Overview
In live video workflows, it’s common to encounter minor timing mismatches between video and audio sources. These can be caused by encoding delays, signal path length, hardware conversion, or sync drift. Hive offers a simple, built-in tool to correct this by applying an Audio Offset, a latency adjustment applied to the audio stream to align it with your video.
This article walks you through enabling and adjusting the Audio Offset setting from an already-ingested audio source in your studio, and offers practical techniques for achieving frame-accurate sync.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Navigate to the Audio Source
Open your Hive application.
Make sure you’re working in the correct organization and studio.
In the Source Tray on the left-hand side, locate the audio source you wish to adjust.
This could be a USB interface, Dante input, in-camera audio, or onboard mic, any recognized audio input.
Click on the source cog wheel or Right-Click on the source bar to open its Advanced Settings.
2. Enable Audio Offset
Once you're in the source’s settings window:
At the top, you’ll see the Name Field, you can rename your audio source here if needed.
Scroll to the Audio Offset section.
Toggle on the “Enable to Adjust Latency” switch.
This activates manual delay control.
Below that, a field will appear where you can input the desired latency in milliseconds (ms).
You can enter whole numbers or decimal values. This setting allows you to delay the audio signal to better match its corresponding video source.
How It Works and What to Expect
Applying an audio delay ensures that your audio signal aligns with the visual movement captured in your video source. This is particularly important in situations where:
Audio is arriving before the video (common with analog audio interfaces).
Video is being delayed by processing or IP encoding (such as RTSP or NDI sources).
You are routing your mixed Hive output to an external broadcast or streaming destination.
The Audio Offset setting applies a delay in milliseconds, which shifts the audio signal forward in time to catch up with the video.
Tip: You cannot apply negative delay (i.e., you cannot make audio arrive earlier than it already does).
Calculating Audio Offset in Frames
To align audio delay with your video frame rate:
Take your frame rate (e.g., 30 fps).
Divide 1000 milliseconds by the frame rate to find the duration of a single frame.
Example:
30 fps → 1000 ÷ 30 = 33.33 ms per frame
To delay by 2 frames: 33.33 × 2 = 66.66 ms
Enter 66.66 into the Audio Offset field for an approximate 2-frame delay.
Decimal values are accepted, use them for tighter control and fractional-frame correction.
Testing and Verifying Audio Sync
To fine-tune your delay:
Send your Hive output to a known output destination, a local monitor, an external switcher, or a remote viewer.
Play a sync reference video with both visual and audio indicators. A popular tool is a “beep and flash” loop with a 4-count or countdown.
Observe when the flash occurs versus the beep.
Adjust the Audio Offset in Hive until the flash and beep occur simultaneously on your output.
Save or document the offset value for repeatable future use.
YouTube has audio-video sync test videos available for free. Keep one bookmarked.
Tips, Limitations, and Best Practices
Always test your output destination, not just the preview inside Hive.
Apply offset only to the audio source that is out of sync, avoid globally adjusting unless all signals are misaligned.
Label your sources with delay settings if you're operating in a multi-mixer or multi-encoder environment.
Use a monitor with low latency to avoid introducing confusion during testing.
Hive does not show a waveform preview or sync test UI, you must observe the result externally.
Some streaming platforms apply their own sync buffering, be cautious when relying on final stream playback alone for sync decisions.
FAQs
1. Can I apply delay to a video source instead of audio?
No. Hive only applies manual latency adjustments to audio inputs.
2. How many milliseconds can I delay an audio source?
You can delay by several hundred milliseconds, depending on your setup. Decimal values are supported for fine control.
3. Will this affect all audio globally?
No. Each audio source has its own Audio Offset control. Only the source you edit will be affected.
4. Is there an automatic sync feature?
Not currently. Manual delay is the recommended method for critical sync alignment.
5. Can I store my delay setting in a preset?
Yes. Your Audio Offset will be saved with that audio source’s configuration.
Use Cases
1. Aligning Dante Audio with RTSP Video
RTSP streams may buffer, arriving later than Dante audio. Add a ~200 m
2. Correcting USB Interface Latency in DSLR Recordings
DSLRs often lag behind clean USB audio. Delay your audio source by 2–3 frames to compensate.
3. Matching Mixer Output to a Switcher Preview
When sending Hive output into a live switcher, test sync using a flash-and-beep countdown to align precisely.
Audio sync discrepancies can distract viewers and undermine production quality. With Hive's Audio Offset feature, you can quickly apply precise delay to any audio source, aligning it perfectly with your video feed. Whether you’re syncing Dante audio with IP video, USB mics with HDMI capture, or embedded audio from cameras, Hive gives you frame-accurate control over timing, making your production smooth, professional, and fully in sync.