I'm using a Raspberry Pi 3B (OS: Raspian) to livestream an attached camera feed to YouTube using the following command in a python script(I removed the livestream secret key):
raspivid -o - -t 0 -vf -hf -fps 30 -b 6000000 | ffmpeg -re -ar 44100 -ac 2 -acodec pcm_s16le -f s16le -ac 2 -thread_queue_size 1024 -i /dev/zero -f h264 -thread_queue_size 1024 -i - -vcodec copy -acodec aac -ab 128k -g 50 -strict experimental -f flv rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/[My Secret Key]> /home/Desktop/Livestream_Logs/Output_Runthrough.txt 2>&1
However, I am running into a problem where the livestream cuts out at random times (usually after an hour) and the command terminates due to the following error: av_interleaved_write_frame(): Broken pipe
I am new to the ffmpeg command and live-streaming in general, so please go easy on me for I do not know what I am doing wrong with this command, nor do I understand all its arguments! This is a Christmas project I am working on, and I copied this command from this site.
Below is the output log from running the command. There were over 60,000 frames in the log so I removed most lines to save space, but included some samples; the bitrate and speed remained relatively the same throughout the command's execution:
ffmpeg version 4.3.5-0+deb11u1+rpt2 Copyright (c) 2000-2022 the FFmpeg developers
built with gcc 10 (Raspbian 10.2.1-6+rpi1)
configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --enable-shared --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf --cpu=arm1176jzf-s --arch=arm
WARNING: library configuration mismatch
avutil configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
avcodec configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
avformat configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
avdevice configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
avfilter configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
avresample configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
swscale configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
swresample configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
postproc configuration: --prefix=/usr --extra-version=0+deb11u1+rpt2 --toolchain=hardened --incdir=/usr/include/arm-linux-gnueabihf --enable-gpl --disable-stripping --enable-avresample --disable-filter=resample --enable-gnutls --enable-ladspa --enable-libaom --enable-libass --enable-libbluray --enable-libbs2b --enable-libcaca --enable-libcdio --enable-libcodec2 --enable-libdav1d --enable-libflite --enable-libfontconfig --enable-libfreetype --enable-libfribidi --enable-libgme --enable-libgsm --enable-libjack --enable-libmp3lame --enable-libmysofa --enable-libopenjpeg --enable-libopenmpt --enable-libopus --enable-libpulse --enable-librabbitmq --enable-librsvg --enable-librubberband --enable-libshine --enable-libsnappy --enable-libsoxr --enable-libspeex --enable-libsrt --enable-libssh --enable-libtheora --enable-libtwolame --enable-libvidstab --enable-libvorbis --enable-libvpx --enable-libwavpack --enable-libwebp --enable-libx265 --enable-libxml2 --enable-libxvid --enable-libzmq --enable-libzvbi --enable-lv2 --enable-omx --enable-openal --enable-opencl --enable-opengl --enable-sdl2 --enable-mmal --enable-neon --enable-rpi --enable-v4l2-request --enable-libudev --enable-epoxy --enable-pocketsphinx --enable-libdc1394 --enable-libdrm --enable-vout-drm --enable-libiec61883 --enable-chromaprint --enable-frei0r --enable-libx264 --libdir=/usr/lib/arm-linux-gnueabihf/neon/vfp --cpu=cortex-a7 --arch=armv6t2 --disable-thumb --enable-shared --disable-doc --disable-programs
libavutil 56. 51.100 / 56. 51.100
libavcodec 58. 91.100 / 58. 91.100
libavformat 58. 45.100 / 58. 45.100
libavdevice 58. 10.100 / 58. 10.100
libavfilter 7. 85.100 / 7. 85.100
libavresample 4. 0. 0 / 4. 0. 0
libswscale 5. 7.100 / 5. 7.100
libswresample 3. 7.100 / 3. 7.100
libpostproc 55. 7.100 / 55. 7.100
Guessed Channel Layout for Input Stream #0.0 : stereo
Input #0, s16le, from '/dev/zero':
Duration: N/A, bitrate: 1411 kb/s
Stream #0:0: Audio: pcm_s16le, 44100 Hz, stereo, s16, 1411 kb/s
Input #1, h264, from 'pipe:':
Duration: N/A, bitrate: N/A
Stream #1:0: Video: h264 (High), yuv420p(progressive), 1920x1080, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 1200k tbn, 50 tbc
Stream mapping:
Stream #1:0 -> #0:0 (copy)
Stream #0:0 -> #0:1 (pcm_s16le (native) -> aac (native))
Output #0, flv, to 'rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/[My Secret Key]':
Metadata:
encoder : Lavf58.45.100
Stream #0:0: Video: h264 (High) ([7][0][0][0] / 0x0007), yuv420p(progressive), 1920x1080, q=2-31, 25 fps, 25 tbr, 1k tbn, 1200k tbc
Stream #0:1: Audio: aac (LC) ([10][0][0][0] / 0x000A), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 128 kb/s
Metadata:
encoder : Lavc58.91.100 aac
[flv @ 0x17f25a0] Timestamps are unset in a packet for stream 0. This is deprecated and will stop working in the future. Fix your code to set the timestamps properly
frame= 13 fps=0.0 q=-1.0 size= 196kB time=00:00:00.48 bitrate=3338.1kbits/s speed=0.945x
frame= 25 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 598kB time=00:00:00.97 bitrate=5021.1kbits/s speed=0.958x
frame= 38 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 911kB time=00:00:01.48 bitrate=5023.5kbits/s speed=0.977x
frame= 51 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1236kB time=00:00:02.00 bitrate=5060.4kbits/s speed=0.987x
frame= 63 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1622kB time=00:00:02.50 bitrate=5299.4kbits/s speed=0.989x
frame= 76 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1866kB time=00:00:03.00 bitrate=5093.2kbits/s speed=0.988x
frame= 89 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 2157kB time=00:00:03.52 bitrate=5017.7kbits/s speed=0.992x
frame= 101 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 2435kB time=00:00:04.01 bitrate=4965.0kbits/s speed=0.992x
frame= 2119 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 51856kB time=00:01:24.72 bitrate=5013.7kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2131 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 52156kB time=00:01:25.24 bitrate=5012.4kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2144 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 52465kB time=00:01:25.75 bitrate=5012.0kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2157 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 52757kB time=00:01:26.24 bitrate=5011.4kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2170 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 53104kB time=00:01:26.76 bitrate=5014.1kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2182 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 53390kB time=00:01:27.26 bitrate=5012.2kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2195 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 53711kB time=00:01:27.77 bitrate=5013.0kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2207 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 53997kB time=00:01:28.25 bitrate=5011.9kbits/s speed=0.999x
frame= 2220 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 54299kB time=00:01:28.77 bitrate=5010.9kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2232 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 54641kB time=00:01:29.28 bitrate=5013.6kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 2245 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 54952kB time=00:01:29.79 bitrate=5013.5kbits/s speed= 1x
frame= 6384 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 156217kB time=00:04:15.32 bitrate=5012.1kbits/s speed= 1x
frame=63216 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1547043kB time=00:42:08.63 bitrate=5012.0kbits/s speed= 1x
frame=63229 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1547337kB time=00:42:09.12 bitrate=5011.9kbits/s speed= 1x
frame=63242 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1547710kB time=00:42:09.64 bitrate=5012.1kbits/s speed= 1x
frame=63254 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1547959kB time=00:42:10.13 bitrate=5011.9kbits/s speed= 1x
frame=63267 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1548272kB time=00:42:10.65 bitrate=5011.9kbits/s speed= 1x
frame=63274 fps= 25 q=-1.0 size= 1548443kB time=00:42:10.92 bitrate=5011.9kbits/s speed=0.986x
av_interleaved_write_frame(): Broken pipe
[flv @ 0x17f25a0] Failed to update header with correct duration.
[flv @ 0x17f25a0] Failed to update header with correct filesize.
Error writing trailer of rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/[MY SECRET KEY]: Broken pipe
frame=63274 fps= 25 q=-1.0 Lsize= 1548443kB time=00:42:10.92 bitrate=5011.9kbits/s speed=0.986x
video:1544778kB audio:646kB subtitle:0kB other streams:0kB global headers:0kB muxing overhead: 0.195331%
[aac @ 0x17ee650] Qavg: 65536.000
Conversion failed!
As stated before the command I am using is from this site. However, they are using avconv instead of ffmpeg, but since avconv would not work on my raspberry pi, I switched out "avconv" for "ffmpeg" and kept all the same flags.
I also added in "-thread_queue_size 1024" before both "-i" flags. This was a solution that I found within this link, which detailed how to get rid of the following error, which I initially thought could be the culprit to my problem but wasn't:
[h264 @ 0x1308e30] Thread message queue blocking; consider raising the thread_queue_size option (current value: 8)
