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First find out whether the audio is consistently early or late, drifts farther out of sync over time, or only sounds wrong in YouTube playback. A measured, stable mismatch can often be corrected with an OBS source sync offset; growing drift needs investigation of clocks, timestamps, source stability, and encoder behavior. Test the finished stream rather than relying on the OBS preview.
Measure the mismatch before changing settings
Make a local recording and, if available, a private or unlisted platform test. Include a repeatable cue that pairs a visible event with a distinct sound—for example, a hand clap. Compare the cue near the start and again later in a representative run. YouTube Help recommends tests with audio and movement similar to the real stream and advises monitoring stream health: Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
Record the encoder or streaming software version, platform, audio sample rate and channel format, audio route, video source, and when the mismatch appears. The preview may not match the delivered stream: an OBS forum report describes a preview that appeared synchronized while YouTube playback did not. That is an example, not evidence that YouTube is the cause in every setup.
Identify which kind of sync problem you have
- The offset is about the same at the start and later: this points to a stable timing difference. Measure it, then try a source offset.
- The stream starts aligned and gradually separates: investigate timing stability, including source clocks, timestamps, sample-rate configuration, reconnects, and encoder behavior. A fixed offset will not necessarily correct a changing mismatch.
- The local recording is aligned but platform playback is not: compare the encoded and delivered paths, check the platform’s stream-health information, and repeat the test with the same cue.
- Picture and sound are both late by the same amount: that is overall stream latency, not an audio/video sync mismatch. Latency is how late the combined stream reaches viewers; sync is whether sound matches picture.
Correct a stable offset in OBS
- Open the source’s timing controls. In OBS, open Advanced Audio Properties and locate Sync Offset for the audio source that actually reaches the stream. OBS documents source sync offset and a Render Delay video filter for delaying a video source: OBS audio/video sync offset.
- Choose the correction direction from the test. If the sound happens before the matching picture, a positive Sync Offset delays audio. If sound arrives after picture, moving audio forward may require a negative offset; alternatively, delaying video may be appropriate if the available controls and source path support it. Confirm the result in the recording or platform playback.
- Change one setting at a time. Note the original value, make a measured adjustment, and repeat the same cue test. Do not copy a generic millisecond value as though it were a universal fix. If a clear test adjustment has no effect, verify that you changed the source routed to the stream rather than a different or duplicated source.
Kick’s guidance cites 100–400 ms as a typical offset range for its own OBS troubleshooting context. It is not a universal target for YouTube or other platforms: Kick Help Center: How to fix audio delay in OBS.
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Investigate drift in a long-running stream
If the mismatch grows during a continuous stream, do not keep adding static offsets to chase it. Check whether audio and video use different clocks or timing paths, whether sample-rate settings are consistent, and whether source reconnects or encoder instability coincide with the change. Compare local output with platform playback and review stream-health information. A third-party 24/7 streaming guide describes FFmpeg audio-sync correction as one possible workflow when a radio source clock differs from the encoder, but that is specific to an FFmpeg-based setup; validate any method against the installed FFmpeg version and actual source behavior rather than applying a command blindly to OBS: VideoGuys: How to live stream 24/7.
Check audio format against the platform
For YouTube Live, the official encoder guidance lists AAC or MP3 audio over RTMP/RTMPS and recommends 44.1 kHz for stereo audio and 48 kHz for 5.1 surround sound. Follow the requirements for the actual platform and channel format; changing sample rate without checking the platform and the rest of the signal chain can introduce new variables. YouTube’s current guidance is at Choose live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
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Kick’s article specifies stereo and a maximum 48 kHz sample rate for Kick. Those settings are platform-specific and should not be generalized to YouTube.
Trace separate audio and video paths before replacing gear
If the audio passes through a separate interface or mixer while video passes through a capture device, test each path independently and look for duplicated or delayed audio routes. A reported OBS case involving a Tascam Mixcast 4 and ATEM Mini Pro illustrates one possible chain to inspect; another guide discusses separate interface and capture delays. These examples make those paths worth checking when they match your setup, but they do not establish that the devices are defective or that new hardware is generally necessary: OBS forum discussion and VideoGuys 24/7 streaming guide.
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