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There is no universal OBS audio sync offset for a continuous YouTube stream: measure which signal arrives first in your actual YouTube playback, then adjust the lagging side. Use Sync Offset on the affected audio source when audio needs timing adjustment; use a video delay when the image is early and needs to wait for later audio. If the sound and picture are aligned with each other but the whole stream reaches viewers late, investigate YouTube latency and delivery instead of changing a source offset.
First identify what is out of sync
“Audio sync” can mean two different problems. OBS source sync is the timing relationship between an audio source and the picture. YouTube live latency is the time between capture and playback for viewers. Changing an OBS audio source’s offset can address the first; it does not by itself fix a stream that is consistently late reaching viewers. OBS’s source reference documents an audio sync offset, while YouTube describes live-stream latency as the delay between camera capture and viewer display.
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- One sound is early or late against the picture: identify which leads and correct the relevant source.
- Picture and sound match, but the stream arrives late: inspect YouTube’s latency mode, network, and delivery protocol.
- OBS preview or monitor looks right, but public playback does not: compare the viewer playback directly and check whether a broadcast delay is configured.
Measure the direction before changing a value
Use a clear, repeatable event in the actual stream, such as a visible clap paired with its sound. Watch the public YouTube playback and note which arrives first. This gives you the direction of the correction; it does not imply a standard number of milliseconds. The right value depends on the specific audio and video path, and the evidence available does not establish a universal starting offset.
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Choose the OBS control that matches the lead
Audio is early: delay the audio source
- In OBS, locate the audio source responsible for the sound—for example, a microphone or other source shown in the audio mixer.
- Open that source’s audio sync controls and adjust its Sync Offset so the audio is delayed relative to the video.
- Make a small measured change, then repeat the same visual/audio cue in a test and check the YouTube playback.
The OBS source reference documents an audio sync offset for a source. Apply the correction to the source whose timing is wrong rather than assuming every audio source needs the same adjustment.
Video is early: delay the image
- Identify the video source whose image appears before its corresponding sound.
- Use a video delay control on that source and adjust it so the image waits for the audio.
- Retest the same cue in YouTube playback and refine only from what you observe.
OBS’s Render Delay Filter delays a source image; the documentation describes it as useful for syncing a webcam image with microphone audio. It is a video-side correction, not an audio Sync Offset.
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Verify the stream viewers receive
Check the actual YouTube playback after changing a source. OBS’s preview is useful while setting up, but it is not proof that public viewer playback has the same timing. YouTube’s API distinguishes a monitor stream—used to review content before it is shown publicly—from the broadcast stream. It also documents a broadcast-delay property associated with monitor-stream settings. If such a delay is part of your setup, compare the monitor and public playback separately rather than compensating for one with an arbitrary source offset. See the LiveBroadcasts API reference.
When the whole stream is late, check YouTube latency instead
YouTube offers normal, low, and ultra-low latency preferences. Lower latency can improve interaction speed, but it leaves less read-ahead buffer and can make playback more exposed to encoder or player issues; network congestion can also add delay even when the connection sustains the average stream bitrate. YouTube recommends normal latency for streams that do not need audience interaction, because it provides the lowest viewer buffering among the described choices. These settings concern delivery to viewers, not the per-source OBS audio offset.
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Delivery protocol matters too. YouTube’s HLS setup guide says HLS has higher latency than RTMP because it sends video in segments, and ultra-low latency is unavailable with HLS. The guide specifies HLS segment durations of 1–4 seconds, with shorter segments producing lower latency. Those are YouTube’s HLS requirements and guidance, not a prescribed OBS audio-sync setting.
The LiveBroadcasts API reference says low latency may affect smoothness, while ultra-low latency further reduces viewer delay but does not support closed captions or resolutions above 1080p. It also documents an explicit broadcast delay associated with monitor-stream settings and says that delay cannot be updated once a broadcast reaches testing or live state. None of these latency choices tells you the right audio offset for an individual OBS source.
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Troubleshoot common sync problems
- You changed the offset, but the mismatch got worse: the wrong side may have been delayed. Recheck the cue and determine whether audio or video leads before making another adjustment.
- Only one audio source is out of time: apply the correction to that source’s timing control rather than shifting unrelated audio.
- Audio and video align in OBS but not in public playback: test on YouTube itself; check for broadcast delay and distinguish monitor playback from the stream viewers receive.
- The whole stream is late, but audio and video stay together: do not use a source offset to hide delivery latency. Review YouTube latency mode, network congestion, and whether the stream uses HLS or RTMP.
- Sync varies between tests: repeat the same cue under the conditions in which viewers experience the issue, and avoid treating one observation as a universal offset for a continuous sequence of videos.
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Quick Recap
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