If audio and video drift apart during a YouTube RTMP loop, first check whether the mismatch stays at roughly the same offset or grows over time. Then compare a local OBS recording with the YouTube output: if both drift, investigate the media source, audio routing, capture device, or clock behavior; if only YouTube drifts, check encoder health, YouTube’s ingest warnings, and the outbound connection. A fixed OBS sync offset is worth testing only for a measured, stable mismatch—not as a general fix for progressive drift.
First identify what kind of sync problem you have
Audio can be out of sync in two different ways. A constant offset means it is already early or late and stays about that far out. Progressive drift means the mismatch gets larger as the loop plays. A static delay may help with the first; changing a delay is not an established remedy for the second.
- Note when the error begins. Check a recognizable sound and matching visual near the start, then again later. Write down whether the difference stays steady or increases.
- Record a representative segment in OBS. Compare the local recording with the same moment in the YouTube stream or archive. OBS and YouTube both recommend using a recording or local archive to help diagnose output problems. OBS recording guidance and YouTube live-stream troubleshooting can help you locate the relevant checks.
Interpret the comparison before changing settings:
- The local recording also drifts: start with the sources and signal path inside OBS—especially the media source, audio routing, and any captured device.
- The local recording is synchronized but YouTube is not: inspect encoder health, Live Control Room warnings, and the connection carrying the stream to YouTube.
YouTube latency is the delay between capture and playback. That delay is not the same as audio drifting relative to video. YouTube’s latency guidance explains the distinction.
Fix the source and audio path in OBS
Check the media source and loop
For an OBS Media Source, verify that it points to the intended file, is playing at the expected speed, and uses the audio track you intend to stream. Check its Loop setting and, if relevant to your scene setup, whether it should restart playback when the source becomes active. If you use VLC Video instead, check the playlist and its loop behavior. VLC also exposes network caching settings; change one setting at a time and test rather than assuming that more caching will cure drift.
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After a change, make a short recording and compare the start and end. Changing several source properties at once makes it harder to tell which adjustment helped or caused a new problem. See the OBS Media Sources guide for source options.
Trace where the sound enters OBS
Confirm which source provides the loop’s sound, then check whether the same input or output device is also captured globally and in a scene source. OBS warns that capturing a device in both Settings → Audio and as a scene source can cause echo. Echo is not the same as gradual sync drift, but duplicated or misrouted audio can make diagnosis confusing.
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- Listen to the source before it reaches OBS, if you can, and check that it matches the picture.
- Monitor the source in OBS and compare it with the picture there.
- If the mismatch first appears after a particular source or routing step, focus your next test there.
Use the current OBS audio settings and monitoring controls described in the OBS audio sources guide. Avoid monitoring the same device through multiple paths while testing.
If audio comes from a captured device, test timestamps cautiously
OBS’s Audio Input/Output Capture source documents a Windows-only Use Device Timestamps option intended to help prevent desynchronization. If you capture sound from a device, you can test this option by changing only that setting and recording again. It is not a guaranteed fix: results can depend on the operating system, source, and device. The option is documented in the OBS Audio Input/Output Capture guide.
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Check OBS, the encoder, and YouTube ingest
If the local recording is good but the YouTube output is not, check the stream path rather than applying an arbitrary audio delay. YouTube recommends using the latest version of your encoder, checking the stream in the encoder, reviewing Live Control Room errors, checking CPU load, and comparing the local archive. If the encoder output is healthy, investigate the outbound internet connection; if it is not, inspect the encoder and its routed audio and video sources. Follow YouTube’s troubleshooting steps for live-streaming issues.
Also verify the basic ingest configuration. YouTube’s current encoder guidance specifies:
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- Protocol: RTMP or RTMPS.
- Rate control: constant bitrate (CBR).
- Keyframes: recommended every 2 seconds, and no more than 4 seconds apart.
- Audio format: AAC or MP3.
- Audio sample rate: 44.1 kHz for stereo, or 48 kHz for 5.1 surround.
These are ingest recommendations, not a diagnosis of progressive drift. Check YouTube’s current error messages for warnings about unsupported formats, audio-stream count, sample rate, or frame rate. The full settings are in YouTube’s live encoder settings guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to use an OBS sync offset
Use a sync adjustment only after you have measured a stable mismatch. Make a recording, estimate the fixed audio-to-picture offset, adjust one relevant delay control, and record again to verify. If the difference continues to grow during the recording, a fixed offset will not keep the two signals aligned throughout the loop; return to the source, routing, capture-device, encoder, and connection checks.
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Do not choose an offset by guesswork or copy a delay value from another setup. The correct adjustment, if one is appropriate, depends on where the mismatch enters your own signal path. The available OBS and YouTube guidance supports measuring and testing, but does not establish a universal delay value that cures progressive drift.
Troubleshoot by symptom
| What you observe | What to check next |
|---|---|
| The local OBS recording and YouTube output both drift | Check the media file and playback behavior, selected audio track, duplicated device capture, and any captured audio device. Test one change at a time. |
| The local recording is in sync, but YouTube drifts | Review encoder status, CPU load, Live Control Room errors, and the outbound connection. Compare the encoder’s output with the local archive. |
| The mismatch is steady from start to finish | Measure the offset and test one relevant sync adjustment, then verify with another recording. |
| The mismatch grows as playback continues | Do not rely on a fixed offset. Check source playback, routing, captured-device timestamp behavior where applicable, and encoder or connection health. |
| You hear an echo or doubled sound | Check whether the same input/output device is captured in both global audio settings and a scene source; remove unintended duplicate capture. |
| YouTube reports an ingest or format warning | Use the warning to check protocol, format, audio-stream count, sample rate, and frame rate against YouTube’s current encoder guidance. |
Keep the loop running without leaving a computer on
If you want a YouTube loop to continue while your computer is off, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload a recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. It loops uploaded videos; it does not stream from a camera. You can read more at StreamNeo.
Or let it run in the cloud
With StreamNeo, nothing has to stay on at home. Each slot streams uploaded video as made, up to 4K 60fps, at one flat price per slot, and includes automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card. Monthly service is $9.99 per month. This changes where the loop runs; it does not diagnose or promise to correct an audio-sync fault in an existing source. Start your free first day with StreamNeo.
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