May want to include computer specs and available up/down bandwidth....

what streaming software your using is also going to influence it some.

Just tell me the settings, to get an equal quality as Zlive stream or strenx, consider that i have awesome connection and awesome pc (i dont).

You should prolly ask Zoot and Strenx. I'm sure they'd be happy to fall all over themselves helping you out.

Thanks for the answers, ill see if i can get intouch with Zoot.

Its not a Zoot level OBS setting but.

This might be a bit demanding configuration for some, but i'll post mine so others know what they can expect when buying new hardware ect ect.

##SYSTEM##
3930k @ 4,2Ghz ( I can ofc OC it more, but I turned down my fans for a more quiet environment)
x2 780@1Ghz in SLI (dont really matter for quakelive)
RAM 16Gb 2133Mhz
HDD: Corsair GT 555/555 SSD

##OBS##
*ENCODING*
Encoder: x264
Use CBR: checked (ps: nullifies quality balance by always trying to push to better quality when there is less movement in the picture/less bit per second, ergo more constant bitrate)
Quality Balance: 7 (faded, adjust before doing previous step)
Max Bitrate: 3600
Enable CBR padding: checked
Use Custom Buffer Size: checked
Buffer Size: 4500

*VIDEO*
Custom: 1920x1080
Resolution Downscale: None (1920x1080)
FPS: 60
Disable Aero: checked (after testing it, don't seem to matter if you have OP GFX setup)

*ADVANCED*
Use Multithreaded Optimizations: checked
Process Priority Class: Normal
x264 CPU Preset: veryfast (tested and works great with _fast_ setting, but I use veryfast to guarantee game stability and fps in any game I want to play)
Encoding Profile: main
Use CFR: UNchecked

I might also add that I use Game Capture for all my games since, for me at least, it gives far better fps and fps-stability. And all settings that is not mentioned is at its default values.

You sir are awesome, thanks mar-.

it all depends on your pc configuration and whether you wanna be able to play while streaming

Yes ofcourse, but i just wanted to know which are those settings which will bring my quality up, so im not missing something. So in my conclusion it is mostly bitrate? I mean it effects quality the most.

Bitrate (sending more pixels at a time sort of speak)
CPU-power aka CPU preset (lower preset the better quality image you get)
FPS (the more fps the stream has, the faster would a bad pixelation get back on track)
Codec (has a lot to do with it, use Lanczos)
Buffersize (10-15% more than total bitrate for fast phased games with a lot of movement, gives lesser chance for pixelation)
Resolution size (if your aim is to stream 720p, play the game in 720p so you don't use downscaling = more cpu-power to the quality encoding part)

Assign cpu-cores (give the majority of the cores to OBS, and fewer to the game, QL only needs 1-2 cores. This will force the game and encoder to not interrupt each other = more stable)

Can't think of anything else atm that directly has to do with picture quality, might add some later on.

Thats great, thanks again! Been very helpful.

pixeleration

:D

Fixed :P

pixeleration

:D

fuck, fixed :(

:D

CPU-power aka CPU preset (lower preset the better quality image you get)

Isn't that backwards? higher CPU use should be higher quality image.

Yes, but by lowering the preset it will demand more CPU power.

Can you send me your QL Video settings from your cfg pls, ive sent you ql invite

Sure. I'll just update my cfg and hud files on my ESR-profile page so you can download it from there.

Sure thanks

Its updated.

ive put it all together, now need a few games, but i find your graphic settings more pleasent for the stream, looks prettier :)

Can you increase the size of your Timer in HUD :), its too small, and im not sure where to change that, or maybe reposition it somewhere above crossahir

Just open the HUD files with this brilliant webpage: http://visualhud.pk69.com/

Should work I believe.

This is awesome! Thanks alot :)

if you have an nvidia (GTX650+) card just use NVENC (hardware compression) in OBS. it's virtually free of performance impact and has decent quality

Ill try it, thanks.

see here: http://www.overclock.net/t/1487972/obs-with-n...t_22227576

Thanks man, going to try it right now

Interessting. [+] for the tip.

http://www.reddit.com/r/Twitch/comments/1wxmh...build_now/

Most tests found after a google-search is done with local recordings with high bitrates were the quality and cpu-usage really stand out. But according to this thread from reddit and after watching the test-VODs its decent on lower bitrates but not to par with x264.

This might be a great solution for those who don't have enough CPU-muscles to pull the weight.

If you're bothered about quality you should be using XSplit not OBS, bitrate for bitrate it looks better.

Also, it's x264 > Intel QuickSync > NVIDIA Encoder > AVerMedia Live Gamer HD Encoder for pure quality. As for FPS loss, the latter three are obviously better if you care about your client side frames per second.

Finally, "Quality Balance: 7 (faded, adjust before doing previous step)" - when using CBR this setting is ignored. You will get higher quality with CBR disabled, but Twitch do not want you doing that as often your bitrate will go above their max tolerated 3500 (which you should ideally set).

I could write more but cba.

I agree with you about Xsplit's quality over OBS, no arguing in that. But I don't use it(did before, got 2 year sub), nor would I recommend it to anyone since its in most cases better to stream with OBS when you're trying to stream quakelive. I read some were that the problem with Xsplit and its CPU usage is that all the scenes are active, even if you're not putting them to "active" while your streaming. But I don't completely buy that.

I think its due to the compression quality, since you can clearly see a difference in color-depth Xsplit vs OBS with the same stream-settings. OBS got a more washed out image. But considering the much less CPU usage you get with OBS and how demanding quakelive is to stream, in my opinion its a no-brainer to use OBS.

And yeah you are correct, the quality setting will be ignored, and the main thing with this function is about what twitch wants, as you said. But by enabling this the bitrate will not go up and down and give viewers the refreshing-icon every time there is a action packed scene with a lot of movement. This is of course depending on how high the streamer is setting their max bitrate. Low bitrate streams will not have this problem most likely.

Btw, Adobe FMLE has even better image quality than Xsplit, but its treating your CPU like your ex-girlfriend.

I think you're referring to XSplit 1.3 and not 2.0

Yeah, you're probably right. I haven't used Xsplit in a long time.

Another option is quicksync if you have an onboard intel graphics card you don't use anyway

It is only an option if you have low quality stream anyways. It is very good on low quality but falls off a lot when quality of stream is supposed to be higher.

What kind of upload speed do you need to stream a game like QL at decent quality?

I guess 4mbit is for decent, so you can go with 2000 Bitrate, to have it still playable

Thanks. I had no hope but I wanted to make sure my 1 mbps upload couldn't do anything :p.

I have 10mbit upload and stream on 3.5k bitrate. Is perfectly fine.
1:3 is optimal, 1:2 might be a bit narrow.

However, you will still get lags from time to time.

You can always make podcasts for YouTube :)