First check whether the audio is out of sync by about the same amount at the start and end of your recording, or whether the gap grows over time. A steady offset may be corrected with OBS’s Sync Offset setting or by manually moving a detached audio track in Clipchamp. Increasing drift calls for checking the recording setup—especially audio devices, their settings, and computer workload—because one fixed delay cannot explain a gap that keeps growing.
Diagnose the kind of sync problem
Make a short test recording that includes a visible event with a matching sound, such as a clap or click. Compare the sound and event near the beginning, then compare them again later in the file.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- About the same gap throughout: this is consistent with a fixed offset.
- A gap that grows or changes: this is consistent with drift. Investigate the capture chain and workload rather than relying on one static delay.
This is a practical comparison, not a standardized test: there is no universal acceptable delay or required test duration established by the cited guidance. Check the saved file, not only what you hear while monitoring during capture.
Correct a fixed offset in OBS
OBS provides a per-source Sync Offset control in milliseconds. The right value depends on the particular computer and the way its audio and video are processed; there is no setting that works for every setup. Focusrite’s setup guide describes the control and recommends testing the actual configuration: How to set up a Focusrite interface in OBS.
#1 Best Overall
- Pro performance with great pre-amps - Achieve a brighter recording thanks to the high performing mic pre-amps of the Scarlett 3rd Gen. A switchable Air mode will add extra clarity to your acoustic instruments when recording with your Solo 3rd Gen
- Get the perfect guitar and vocal take with - With two high-headroom instrument inputs to plug in your guitar or bass so that they shine through. Capture your voice and instruments without any unwanted clipping or distortion thanks to our Gain Halos
- Studio quality recording for your music & podcasts - Achieve pro sounding recordings with Scarlett 3rd Gen’s high-performance converters enabling you to record and mix at up to 24-bit/192kHz. Your recordings will retain all of their sonic qualities
- Low-noise for crystal clear listening - 2 low-noise balanced outputs provide clean audio playback with 3rd Gen. Hear all the nuances of your tracks or music from Spotify, Apple & Amazon Music. Plug-in headphones for private listening in high-fidelity
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
- In OBS, open Advanced Audio Properties for the audio source that is out of sync.
- Adjust that source’s Sync Offset value in milliseconds. Make a small test change rather than assuming a particular number is correct.
- Record another short sample containing a visible sound event.
- Check the saved recording near the start and later on. Keep the change only if it improves the exported file; monitoring delay and recorded-file delay are not necessarily the same.
- If the result is worse, restore the prior value and test a different adjustment.
Correct an existing recording in Clipchamp
If you already have a Clipchamp project and its audio is available as a separate track, Microsoft documents detaching the audio and editing it on the timeline. You can move, split, or trim a detached audio asset, then check the exported video to confirm the result.
- Open the recording in Clipchamp and detach its audio using the editor’s audio controls. Microsoft’s instructions for making a screen recording explain the recording workflow: How to make a screen recording.
- On the timeline, move the detached audio track to align it with a visible event, or split and trim it if the alignment changes at a particular point. See Microsoft’s guide to adding audio or music to videos.
- Export a test and review the exported file at the beginning and later in the recording. Timeline edits are manual realignment, not automatic synchronization repair.
If the audio drifts farther out of sync
A static offset may help at one point in a file but cannot, by itself, account for a delay that accumulates over time. Trace the recording path and change one setting at a time, saving a test file after each change.
Rank #2
- The new generation of the songwriter's interface: Plug in your mic and guitar and let Scarlett Solo 4th Gen bring big studio sound to wherever you make music
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Find your signature sound: Scarlett 4th Gen's improved Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- All you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
- Everything in the box: Includes Pro Tools Intro+, Ableton Live Lite, Cubase LE, and Hitmaker Expansion: a suite of essential effects, powerful software instruments, and easy-to-use mastering tools
Check audio devices and settings
List the audio sources in the recording—such as a microphone and a USB capture device—and identify which source is late or drifting. Separate physical devices can have independent clocks. An OBS Project forum discussion raises mismatched audio refresh rates and independent device clocks as possible troubleshooting leads, but these community suggestions are not a conclusive diagnosis for every system: Video & audio not in sync problem.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Inspect the relevant audio settings for the devices in your setup and check whether their formats or rates are mismatched. Do not assume a particular device is faulty just because it is part of the capture chain.
Rank #3
- PLUG IN AND HEAR SOUND IN SECONDS - USB Type-A connector with a 3.5mm stereo headphone output and a separate 3.5mm mono microphone input. No drivers, no software, no external power - the adapter is USB bus-powered and is recognized as a standard USB audio device.
- WORKS ON WINDOWS, MAC AND LINUX - Driverless on Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP/Server 2003/Vista/7/8, Linux and Mac OSX, and compliant with the USB Audio Device Class 1.0 specification, so any system that supports class-compliant USB audio will see it. Select it as the sound output and input device after plugging it in.
- TWO JACKS, TWO JOBS - The green jack is stereo OUT for headphones or powered speakers; the pink jack is mono microphone IN for a 3.5mm mic. It does NOT support 4-pole headsets on a single combo plug, it does NOT power passive speakers, and it does NOT add surround sound - it is a stereo 2-channel adapter.
- FOR LAPTOPS AND DESKTOPS THAT NEED AN AUDIO PORT BACK - Adds a headphone and mic port to a laptop, desktop, or mini PC whose onboard jack has failed or was never there. Managed and work-issued computers can block new USB audio devices by policy - check with your IT department before ordering for a company machine.
- SABRENT SUPPORT AND WARRANTY - What is in the box: one USB audio sound adapter. Backed by a 1-year limited warranty, extended to 2 years when you register within 90 days on the manufacturer's website.
Check whether the workload is too demanding
Recording demands vary with encoder, resolution, frame rate, and scene complexity. OBS’s requirements page cautions that meeting minimum compatibility requirements does not guarantee a computer can handle a particular workload; the page is dated August 25, 2021: OBS System Requirements.
For a basic configuration check, OBS’s help portal points users to the Auto-Configuration Wizard and Simple output mode with recording presets. These are starting points for reviewing workload and recording quality, not guaranteed sync fixes: OBS Help Portal.
Rank #4
- Podcast, Record, Live Stream, This Portable Audio Interface Covers it All - USB sound card for Mac or PC delivers 48kHz audio resolution for pristine recording every time
- Be ready for anything with this versatile M-AUDIO interface - Record guitar, vocals or line input signals with two combo XLR / Line / Instrument Inputs with phantom power
- Everything you Demand from an Audio Interface for Fuss-Free Monitoring - 1/4" headphone output and stereo 1/4" outputs for total monitoring flexibility; USB/Direct switch for zero latency monitoring
- Get the best out of your Microphones - M-Track Duo’s transparent Crystal Preamps guarantee optimal sound from all your microphones including condenser mics
- The MPC Production Experience - Includes MPC Beats Software complete with the essential production tools from Akai Professional
Common mistakes and what to do instead
- Applying one delay to a growing drift: compare the file at multiple points. If the gap grows, investigate devices, settings, and workload rather than treating it as a fixed offset.
- Judging by live monitoring alone: play back the saved recording independently. A delay heard while monitoring an input does not prove that the recorded file has the same delay.
- Changing several settings at once: change one variable, make a short recording, and compare it. Otherwise it is difficult to tell what helped.
- Replacing hardware before isolating the cause: the available guidance does not establish a capture card or microphone replacement as a general fix. An audio interface may be worth considering only if multiple physical sources and independent clocks are suspected; it is not a repair for a fixed offset already in a file or a guaranteed cure for drift.
Or let it run in the cloud
If the recording is meant to play continuously as a YouTube live stream, StreamNeo is a separate option from fixing a screen recording’s sync: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live. StreamNeo loops uploaded videos from the cloud, so nothing has to stay on at home. Your video streams as uploaded at any quality up to 4K 60fps for one flat price per slot, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. Learn more at StreamNeo, or start the free first day.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The new generation of the artist's interface: Connect your mic to Scarlett's 4th Gen mic pres. Plug in your guitar. Fire up the included software. Start making your first big hit
- Studio-quality sound: With a huge 120dB dynamic range, the newest generation of Scarlett uses the same converters as Focusrite’s flagship interfaces, found in the world's biggest studios
- Never lose a great take: Scarlett 4th Gen's Auto Gain sets the perfect level for your mic or guitar, and Clip Safe prevents clipping, so you can focus on the music
- Find your signature sound: Air mode lifts vocals and guitars to the front of the mix, adding musical presence and rich harmonic drive to your recordings
- With Scarlett 4th Gen, you have all you need to record, mix and master your music: Includes industry-leading recording software and a full collection of record-making plugins
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
