Audio drop outs causing unreliable stream

[ram130]

Hey

I need some help.  I'm currently having some sort of audio issues.  I noticed my stream was offline randomly and decided to log in. I use the SE encoder  and noticed it was reconnecting and it stayed connected for a few minutes  until the audio just dropped out for a few seconds then return. Then it tried to reconnect.  The cycle keeps repeating. I don't think it's my host (shoutcast streaming service) or the virtual audio cable either.  I also have breakaway installed and switched to it with the same issue. I've done multiple reboots to no avail. I've tried switching back to MB recaster  and noticed similar issues.  It just freezes during the drop and then tries to reconnect which it does and the cycle restarts. I've tried switching cables also.

I've noticed through all of this, radio dj is playing fine (levels stay consistent when the encoder show none coming in when the issue happens) and it isn't frozen. I've tried playing with windows sound settings including toggling exclusive mode.  The only thing left to do in my book is try another encoder, BASS, or reinstall all the virtual audio cables and breakaway. I've did a speed test too and it checks out fine, 100 down and 11 up.

Please advise. Everything was running smoothly until today when I noticed my station went offline.  Please help. This is a super weird issue.

[He-j]

Does your PC have sufficient memory?
Check your processes and processor usage under Task Manager. Maybe some other software utility is causing it.

[Marius]

If RadioDJ is playing fine (judging by the output levels), the problem is something else on your audio chain, but is hard for use to tell you exactly what.

[ram130]

If RadioDJ is playing fine (judging by the output levels), the problem is something else on your audio chain, but is hard for use to tell you exactly what.

Yeah, I don't know what to point it to. Funny thing is that it came back up all day yesterday until night time it got unstable and showed the same issues. Frankly it just happened. I'm loosing my head as this is making listeners mad. It's happening less often ( I could actually connect to the stream for a few mins to hours) and stayed up. But I'm very confused as other radio stations using the same host don't have a issue, one example: http://yp.shoutcast.com/sbin/tunein-station.m3u?id=99226864

I'm trying out BUTT, I don't get why people like it, it's not modern. Either way I can't even connect to my streaming service with it. So there goes that.

Please help.

Does your PC have sufficient memory?
Check your processes and processor usage under Task Manager. Maybe some other software utility is causing it.

Thanks, I'm using about 57% of memory with everything running. I don't think it's a memory issue as I've been using this system for a while. Not sure what else utility since I didn't add anything new than SE Caster two weeks ago and did some driver updates.

[He-j]

So the output of virtual audio cable which is connected to your stream provider is ok?

If you would 'connect' some speakers to that output there is no interruption of the audio?

[ram130]

So the output of virtual audio cable which is connected to your stream provider is ok?

If you would 'connect' some speakers to that output there is no interruption of the audio?

Yeah, virtual audio cable has input from radiodj, then the encoders read it. I was using breakaway pipeline cable before but had some pops and clicks and wasn't sure if it was it. I was trying to get rid it of so I troubleshoot it. Thats when I got virtual audio cable, then SE caster encoder since I suspected mb recaster which also randomly crashing after a few days. Still had the pops and clicks, plus now added lag. Thanks to a post by Gary about radiodj buffer settings, I tried his settings in radio dj and that fixed the pops and clicks I was hearing occasionally. My stream quality was instantly better, I was so addicted to my own stream for a few days after that.

I fixed the lag from virtual audio cable by increasing the buffer to 1024 in its control panel. Things ran smooth for two weeks. Then this issue happened when I noticed my station was offline. First thing I did was a speed test to make sure it wasn't my router, speed was still awesome. Then I noticed it would connect to the host fine, but kept dropping the connection every time the audio levels dip. But in radio dj, looking at them side by side, only the audio level in the encoder was dropping. I tried rebooting a few times, same issue, checked other stations out on the same service, no issue. Tried breakaway pipeline again, same issue. Tried mb recaster right away, noticed it just freeze when the level drops (had se caster along side it to monitor). Now we are here.

So far today, it's stable again, 10 hrs later no issues, but I know tonight will be night 3 of the issues if it happens again. This time I got BUTT running my aac stream and se caster doing the MP3, so lets see how it affects butt. If it does, this will be narrowed down to either radio dj or virtual audio cable or weird server issue at a certain time. In which case, how is the host dropping the encoder level?

I'm so confused man. I just want a smooth stream with high reliably and good sound. In case ya'll are curious, you can listen the stream here: http://yp.shoutcast.com/sbin/tunein-station.m3u?id=88269 it will probably go offline some time in the next few hours when the issues happen again.

[rkriggs]

make sure the bit rate on the encoder matches the bit rate on the streamer...
Randy

[ram130]

make sure the bit rate on the encoder matches the bit rate on the streamer...
Randy

Yeah no issue there, everything matches as it should. Frankly after posting my reply it happened again and BUTT said connection lost, while se caster showed the regular symptoms. Either way it gave me a idea what issue might be. Made a change just now, so gonna monitor for two days and report back. 

[ram130]

This has been resolved.  No longer having issues.

[ghm72]

Glad to hear! What exactly was the culprit? so we know if someone posts with the same issues

[FreerunMedia]

Reading all this i would say internet provider or connection. If every streamer gets a lost connection, that only can happen when your host is not available. Host not reachable, internet has troubles. All audio gets through, it has nothing to do with RadioDJ. The first problem that most people create is not having enough upload to get the stream running stable or running at all. If somebody in a backroom suddenly begins to stream another show or is starting to download big files or even starting up the torrents ( who's using those these days. )  you'll get problems.

Some basics. Make sure you have more than enough upload room. Running a stream with a 1mbit upload connection, you ask for trouble. At least 10 mbit to run it safe. Make sure your switch or router is capeable to handle all the traffic. A 100 mbit switch can do it but gets in trouble with WiFI running 4 HD streams down, 1 server running a website and streaming to the internet. Get a gigabit switch or router. Make sure you have ports forwarded if needed. Is it 24/7 broadcast, don't run your mailclient, webbrouwser and youtube on that machine. Just the automation and batabase and maybe audio processing but that is it. Virtual cable can work but keep in mind it is software so it can stop working. Just the basics can help a lot.

[danimihu]

Hi there! I saw your post about the short interruptions with RadioDJ. Did you manage to fix the issue? What was the cause?
Same problem here.