[closed] Vista Aero go boom!

[digitalfiz]

When I open VidBlaster and start streaming to stickam if i change resolutions or anything with the video feed it stops streaming and I can't get it to stream without closing every browser I have and closing VidBlaster also when I restart VidBlaster Aero dies and it sets to the vista basic theme and the streaming doesnt work. Not sure how to get it back to working just closing things and reopening until they work again is all I can figure works. It seems like a process is hanging somewhere but I can't find it in the task manager. The Aero features usually die when a program tries to access a device thats in use already from what i've noticed when using vista. Any ideas what it might be?

[Mike]

This is because Stickam will lock up the streaming video interface offered by VidBlaster. Proper way to change the resolution in VidBlaster while streaming is to

1. close the streaming client (Stickam in this case)
2. change the resolution in VidBlaster
3. restart the client.

[digitalfiz]

OK, it kind of works better that way but it seems like after I start VidBlaster 1 time if I ever close it and reopen it whether I wait 10 mins for 5 hours when I reopen it aero still dies. This happens on both my vista machines and both machines and pretty fast machines and different camera interfaces actually its 3 different cameras I've tried. 1 is a usb capture device and 2 are 2 different brand webcams plugged into each one of my 8 usb ports.

I am starting a podcast show and a live show on stickam and its hard to justify using a program thats so sensitive. I have better luck with free programs like super webcam and manycam. I really think that before any more features are added the stabilization of the program is worked on. Maybe you guys should look at those free programs for ways to do some of the stuff. I know with manycam and super webcam I can change resolutions, inputs close it open it and it doesnt matter at all. Maybe a rework of the virtual driver you install for the streaming to handle these changes better would help. I'm not slamming the program in an way shape or form, I'm actually pretty excited to see how it develops. I would love to help break the program on a regular basis to help you guys fix anything that may come up.

[Mike]

I understand why you feel this way, but the same setup is used by many others (including me) and so far you are the only one having this problem. There might be some external influence, like a faulty webcam driver. Those "free" programs have a much easier setup and therefor may use far less CPU power, so you cannot simply compare. You could start by excluding as many external factors as possible (no cameras, no screen capture), make sure no other programs can grab the virtual driver and try ustream instead of stickam. I'm assuming CPU usage stays in the green? If the problems go away, slowly revert back to the old situation and see when the problems start.

Meanwhile if anyone else has this problem, please let me know.

[FogTom]

Does this problem only show up when using Vista Aero? Have you tried it with Aero disabled? I know a lot of systems can't run with Aero enabled on Vista so maybe that a factor and why others haven't reported a problem. The CPU usage may reveal something too.

-Tom

[digitalfiz]

maybe "easier setup" is what the programmers of this thing should be looking for. Right now besides the internals of how it works it doesn't operate much different then those "free" applications and I don't see why it is so much more buggier. The only thing those free programs are missing compared to VidBlaster is a recorder. What they do have over VidBlaster though is being stable on every system I've ever tried them on. The problem that you think will go away when changing from stickam to ustream is a false assumption because they both just use flash which handles the virtual driver the same way no matter if the domain is ustream.com or stickam.com. Maybe its an issue with the way flash hooks the driver I dunno but there is not just 1 issue in this post its several and several I shouldn't have might I add. I just think VidBlasters foundation should be stablized before any more features appear. The program hardly uses any CPU at all on both my machines so I know its not an issue with that. The issue is not with my cameras because I disabled all cameras in VidBlaster and it still kills aero and its still very touchy about streaming. I don't know if aero dieing is even relevant to the situation because even itunes kills aero sometimes when it starts up. But I do know the touchiness of the virtual driver is though.

Maybe you don't notice it because you have a certain way of doing things in a certain order and you don't mix match steps. First off starting the program you shouldn't have to worry about anything but making sure the camera devices your going to use are plugged in and operational. Not if stickam is up or anything at all. All I'm saying is maybe they should look at how the stream driver works on those free programs to make VidBlasters better and more stable. I should be able to stop/start the stream, change resolutions or feeds without restarting stickam or any program at all that may hook the virtual driver really. It shouldn't be a hassle and a special operation to get something to work properly, specially not when you pay such a hefty price tag when something like it with a few less features is free. I know you can't compare commercial to home use but I am and I am because its relative to the situation. I will say VidBlasters input switching is much smoother then manycam or super webcams but a smooth transition is useless if the program can't stream that smooth transition unless you say its name 3 times, sit on a quarter, sacrifice a small bird and pray before you can get it to work. The first time I open VidBlaster and only if I open VidBlaster first and then go to stickam or livevideo and try to stream things go ok as long as I change nothing but the input or the overlay. But after that first time if it messes up or anything or I go to stream later sometimes I have to restart my browsers and VidBlaster 4-5 times before it decides to work properly. Maybe its an issue with vista maybe not, I'll have to install a virtual machine of xp to see.

Tom, yes I've disabled aero to see if my streaming problems persist and they do. The cpu doesnt bounce much at all for me I have a pretty nice desktop and laptop

[FogTom]

@digitalfiz, Thanks for the feedback and taking the time to detail the issues. One of the purposes of this forum is get get feedback like this because it's hard to test a program in every configuration especially with Windows were there are so many hardware/software choices that can affect how it operates.

I have a new Vista machine here that I will try to duplicate the issues you're seeing. I'll also take a look at the other programs you mentioned.

-Tom