First identify whether the audio is consistently early or late, gradually drifting out of sync, or out of sync only for one viewer. A fixed offset usually calls for delaying the early source; growing drift or a single viewer’s playback problem needs a different fix. These steps help distinguish those cases before you change settings.
First identify what is delayed
“Delay” can describe two separate problems:
- Audio-video sync: speech, game audio, or other sound does not line up with the picture.
- Stream delay: viewers see the entire broadcast after it happens. Twitch describes this as a buffer between the live event and viewer playback. It can affect interaction and moderation, but it does not correct an audio-video mismatch. See Twitch’s explanation of stream delay.
For sync problems, note whether the offset stays about the same or gets worse over time. Also note where you hear or see it: OBS monitoring, a local recording, the public stream, one viewer’s device, or an uploaded video.
Check whether the problem is in the stream or the playback
- Compare a local recording or OBS preview with the public stream. This helps establish whether the mismatch is already present in your output or appears during playback.
- Watch the public stream from another computer or smartphone. Twitch recommends checking from another device rather than relying only on the broadcaster’s own monitor. See Twitch Sports: Getting Started.
- If only one viewer or browser is affected, troubleshoot playback first. Refresh or restart the player, try another stream, and test another network. If other streams play correctly but yours does not, the configuration of that particular broadcast may be involved. Follow Twitch’s playback troubleshooting steps.
Do not change OBS offsets just because one viewer reports a problem. First confirm that the mismatch appears on another device or in a recording.
Correct a constant audio-video offset in OBS
If the mismatch stays consistent, delay the element that arrives first. Which control you use depends on whether audio or video is early; there is no universal millisecond value that fits every setup.
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If audio arrives before the picture
- In OBS, open the audio source controls and choose Advanced Audio Properties.
- Find the relevant source’s Sync Offset (ms) setting.
- Enter an offset to delay that audio source. Base it on the mismatch you observe, then test again; do not treat a value from another setup as a guaranteed fix.
If the picture arrives before audio
- In OBS, open the filters for the video capture source that is out of sync.
- Add a Render Delay filter to delay the video.
- Adjust the delay based on the observed mismatch, then verify the result from the viewer side.
Twitch documents these OBS controls in its streaming setup guidance. After an adjustment, check a recording or the public stream from another device rather than judging only by OBS monitoring.
Investigate sync that gets worse over time
A fixed offset moves audio or video by a constant amount; it cannot correct a mismatch that keeps growing. If a stream begins in sync and gradually drifts, avoid repeatedly changing Sync Offset to chase it.
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First compare the recording or viewer output with what you hear through OBS monitoring. Monitoring can behave differently from stream output in some device-clock arrangements, so establish which signal is actually drifting before changing source settings.
An OBS forum discussion started on April 24, 2023, describes possible causes including audio-device timing, mismatched audio refresh rates, system load, and monitoring clocks. These are community suggestions, not a universal diagnosis or a guarantee that any one change will fix the problem. The discussion also mentions a properly timed audio interface as a possible remedy for persistent device-related drift, but does not test or recommend a specific model. See the OBS Project Forums discussion.
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Begin with isolation: check whether the drift appears in a local recording, the public stream, or only monitoring. If it follows a particular device or persists across recordings, investigate that device’s timing and your system’s ability to keep up before buying anything.
Fix sync in a YouTube upload
If the problem is in an uploaded video rather than a live broadcast, compare the durations of its audio and video tracks. YouTube advises editing the tracks in video-editing software before uploading if their durations do not match.
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- Play the original file and check whether the audio and picture are already out of sync.
- Compare the audio-track and video-track durations in your editing software.
- If they differ, correct the tracks in the editor and export a repaired file before uploading again.
- Test both the original file and the YouTube upload in other browsers to help distinguish a file problem from playback trouble.
See YouTube Help’s guidance for audio or video issues with uploads.
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