OBS Audio Delay: Fixes for Out-of-Sync Sound
OBS audio delay is when the sound in your recording or stream plays noticeably later than the video, and the fix is to adjust the audio offset or sync settings in OBS Studio. You can correct it by adding a positive or negative audio offset to the specific source, or by enabling and configuring the “Sync Offset” and “Use Buffering” options. The exact steps depend on whether the delay is constant or grows over time, which this guide covers in detail.
Why Audio and Video Fall Out of Sync
Audio and video travel different paths inside OBS before they reach the encoder. Video goes through the GPU, which can add a few frames of processing time, especially with heavy filters, scaling, or a high-resolution canvas. Audio goes through the audio engine, which buffers samples to avoid crackles and dropouts. When these two paths take different amounts of time, the result is a delay between what you see and what you hear.
There are also external causes. A capture card, a webcam, or a USB microphone can each introduce their own latency. A game running at a low frame rate can make the video appear to lag while the audio stays on time. Even Bluetooth headphones can add a noticeable delay to audio monitoring, though that does not necessarily affect the stream itself.
How to Measure the Delay in OBS
Before changing any settings, you need to know how many milliseconds the audio is behind or ahead. The easiest way is to record a short clip of something with a clear visual and audio cue, like a metronome or a video of someone clapping. Play the recording back and pause it at the exact moment the clap happens. Count the time difference between the visual impact and the sound. That number, in milliseconds, is your offset.
If the delay is constant, you can fix it with a single offset value. If the delay grows over time, the problem is usually a drifting clock in a capture device or a mismatched sample rate, and an offset alone will not solve it permanently.
Setting a Sync Offset for a Source
OBS lets you set an audio offset per source, which is the most direct fix for a constant delay. Right-click the source in the Audio Mixer or the Sources list, select “Properties,” and look for “Sync Offset.” A positive value delays the audio by that many milliseconds, which is useful when the audio arrives too early. A negative value makes the audio play earlier, which is useful when the audio arrives too late.
For example, if your capture card shows the video 150 ms before the audio, set the sync offset to -150. If your webcam video lags 80 ms behind the audio, set the offset to +80. This setting applies only to that source, so you can compensate for each device independently.
Using the Global Audio Offset
If every source has the same delay, you can set a global offset instead. Go to Settings > Audio and look for “Global Audio Offset.” This shifts all audio tracks by the same amount. It is useful when your entire recording is consistently out of sync, but it will not fix a problem that only affects one device.
Keep in mind that the global offset is added on top of each source’s sync offset. If you have already set a per-source offset, the two values combine. It is usually better to use one or the other to avoid confusion.
Fixing Drift: Sample Rate and Buffering
When the delay grows over time, the audio and video clocks are not running at the same speed. This often happens when a capture device uses a different sample rate than OBS. Make sure all devices are set to the same sample rate, typically 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz, in Windows sound settings and in OBS under Settings > Audio.
Another cause of drift is the “Use Buffering” option in the audio source properties. Enabling it tells OBS to buffer the audio stream to compensate for jitter, but it can also introduce a growing delay if the buffer is too large or if the device clock is unstable. Try setting it to “Enabled” or “Auto” and test again. If the drift persists, try disabling it.
Common Mistakes and Misconceptions
One common mistake is confusing the audio monitor delay with the actual stream delay. The sound you hear in your headphones can be delayed by your audio interface or Bluetooth, but that does not mean the stream is delayed. Always check the final recording or the stream preview, not your local monitoring.
Another misconception is that a single offset fixes everything. If you change the video resolution, add a filter, or switch capture devices, the delay can change. Re-measure after any significant change.
Also, do not use the “Audio Monitoring” setting to fix sync. That only affects what you hear locally, not what is recorded or streamed.
Advanced: Using the Audio Offset in the Output
If you are recording with multiple audio tracks, you can apply an offset to the entire output by editing the “Audio Offset” in the Advanced Output settings. This is rarely needed because the per-source and global offsets cover most cases, but it can be useful when you are mixing audio from an external program that has its own delay.
For live streaming, you can also use the “Stream Delay” setting, but that is for delaying the entire stream, not for fixing audio sync. Do not confuse the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my audio delayed only in OBS and not in other programs?
OBS applies its own audio processing and buffering, which can add latency that other programs do not have. The video path also goes through the GPU, which can add a few frames. This is normal, and the offset settings are designed to compensate for it.
Can I fix audio delay with a filter?
No, there is no audio filter in OBS that directly changes the timing of a source. The sync offset is the correct tool. Filters like compressors or noise suppression can add a tiny amount of latency, but they do not solve a large delay.
What is the best sync offset value?
There is no universal value. It depends on your hardware and settings. Measure the delay as described above and use that exact number. A typical value is between 50 and 200 ms, but it can be higher with certain capture cards or webcams.
Why does the delay get worse the longer I stream?
This is usually a clock drift issue. The audio device and the video device are running at slightly different speeds. Check that all sample rates match and try enabling or disabling buffering. If it still drifts, you may need to replace the capture device or use a different audio input.
Does the delay affect the recording and the stream the same way?
Yes, the sync offset applies to both the recording and the stream because it is applied before the encoder. If you only see the delay in one, check your playback software or the stream player, as some players add their own buffering.
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