly fix this kind of thing "in post". The camera is no longer in production (over 5 years old), so I suspect that if I call Sony, I'll be on hold for 30 minutes and then they'll say, "Sorry, we can't help you," in the politest Japanese they can muster (which is pretty impressive - you would be amazed how thick Japanese politeness language can get!). So... we'll have to find another camera before we'll have a working system (or use a computer that has Firewire, but we had hoped to keep this small and simple by using the netbook that isn't already being used for something else). Actually, I have started looking at "network cameras", those devices designed for use as security cameras that have their own WiFi built in, plus software for the other end that can not only view the video but even control the camera (pan, tilt). Their built-in mic is probably not very good (with my camera we had planned to plug into the church's PA system for really good sound) and they don't zoom much if at all, but it might be a simple solution that doesn't need a computer attached to the camera, and it costs less than getting a new camcorder.

Back to the topic at hand. I still want to get VLC streaming working - if network cameras turn out to be unsatisfactory I'll still need to use VLC (with a different camera or a computer that has Firewire), and it would be good to have this skill in my pocket anyway. I look forward to any other ideas you have about why my client can't see the stream and/or other corrections to my command syntax.

[mythsameer]

i seem to have the same problem...cant get to sview webcam stream over the wifi network whereas movies etc can be streamed easily...is there some special option tht needs to be enabled so that a webcam stream can be viewed over a wifi network?? any help wouuld be appreciated...

[VLC_help]

It isn't URL (url=224.0.0.1) it is dst and you can put port in it (dst=224.0.0.1:1234).

is there some special option tht needs to be enabled so that a webcam stream can be viewed over a wifi network?

No. But you must transcode the webcam input.

[OsakaWebbie]

Well, I got "url=224..." syntax from the documentation page I cited in my previous post - maybe that page needs an edit. Anyway, I changed it to "dst=" and put the port inside it instead of separate, like you suggested, but there was no change.

I know that the experts on the forum like to see the verbose output to help troubleshoot, but how do I capture that? "-I rc" creates what looks like a second DOS window, but there are no window controls. On the client I can use the GUI for testing, but no messages ever appear in Tools->Messages even though verbosity is set to 2. I could do a screen capture on the rc window, but I can't attach a graphics file on this forum. Any pointers? I would love to have you look at the output from both the server (if I can catch the earlier messages before it starts spewing warnings about the audio buffer) and the client, but I can't figure out how to get it to you.

[VLC_help]

Open Tools -> Messages... (set Verbosity to 2) before you start streaming (so press stop and play if you have), it will show errors and warning.

Use imageshack or similar service if you want to add images here.

[OsakaWebbie]

Open Tools -> Messages... (set Verbosity to 2) before you start streaming (so press stop and play if you have), it will show errors and warning.

As I have said in a couple previous posts, the client (the one I especially want to capture for you) is not doing that - I have had verbosity set to 2 for some time, but I get no messages at all with the task I am asking it to do. Is there another way?

[VLC_help]

There are telnet and rc interfaces, but file logging is broken.

[OsakaWebbie]

I decided to work on the other possible solutions before resuming trying to get VLC to work. But after trying several signal-boosting devices and even homemade reflectors (my husband got his master's degree in electromagnetics and designed a satellite antenna system for his thesis, so although that was a long time ago, I leaned heavily on his knowledge) we never got a satisfactory connection to the room we need the camera in - most packets were lost, resulting in a frame of video and audio about every couple seconds even under the best conditions. If we set up a WiFi access point as a repeater, we will lose half the throughput, and from our tests it would seem likely that it would take either about two such repeaters (which would reduce the throughput to not good enough for full-screen video) or some sort of expensive industrial-strength directional antenna by our 4th floor office window to bounce the signal off a nearby building and back into our building's 1st floor hall.

So we gave up on video and focused just on audio, which is the main thing we need. My husband got the idea to use our own cell phones (which can call each other for free) and an external speaker connected to one of them, and just let the people who are in that room listen instead of watch - that will be good enough for now, until we get a new idea. Thanks for your attempt to help, but I'm just going to let this topic go.

[oceanmaster]

Going to drag this out the grave because I also can't get this working..

No answer in years? Perhaps it's not working at all?

[OsakaWebbie]

There was no answer in years because I (the OP) said, "Never mind," because I discovered that the non-VLC aspects of my project were untenable (transmitting the signal the necessary distance). I ended up using walkie-talkies, but even that solution had difficulties

As for your problem, perhaps the "VLC_help" person will chime in here again, but you might get a better response (perhaps even from other users with experience) by starting a fresh thread and including a reference link to this one for background info.