Crowsnest unable to use mjpg and low fps

[lin-ycv]

I'm configuring my conf based on the logs, i see that it says my webcam supports 'MJPG' (Motion-JPEG, compressed) at 30 fps, but when i set custom_flags: --format=MJPG I don't get any image output at all.

in the logs i also see Size: Discrete 640x480 Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps) but when i use YUYV at 640x480, i only get 7~9 fps

Any ideas on how to improve fps? lowering the resolution doesn't seem to help, tho increasing it futher lowers the fps.

Log

[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: crowsnest - A webcam Service for multiple Cams and Stream Services.
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Version: v4.1.9-1-gd75a3ae
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Prepare Startup ...
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: INFO: Host information:
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Host Info: Distribution: Ubuntu 20.04.6 LTS
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Host Info: Kernel: Linux 4.9.191 aarch64
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Host Info: Available CPU Cores: 4
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Host Info: Available Memory: 999676 kB
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Host Info: Diskspace (avail. / total): 7.9G / 15G
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: INFO: Checking Dependencies
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Dependency: 'crudini' found in /usr/bin/crudini.
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Dependency: 'find' found in /usr/bin/find.
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Dependency: 'xargs' found in /usr/bin/xargs.
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Dependency: 'ustreamer' found in bin/ustreamer/src/ustreamer.bin.
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Version Control: ustreamer is up to date. (v6.10)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: INFO: Print Configfile: '/home/pi/printer_data/config/crowsnest.conf'
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		[crowsnest]
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		log_path: /home/pi/printer_data/logs/crowsnest.log
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		log_level: verbose
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		delete_log: true
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		no_proxy: false
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		[cam 1]
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		mode: ustreamer
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		enable_rtsp: false
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		rtsp_port: 8554
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		port: 8080
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		device: /dev/video0
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		resolution: 640x480
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		max_fps: 15
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		custom_flags: --format=MJPG
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: INFO: Detect available Devices
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: INFO: Found 1 total available Device(s)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: INFO: Found 1 available v4l2 (UVC) camera(s)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: /dev/v4l/by-id/usb-YT-221117-J_USB2.0_Camera-video-index0 -> /dev/video0
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Supported Formats:
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		[0]: 'MJPG' (Motion-JPEG, compressed)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1920x1080
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 640x480
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 352x288
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 424x240
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 640x360
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 800x480
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 800x600
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1024x576
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1280x720
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1600x896
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		[1]: 'YUYV' (YUYV 4:2:2)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1920x1080
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.200s (5.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 640x480
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 352x288
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 424x240
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 640x360
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.033s (30.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 800x480
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.040s (25.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 800x600
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1024x576
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.067s (15.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1280x720
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.100s (10.000 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Size: Discrete 1600x896
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		Interval: Discrete 0.133s (7.500 fps)
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest: Supported Controls:
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		brightness 0x00980900 (int)    : min=-64 max=64 step=1 default=0 value=0
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		contrast 0x00980901 (int)    : min=0 max=95 step=1 default=4 value=4
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		saturation 0x00980902 (int)    : min=0 max=100 step=1 default=62 value=62
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		hue 0x00980903 (int)    : min=-2000 max=2000 step=100 default=0 value=0
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		white_balance_temperature_auto 0x0098090c (bool)   : default=1 value=1
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		gamma 0x00980910 (int)    : min=100 max=300 step=1 default=125 value=125
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		power_line_frequency 0x00980918 (menu)   : min=0 max=2 default=1 value=1
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		0: Disabled
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		1: 50 Hz
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		2: 60 Hz
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		white_balance_temperature 0x0098091a (int)    : min=2800 max=6500 step=1 default=4600 value=4600 flags=inactive
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		sharpness 0x0098091b (int)    : min=1 max=7 step=1 default=4 value=4
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		backlight_compensation 0x0098091c (int)    : min=0 max=3 step=1 default=0 value=0
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		exposure_auto 0x009a0901 (menu)   : min=0 max=3 default=3 value=3
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		1: Manual Mode
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		3: Aperture Priority Mode
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		exposure_absolute 0x009a0902 (int)    : min=78 max=10000 step=1 default=312 value=312 flags=inactive
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		focus_absolute 0x009a090a (int)    : min=0 max=1023 step=1 default=0 value=420 flags=inactive
[07/16/24 11:34:06] crowsnest:		focus_auto 0x009a090c (bool)   : default=1 value=1
[07/16/24 11:34:07] crowsnest: Try to start configured Cams / Services...
[07/16/24 11:34:09] crowsnest: INFO: Configuration of Section [cam 1] looks good. Continue ...
[07/16/24 11:34:11] crowsnest: V4L2 Control: No parameters set for [cam 1]. Skipped.

Conf

#### crowsnest.conf
#### This is a typical default config.
#### Also used as default in mainsail / MainsailOS
#### See:
#### https://github.com/mainsail-crew/crowsnest/blob/master/README.md
#### for details to configure to your needs.


#####################################################################
####                                                            #####
####      Information about ports and according URL's           #####
####                                                            #####
#####################################################################
####                                                            #####
####    Port 8080 equals /webcam/?action=[stream/snapshot]      #####
####    Port 8081 equals /webcam2/?action=[stream/snapshot]     #####
####    Port 8082 equals /webcam3/?action=[stream/snapshot]     #####
####    Port 8083 equals /webcam4/?action=[stream/snapshot]     #####
####                                                            #####
####    Note: These ports are default for most Mainsail         #####
####    installations. To use any other port would involve      #####
####    changing the proxy configuration or using directly      #####
####    http://<ip>:<port>/?action=[stream/snapshot]            #####
####                                                            #####
#####################################################################
####    RTSP Stream URL: ( if enabled and supported )           #####
####    rtsp://<ip>:<rtsp_port>/stream.h264                     #####
#####################################################################


[crowsnest]
log_path: /home/pi/printer_data/logs/crowsnest.log
log_level: verbose                      # Valid Options are quiet/verbose/debug
delete_log: true                       # Deletes log on every restart, if set to true
no_proxy: false

[cam 1]
mode: ustreamer                         # ustreamer - Provides mjpg and snapshots. (All devices)
                                        # camera-streamer - Provides webrtc, mjpg and snapshots. (rpi + Raspi OS based only)
enable_rtsp: false                      # If camera-streamer is used, this enables also usage of an rtsp server
rtsp_port: 8554                         # Set different ports for each device!
port: 8080                              # HTTP/MJPG Stream/Snapshot Port
device: /dev/video0                     # See Log for available ...
resolution: 640x480                     # widthxheight format
max_fps: 15                             # If Hardware Supports this it will be forced, otherwise ignored/coerced.
custom_flags: --format=MJPG                          # You can run the Stream Services with custom flags.
#v4l2ctl:                               # Add v4l2-ctl parameters to setup your camera, see Log what your cam is capable of.

[mryel00]

It's using MJPEG encoder by default as you can see here
If you want to do add it manually you have to write --format=MJPEG as ustreamer does this a bit special. The log that you sent also show no start of the streamer and no crash. It takes some time for Crowsnest to actually start everything.

As to why you got low fps, it's most likely limited by your network speed to the Pi. The Pis Wifi isn't that fast and therefore it can have trouble if the connection isn't good enough.