Fixing Glitchy Video with OBS via SRT

When your desktop OBS sends to FizzyPeak over SRT and the image stutters or pixelates — one single URL parameter fixes the problem.

Fixing Glitchy Video with OBS via SRT

Streaming over SRT from your desktop OBS into your FizzyPeak ingest, and the image stutters, pixelates, or shows block artifacts? This is a known issue with unstable home connections, and it has a surprisingly simple solution: more latency.

Why does this happen?

SRT uses a latency window to re-request lost packets. When your internet has packet loss or jitter — which happens on almost any DSL or cable line under load — OBS's default latency window isn't enough. Packets arrive too late and get discarded, and your image glitches.

The fix

Append the parameter latency=1000000 to your SRT URL. This gives SRT 1 extra second to redeliver lost packets.

Before

srt://ingest.fizzypeak.stream:9999?streamid=publish:live/YOUR-KEY

After

srt://ingest.fizzypeak.stream:9999?streamid=publish:live/YOUR-KEY&latency=1000000

Step by step in OBS

1. In OBS, open Settings → Stream
2. Set Service to Custom
3. Paste the SRT URL with the new parameter into the Server field
4. Click Apply and restart your stream

What it costs you

The parameter latency=1000000 (1 million microseconds = 1 second) adds exactly 1 second of delay to your stream. For IRL streaming and classic broadcasts that's normal — most viewers won't notice the difference. It only becomes noticeable with highly reactive interactions (e.g. Just Chatting ping-pong with chat).

Our guideline: if your home internet shows jitter above 20 ms or packet loss above 0.5% in a speed test, you definitely need this parameter.

Even more latency for weak lines

On very poor connections you can go up to latency=2000000 (2 seconds). Formula: an SRT link should have at least four times the average RTT as latency. You can see your RTT in the FizzyPeak dashboard under Stream Health.

Alternative: SRTLA instead of SRT

If you frequently have problems and your household has multiple internet connections (main line + LTE backup), use SRTLA directly via Belabox or Moblin instead of SRT. SRTLA bonds multiple connections and compensates for packet loss automatically, without artificial extra latency.

Common follow-up errors

"SRT error: connection lost" — check whether your firewall lets UDP through on port 4000. FizzyPeak uses UDP, not TCP.

Image clear, but audio crackles — in OBS under Audio, set the sample rate to 48 kHz and the bitrate mode to CBR. SRT doesn't like variable audio bitrates.

Still stuttering after the fix — open the output mode to Advanced and set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds. Keyframes that are too long amplify SRT glitches during packet loss.

Noch Fragen? Öffne das Dashboard oder schreib im Discord #support.