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First check whether the audio-video gap is already present at the start or steadily gets larger. A nearly constant gap is a fixed offset; a gap that grows over time points toward timing or source stability. Wirecast provides delay controls for a measured fixed offset, but a static delay will not stop accumulating drift. There is no single documented cause for every long-broadcast YouTube sync problem.
Measure the mismatch before changing settings
Use the same recognizable event—such as a clap, a spoken consonant, or a sharp sound—to compare audio and video. Note the gap at the beginning, then check it at regular intervals during a controlled test. Also determine whether the local program output is already out of sync before YouTube receives it.
- About the same gap throughout: treat it as a fixed offset that may be corrected with a source delay.
- The gap grows: investigate timing, source stability, sustained system load, and frame delivery. Repeatedly adding an arbitrary delay only moves the starting point; it does not correct a rate mismatch.
Keep the test conditions consistent and change one setting at a time. This makes it easier to tell whether a change helped.
Trace the audio and video source chain
Write down where each signal enters Wirecast and whether they share a clock. For example, video might come from a camera or capture card while audio comes from a separate USB microphone or device. Note each source, connection path, and any processing between the source and Wirecast.
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Telestream’s version history records historical sync-related issues involving Webstream sources, USB devices, and multiple inputs. These entries are reasons to isolate the relevant path, not proof that a particular device or release is causing your problem.
- Test with one audio-video source if practical, then add other inputs back one at a time.
- Compare the program output with the source’s own output or a local recording, where available.
- If the local program output is in sync but the delivered stream is not, record that distinction for diagnosis rather than assuming the cause is YouTube.
For Webstream sources, compare timestamp settings
In the Webstream source properties, compare the timestamp options Provided by source and Provided by Wirecast. Telestream’s Windows guide warns that inaccurate source timestamps can leave audio and video out of sync. It also cautions that Wirecast-generated timestamps may arrive late when the system is under heavy load.
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- Record the current timestamp setting and the measured sync behavior.
- Run a controlled test using the other timestamp option.
- Compare the starting offset and whether it grows during the test; keep whichever setting performs better for the actual source.
Neither option is universally correct. The result depends on the source and the system conditions.
Correct a fixed offset with a source delay
For a gap that stays roughly constant, use the relevant source’s audio delay or video delay control in Wirecast. Telestream’s Windows guide describes adjustment increments as small as 1 ms. Make small changes based on the measured offset, then verify the program output—not just local monitoring.
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Do not use this as the primary fix when the mismatch steadily grows. A delay control shifts timing by a fixed amount; it does not repair accumulating drift.
Check sustained load, dropped frames, and delivery capacity
Watch Wirecast’s CPU usage and dropped-frame indicators during the part of the broadcast when sync worsens. Telestream says sustained system CPU usage greater than 60% increases the likelihood of dropped frames. That is a performance-risk threshold, not a diagnosis of audio drift by itself.
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- Check whether the computer can sustain the chosen encoding and production workload over time.
- Check upload and delivery capacity, and view the stream in a controlled local environment to help separate production problems from viewer-side decoding conditions.
- If available capacity is exceeded, Telestream recommends lowering the data rate and, if needed, the frame rate or frame size.
Change settings cautiously and compare results under the same conditions. A change that reduces dropped frames may improve delivery stability, but does not by itself establish the cause of a timing mismatch.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteCompare your installed Wirecast version with relevant fixes
Check the installed version against Telestream’s Wirecast version history. Its recorded sync-related entries include:
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- Wirecast 15.0.3, dated June 27, 2022: a Webstream-source audio/video issue.
- Wirecast 14.3.2, dated October 4, 2021: changes intended to improve sync drift between USB devices.
- An earlier release: a fix for reported sync issues with multiple inputs.
These historical fixes do not establish that an older bug is responsible for a current symptom. Compare the input path and version notes, and follow Telestream’s current update guidance before changing a production system.
What to preserve if the problem continues
Telestream’s support FAQ recommends submitting support information to diagnose software problems; it does not publish a sync-specific log recipe in the reviewed material. Keep a concise record that lets support see how the fault behaves:
- Operating system and Wirecast version.
- Audio and video sources, signal paths, and whether the signals share a clock.
- The Webstream timestamp setting, if applicable.
- Measured offset at the start and at later timestamps.
- CPU usage and dropped-frame behavior during the test.
- Whether the local program output is already out of sync before delivery to YouTube.
- A short recording or other reproducible example, if available, plus relevant logs and source configuration.
Use Telestream support resources for current support options. The evidence above does not establish YouTube as the cause of long-broadcast drift, and it does not point to a particular physical product as a general fix.
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StreamNeo is a cloud service for keeping a YouTube channel live from uploaded videos; it is not a camera-based live production tool, and it does not resolve a sync problem in a Wirecast production. For a pre-recorded video or playlist that you want to loop as a YouTube live stream, the steps are: upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key once, and go live.
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