There is no universal OBS audio sync offset for a continuous YouTube stream. First find out whether audio or video arrives early in the playback viewers actually see. Then adjust the early side: use Sync Offset on the affected audio source when audio is early, or a video delay when video is early. Recheck the public YouTube playback after each change.
First identify what is out of sync
This guide addresses an OBS live broadcast to YouTube, including a stream that plays videos continuously. The right correction depends on the playback chain and the direction of the mismatch; a value that works for one source or setup may be wrong for another.
Use a clear event that has both a visible action and a sound, such as a clap, and watch the actual YouTube playback. Note which happens first. If audio and video match each other but the whole broadcast reaches viewers late, that is a viewer-latency issue—not an OBS source sync offset problem.
Choose the OBS control based on which signal leads
Audio is early
Adjust the affected audio source’s Sync Offset in OBS. OBS documents an audio sync offset for a source; apply the adjustment to the source carrying the sound that is out of time, rather than assuming every audio source needs the same change. The OBS source reference describes the audio sync offset: OBS Studio source reference API.
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Video is early
Delay the video source instead of adding an audio delay. OBS’s Render Delay filter delays a source’s image and is documented as useful for syncing a webcam image with microphone audio. Add it to the video source that needs to wait, then measure again: OBS Render Delay Filter documentation.
The sign of a measured offset can help identify which side leads. The optional obs-audio-video-sync-dock project documents a measurement dock: positive latency indicates lagging audio and early video; negative latency indicates early audio and lagging video. It is project documentation, not a guarantee that the tool is available or compatible with every setup.
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Make and verify the adjustment
- Check the public YouTube playback. Use the same video-and-sound cue and decide whether audio or video comes first. Do not infer a source offset from a delayed arrival alone.
- Find the affected OBS source. Trace which audio source or mixer path carries the sound. If that audio is early, adjust its Sync Offset. If its paired image is early, use a video delay such as Render Delay on the relevant source.
- Change one control at a time. There is no documented universal millisecond starting value. Make a measured adjustment, replay the cue, and refine it until the two events line up.
- Recheck the audience playback. Confirm the result on YouTube, not only in OBS’s preview or monitor. If the mismatch changes, re-evaluate which side leads before making another adjustment.
Separate source sync from YouTube viewer latency
OBS Sync Offset changes timing for an audio source. YouTube stream latency is the delay between capture and display to viewers. A broadcast can arrive late while remaining internally synchronized, so raising an audio offset will not solve that symptom. YouTube explains the distinction and the latency trade-offs in its live streaming latency guidance.
YouTube describes a trade-off between interaction speed and playback resilience: a smaller player read-ahead buffer reduces delay but leaves less protection against encoder or player issues. Network congestion can add delay even when a connection sustains the stream’s average bitrate. YouTube recommends normal latency for streams without audience interaction because, among its described choices, it offers the lowest viewer buffering.
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Check latency mode, protocol, and monitor delay only when relevant
Latency mode
YouTube’s LiveBroadcasts API lists normal, low, and ultra-low latency preferences. Its documentation says low latency may affect smoothness; ultra-low latency reduces viewer delay further but does not support closed captions or resolutions above 1080p. These settings concern delivery to viewers, not an individual OBS audio source’s sync offset: Google LiveBroadcasts API reference.
RTMP or HLS ingestion
YouTube says HLS has higher latency than RTMP because it sends video in segments rather than as a continuous stream. Ultra-low latency is unavailable with HLS. YouTube specifies HLS segment durations of 1–4 seconds and says shorter segments can reduce latency. These are YouTube’s HLS setup requirements and guidance, not a prescribed OBS audio offset: YouTube HLS setup guide.
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Broadcast delay and monitor stream
If a broadcast delay or monitor stream is configured, the timing you see as the broadcaster may differ from what viewers receive. YouTube’s API documentation describes a monitor stream for reviewing content before it is shown publicly and documents a broadcast delay property. It also says that the explicit broadcast delay cannot be updated after a broadcast reaches testing or live state. Check the audience playback before changing source sync: YouTube Live Streaming API overview.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common sync symptoms
- Audio leads the picture: adjust Sync Offset on the affected OBS audio source, then verify the public YouTube playback.
- Picture leads the audio: delay the relevant video source with an appropriate video delay control. OBS Render Delay is documented for delaying a source image.
- Sync seems right in OBS but wrong on YouTube: use public viewer playback as the test. Check whether a broadcast delay or monitor stream separates what you see from what viewers receive.
- Audio and video are aligned, but viewers see the stream late: do not change source sync to fix overall delivery delay. Check YouTube latency mode, network conditions, and whether the stream uses RTMP or HLS.
- Sync changes between tests: repeat the same cue on the actual playback chain and make one adjustment at a time. The correct offset depends on the setup; no supplied evidence establishes a universal value.
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