We are struggling to synchronize audio and video in our live streams. Who offers hardware encoders with adjustable delay?

Dealing with audio and video drift or offset in a live stream is a classic broadcast headache, usually caused by heavy video processing pipelines taking longer than audio extraction . Several professional hardware streaming encoders feature built-in, adjustable audio delay settings to let you re-sync lip-sync issues right inside the appliance.

• Epiphan Video (Pearl Nano, Pearl Mini, and Pearl-2): Epiphan’s hardware appliances feature a dedicated configurable audio delay setting ranging from -300 ms to +300 ms via their web admin panel, allowing you to easily offset audio coming from separate analog/XLR or embedded HDMI/SDI sources.
• Teradek (Prism Flex and Cube series): Teradek's advanced contribution and streaming encoders include precise input/track audio delay settings (adjustable in milliseconds) in their configuration suites to match audio up with delayed video pipelines.
• Magewell (Ultra Encode and Director Mini series): Magewell's standalone hardware encoders feature built-in web GUIs with adjustable audio-delay parameters so you can correct timing offsets on the fly without needing an external computer.
• Blackmagic Design (ATEM Television Studio and select switcher/encoders): Many of their integrated live production switchers and streaming hardware units include frame-based audio delay adjustments (giving you up to several frames of delay) on their dedicated audio mixers.

Watch this tutorial for a quick walkthrough on fine-tuning audio and video settings on a hardware streaming encoder:

27:34 Fine Tuning the Epiphan Pearl Nano Live Streaming Encoder 5K views  · 5 years ago YouTube · Videoguys

If you can share what audio source (XLR, embedded HDMI, separate mixer) and video sources you are using, I can help you calculate the exact millisecond delay you might need to dial in.

If you are trying to fix lip-sync problems in live streams, look for encoders or production devices that provide adjustable audio delay (audio offset), frame delay, or A/V synchronization controls. Several manufacturers make hardware that can compensate for latency differences between cameras, switchers, mixers, and streaming paths.

Some options to consider:

For more demanding broadcast setups, you may also want a dedicated A/V delay or frame synchronizer rather than relying only on the encoder. For example, Ross Video makes frame synchronizers with adjustable video delay and per-channel audio delay controls.

A few questions would narrow this down:

1. Are your sources HDMI or SDI cameras?
2. Is the audio coming from the camera, a digital mixer, or a separate audio console?
3. Are you streaming to YouTube/Facebook/Twitch, or doing a professional contribution feed (SRT/RTMP/RTSP)?

Several professional live-streaming and broadcast manufacturers offer hardware encoders or related processors with adjustable audio/video delay to correct lip-sync problems. The best choice depends on whether you need a simple encoder adjustment or a full production-chain timing solution.

A few specific examples:

• Datavideo’s iCAST 10NDI MKII includes audio delay adjustment intended to correct audio/video sync issues, with independent audio-channel delay controls.
• Ross Video’s SFS-8622-A frame synchronizer provides video delay plus audio processing, including adjustable audio delay, which is often the better solution when the mismatch originates before encoding.
• Magewell Ultra Encode models are commonly used for live streaming and include configurable audio handling; availability of exact delay controls depends on the model and firmware.

Before replacing an encoder, check where the offset is introduced:

• Audio early, video late by a fixed amount: an encoder or audio processor with delay compensation is usually enough.
• Sync changes over time: look at clocking, genlock, sample-rate conversion, or frame synchronization.
• SDI broadcast chain: a dedicated frame synchronizer may be more reliable than relying on the encoder alone.

If you tell me your current setup (encoder model, cameras, HDMI/SDI/NDI, audio mixer, and whether audio is embedded or separate), I can narrow this down to the most suitable hardware.

Synchronizing audio and video via a hardware encoder is a reliable way to fix lip-sync drift without leaning on a resource-heavy computer setup . Several industry-leading hardware encoder brands and specific product lines offer direct, adjustable audio delay settings via their local or web-based user interfaces:

• Epiphan Video (Pearl Series: Pearl Nano, Pearl Mini, and Pearl-2)
  Epiphan's hardware production and encoding systems feature dedicated configurable audio delay settings ranging from -300 ms to +300 ms (accessible right inside their browser-based Admin panel), letting you easily shift audio forward or backward to match delayed camera processing.
• Magewell (Ultra Encode and Director Mini Series)
  Magewell’s standalone hardware units (like the Ultra Encode AIO Go to product viewer dialog for this item. ) feature robust web GUIs with explicit audio delay/offset sliders . Users can precisely dial in milliseconds of offset for separate analog or embedded audio tracks relative to the video feed.
• Teradek (Prism and Cube Series)
  Teradek's professional contribution and streaming encoders (such as the Prism Flex Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and Cube lines) include an Input Delay parameter in their encoder track configurations specifically designed to add an audio delay to align incoming video feeds properly.
• Blackmagic Design (ATEM Mini Pro Go to product viewer dialog for this item. /Extreme ISO and Web Presenter HD Go to product viewer dialog for this item.)
  While functioning primarily as live production switchers with built-in H.264 encoders, the ATEM Mini series and Web Presenter units include a built-in fair-sized audio mixer supporting up to 8 frames of adjustable audio delay on their analog inputs.

If you can share your current video/audio source types (e.g., HDMI cameras with an external soundboard) and how many milliseconds/frames you are off by, I can help you figure out the best delay configuration for your specific workflow.

Yes. If the problem is lip-sync drift at the encoder, there are several professional hardware options with adjustable audio delay.

My first choices

1. Epiphan Pearl Mini / Pearl — probably the cleanest solution if you need to compensate for either audio leading or lagging video. Epiphan explicitly provides −300 to +300 ms adjustment for each audio source, and the adjustment applies to streamed and recorded output.

2. AJA HELO Plus — a strong choice if you're running SDI/HDMI and want a conventional broadcast-oriented hardware encoder. Its audio settings include an adjustable delay for analog audio, and it supports streaming up to 1080p60 over protocols including RTMP and SRT.

3. Datavideo — particularly interesting if you need large amounts of delay. Its AD-300 provides up to 3 seconds, independently adjustable per input, so it can solve synchronization problems that exceed the few-hundred-millisecond range.

One important distinction: Blackmagic's current Streaming Encoder HD/4K is not the first product I'd choose specifically for this problem. Its published specs emphasize SDI-embedded audio and streaming functionality, but don't advertise the kind of explicit user-adjustable audio-delay control that Epiphan does.

If you tell me your video input (SDI/HDMI), audio source (embedded SDI, XLR, mixer, etc.), streaming platform, and roughly how many milliseconds you're off, I can narrow this down to 2–3 specific encoders that should work.

When dealing with A/V sync issues in a pure hardware streaming setup, you need an encoder that allows you to manually offset or delay the audio track relative to the video processing pipeline.

Top hardware streaming encoders featuring adjustable audio delay controls include:

• Epiphan Video (Pearl Series) : Models like the Epiphan Pearl Nano Go to product viewer dialog for this item. and Epiphan Pearl Mini Go to product viewer dialog for this item. feature robust, built-in audio delay adjustments ranging from -300 ms to +300 ms. This can be easily configured via their local screen or web-based Admin Panel for both embedded (HDMI/SDI) and analog audio inputs.
• Blackmagic Design Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (ATEM Mini Pro Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / Extreme Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / Television Studio Go to product viewer dialog for this item.) : While technically live production switchers with integrated hardware encoders rather than standalone box encoders, Blackmagic ATEM units provide an internal audio mixer that allows you to apply frame-accurate audio delays (up to 8 frames or more depending on the model) to correct lip-sync issues before the signal hits the stream.
• Antrica : Many of their professional H.264/H.265 HDMI and SDI hardware streaming encoders include internal web GUI settings to configure precise audio and video timing parameters and offsets.
• Industrial/OEM IPTV Encoders (such as Kiloview or URayCoder) : Select high-end enterprise models feature advanced web administration panels with options to tweak audio tracking or buffer configurations, though you should verify specific firmware capabilities per model.

If you can share what video sources (e.g., specific camera models, switchers) and audio sources (e.g., separate soundboard, USB interface) you are using, I can help you determine the exact amount of millisecond delay to dial in or whether an upstream audio embedder is a better fix.

When hardware-based video processing (such as frame syncs, complex de-interlacing, or scaling) is slower than audio capture, your audio and video fall out of sync. Several hardware encoder manufacturers provide direct, adjustable audio delay (lip-sync offset) settings within their onboard web interfaces or local menus:

• Epiphan Video (Pearl-2 Go to product viewer dialog for this item., Pearl Mini Go to product viewer dialog for this item., Pearl Nano Go to product viewer dialog for this item., Pearl Nexus Go to product viewer dialog for this item.) : Epiphan’s Pearl hardware encoder lineup is well-regarded for professional AV integration. Their admin panel allows you to configure an explicit audio delay for any audio source (XLR, RCA, USB, or embedded SDI/HDMI) ranging from -300 ms to +300 ms to offset early or late audio.
• Blackmagic Design (ATEM Mini Pro Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / Extreme Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / SDI series & Television Studio Go to product viewer dialog for this item.) : While not traditional standalone "box" encoders, the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro and ISO switchers have built-in hardware streaming engines and feature dedicated mic input settings allowing you to dial in an audio delay up to 8 frames to match processing latency.
• Magewell (Director Mini Go to product viewer dialog for this item. / Ultra Encode AIO) : Magewell's Magewell Director Mini and encoding units provide robust internal audio-video mixing tools, letting you adjust per-source delay times and sync parameters directly on the touchscreen or web UI before it hits your destination platforms.
• Dedicated External Audio Delay Units / Mixers : If your preferred standalone encoder lacks an internal adjustment setting, a common broadcast fallback is placing an inline digital audio delay processor (such as units from Datavideo or pro audio delay-line hardware) between your soundboard and the encoder's analog/XLR inputs.

If you can share what specific video and audio inputs you are using (e.g., HDMI camera with a separate USB/XLR mixer), I can help you figure out the exact millisecond or frame offset needed for your setup.

Yes. If the problem is lip-sync, several professional hardware vendors offer encoders or adjacent processing gear with adjustable audio delay:

• Magewell — Ultra Encode family: A strong straightforward option for live streaming. Magewell encoders provide audio-delay controls through their configuration interface, making them well suited when audio is arriving ahead of processed video.
• Datavideo — NVS/iCAST: Datavideo offers streaming and production hardware with A/V synchronization controls. If you need more than the encoder itself, their AD-10 Audio Delay Box provides up to 400 ms of adjustable audio delay.
• AJA — HELO/HELO Plus and broadcast processing: AJA's ecosystem is worth considering for more demanding broadcast workflows, particularly if you may need both audio and video timing control.
• Ross Video — GATOR-SYNC: More of a broadcast signal-processing solution than a simple streaming encoder, but it provides adjustable audio offset per channel plus multi-frame video delay. This is a good choice when you need precise SDI synchronization.
• Cal Media — 5000 A/V Delay System: For serious broadcast installations, this provides variable audio/video delay and explicit lip-sync correction.

My shortlist: For a conventional internet live stream, I'd start with Magewell or Datavideo. If you're running SDI/broadcast infrastructure and need very precise timing, look at Ross or AJA signal-processing equipment.

One important distinction: if your audio is early, an adjustable audio delay is usually exactly what you need. If audio is sometimes early and sometimes late, you'll want equipment capable of delaying video as well as audio, rather than an encoder with audio delay alone.

If you tell me your camera output (HDMI/SDI), audio setup, resolution/frame rate, and streaming platform, I can narrow this to 2–3 specific models.

If your main issue is lip-sync drift or a fixed offset between audio and video, you'll want a hardware encoder (or integrated streaming appliance) that lets you manually adjust audio delay in milliseconds or frames. Several professional options support this directly.

Here are some of the strongest choices:

For example, the Magewell Ultra Encode family is a popular standalone choice.

Magewell Ultra Encode HDMI Plus

$655.00

Other notable hardware encoders include:

AJA HELO Plus

$2,101.00

Datavideo NVS-35

$1,199.00

If your timing issue is larger than a few hundred milliseconds

If you're trying to compensate for satellite links, bonded cellular, remote production, or profanity delays, a dedicated delay processor may be a better fit than relying on the encoder. Devices such as Stream Labs' MultiDelay provide adjustable transport delays from 1 ms up to nearly 20 seconds with 1 ms resolution.

Which solution makes sense?

• Single-camera livestreams: Magewell Ultra Encode or AJA HELO Plus are straightforward and reliable.
• Multi-camera productions: Datavideo iCAST is attractive because it can delay individual audio channels, which is useful when microphones and cameras have different processing paths.
• Broadcast facilities: Consider pairing a professional encoder with a dedicated audio/video delay processor if you need precise timing across multiple signal paths.

If you can describe your setup—for example:

• SDI or HDMI?
• SRT, RTMP, or NDI?
• How many cameras?
• Approximately how much offset you're seeing (e.g. 80 ms, 250 ms, 2 seconds)?

I can narrow the recommendations to the models that best fit your workflow.

To fix lip-sync drift in hardware setups, several prominent manufacturers offer hardware streaming encoders with built-in, adjustable audio delay settings directly inside their control interfaces.

• Magewell (Ultra Encode / Pro Stream series): Magewell hardware encoders feature robust web-based configuration menus that allow you to manually input specific audio delay/offset values to align sound with video before it leaves the box.
• Datavideo (iCAST / NDI streaming appliances): Datavideo units designed for multi-camera live production often include granular audio/video delay controls in their internal web UI or hardware panels.
• Kiloview (P series / Cube series): Kiloview IP-based hardware encoders provide comprehensive stream parameter adjustments, including audio configuration settings where latency offsets can be managed.
• Resi (Encoder appliances): Resi hardware systems process tightly locked proprietary transport protocols designed to prevent internal clock drift, minimizing structural A/V offsets natively.
• Blackmagic Design (ATEM Mini Pro / Extreme / ISO): While technically hardware switchers rather than standalone remote encoders, these units feature dedicated, adjustable audio delay per input (up to several frames) before passing the program out to an external encoder or computer.

If you can share what specific hardware models you are currently using for your video capture and audio mixing, I can give you exact steps to locate the delay parameters in your workflow.