Screen Consumer not responding

General
,
1

Fresh install. Windows 11. First time using CasparCG. When I run the server, the “Screen consumer” window opens but is blank/grey and the title bar reads: “Screen consumer [1|720p5000] (Not Responding)”. I tried to play a file, and everything seemed to work (no errors) but no video in the window. Note however, I did hear the video’s audio.

I’m just trying to test this software to see if we can use it in our workflow. I have plenty of experience with broadcast CGs (Viz, Xpression) but can’t get this to show any output. Appreciate any help.

Console output:

[2025-03-07 13:34:18.211] [info]    ############################################################################
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.211] [info]    CasparCG Server is distributed by the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation (SVT)
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.211] [info]    under the GNU General Public License GPLv3 or higher.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.211] [info]    Please see LICENSE.TXT for details.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.211] [info]    http://www.casparcg.com/
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.211] [info]    ############################################################################
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.211] [info]    Starting CasparCG Video and Graphics Playout Server 2.4.3 fd9168c Stable
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]    "D:/Program Files\CasparCG\Server\casparcg.config":
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]    -----------------------------------------
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]    <configuration>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       <paths>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          <media-path>media/</media-path>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          <log-path disable="false">log/</log-path>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          <data-path>data/</data-path>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          <template-path>template/</template-path>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       </paths>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       <lock-clear-phrase>secret</lock-clear-phrase>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       <channels>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          <channel>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]             <video-mode>720p5000</video-mode>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]             <consumers>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]                <screen/>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]                <system-audio/>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]             </consumers>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          </channel>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       </channels>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       <controllers>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          <tcp>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]             <port>5250</port>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]             <protocol>AMCP</protocol>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          </tcp>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       </controllers>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       <amcp>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          <media-server>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]             <host>localhost</host>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]             <port>8000</port>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]          </media-server>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]       </amcp>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]    </configuration>
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]    -----------------------------------------
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.213] [info]    Initialized video modes.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.881] [info]    Initializing OpenGL Device.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.892] [info]    Initialized OpenGL 4.5.0 NVIDIA 551.86 NVIDIA Corporation
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.969] [info]    Initialized OpenGL Accelerated GPU Image Mixer for channel 1
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    video_channel[1|720p5000] Successfully Initialized.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    Initialized channels.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    Initialized command repository.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    Initialized image module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    Initialized ffmpeg module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    Initialized oal module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    Initialized decklink module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.970] [info]    Initialized screen module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.971] [info]    Initialized newtek module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:18.971] [info]    Initialized artnet module.
[0307/133419.044:WARNING:policy_logger.cc(148)] :components\enterprise\browser\controller\chrome_browser_cloud_management_controller.cc(88) Could not create policy manager as CBCM is not enabled.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.335] [info]    Initialized html module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.335] [info]    Flash support is disabled
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.335] [info]    Initialized flash module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.344] [info]    Initialized bluefish module.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.344] [info]    Initialized modules.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.345] [info]    Screen consumer [1|720p5000] Initialized.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.415] [info]    oal[1|720p5000] Initialized.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.415] [info]    Initialized startup producers.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.417] [info]    Initialized controllers.
[2025-03-07 13:34:19.417] [info]    Initialized osc.
PLAY 1-10 "IMG_7588"
[2025-03-07 13:34:24.927] [info]    Received message from Console: PLAY 1-10 "IMG_7588"\r\n
#202 PLAY OK
2

I managed to get it to work, though I don’t know why. I have 3 screens - a laptop screen and 2 external monitors. I could only get it to run on my main monitor by editing the config file and changing the screen device:

<consumers>
    <screen>
        <device>0</device>
    </screen>
    <system-audio />
</consumers>

After some testing, it appears it only runs if you specify the Windows “main” display in the screen settings.

3

I assume you are using the latest server release V2.4.3. I have not seen the error you experience, but I can confirm from the log you posted that you should see the video output in a window. I downloaded V2.4.3 and loaded it onto a Windows 11 host PC and it displayed correctly.

One feature in CasparCG is the channel output producers can be dynamically loaded and removed. Try a small adjustment to the casparcg.config file where you remove the screen consumer at CasparCG startup.

<channels>
   <channel>
      <video-mode>720p5000</video-mode>
      <consumers>
         <system-audio/>
      </consumers>
   </channel>
</channels>

If you start CaspaarCG then play your clip you should still hear the audio from the PC audio system.

In the server console window type the command:
add 1 screen
which adds a screen consumer to channel 1. Does this create a valid output window without any error in the title bar?

If it does not create the output window you could try a different video mode. The video mode can be set from the console window with the command
set 1 mode 720p6000.

If you are unable to get an output window with newest version of server try server V2.4.1 or V2.3.3 LTS Stable.

4

Just after I posted my inital reply I saw your post saying you got it to work on screen 0.

If your external screens are set as an extended desktop you should be able to set the CasparCG window to show on the external monitor by defining the and values in the consumer configuration. You can also set the and if the default values are not appropriate.

If the screens are set as seperate outputs you should be able to direct the Caspar screen by providing the screen id in the <device> </device> part of the config.