How To Sync Video To Audio: Step-by-Step Guide & Best Tools (2024)

In the world of video creation, an overlooked yet vital aspect is synchronization of video and audio. Whether you’re creating YouTube videos, podcasts, or social media content, ensuring that your audio and video are in sync can dramatically improve your viewers’ experience. In this article, we’ll discuss various facets of video and audio sync, why it is crucial, and how to solve issues related to it.

What does Audio and Video Out of Sync mean?

When we say “audio and video out of sync,” it means that the video track does not align with the audio track. The discrepancy could be that the audio is playing ahead of the video, or vice versa. The issue could occur due to various factors such as encoding errors, problems with playback devices, or issues with the original video recording or editing process.

Why is my Video and Audio Out of Sync over Time? Why does the Sound not Sync with the TV?

Audio and video synchronization problems are often caused by encoding issues, which occur when the video and audio data are converted to a format for transmission or storage. If the audio and video data aren’t encoded at the same rate, the two streams may become unsynchronized. This is a common problem when streaming video online or through media players like VLC.

In the case of TVs, the issue may also be caused by audio delay settings on your TV or sound system, or problems with the TV’s video processing.

How to Fix a Video with Audio that is Out of Sync? How to Sync Audio and Video on my Phone? How to Adjust the Audio on a Video?

First, we need to understand that fixing audio-video sync issues involves aligning the audio and video tracks correctly. Here’s a basic tutorial for beginners:

1. Open your video editing software: Programs like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro (for macOS and iOS users), or even simpler tools like iMovie (for Apple users) are great options. For Android users, applications like PowerDirector or Kinemaster work well.
2. Import your video files: Start a new project and import your AV clip. Most software allows you to simply right-click in the project panel and select ‘import’ from the pop-up.
3. Separate the audio and video: In most video editors, right-click on the video in your timeline, and choose the option to ungroup or unlink the audio and video clips.
4. Adjust the audio track: Simply drag the audio file along the timeline to sync it with the video. Use the audio waveforms as a guide.
5. Test the synchronization: Play back the video to ensure that the video and audio are now in sync. Adjust as needed.
6. Merge the clips: Once you’re happy with the sync, you can re-link or group the video and audio tracks together again.

The Best Program to Sync Audio and Video

There are numerous tools available to sync video and audio files. Here are the top 8:

1. Adobe Premiere Pro: A professional-grade video editing software with robust audio sync features and support for a wide range of video files.
2. Final Cut Pro: Apple’s video editor, known for its fast performance and magnetic timeline feature, which helps prevent sync issues.
3. VLC Media Player: A free and open-source media player that includes basic synchronization features. It’s suitable for quick fixes.
4. Red Giant PluralEyes: A standalone tool designed specifically to automate audio and video synchronization in post-production.
5. KineMaster: A powerful video editor for Android and iOS that includes audio sync tools.
6. Clapboard: A great tool for creating high-quality screen recordings with external audio. It’s perfect for tutorials, podcasts, and voice-overs.
7. PowerDirector: An easy-to-use video editor with robust synchronization tools, available for Windows, macOS, and Android.
8. iMovie: A beginner-friendly video editor for macOS and iOS, featuring easy-to-use synchronization tools

How do you sync video and audio? What is the solution to get video and audio in sync?

Syncing video and audio involves aligning the audio and video tracks correctly within a video file. Here’s a basic step-by-step process:

1. Open your video editing software: Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, iMovie, or any software that allows multi-track editing.
2. Import your video files: Create a new project and import your video and audio files. Usually, right-clicking in the project panel allows you to select ‘import’.
3. Separate the audio and video: In your timeline, right-click on the video and choose the option to ungroup or unlink the audio and video clips.
4. Adjust the audio track: Drag the audio file along the timeline until it syncs with the video. You can use visual cues or the audio waveforms as a guide.
5. Test the synchronization: Play the video to ensure that the audio and video are now in sync. If required, adjust the audio position.
6. Merge the clips: Once you’re satisfied with the synchronization, you can re-link or group the video and audio tracks together again.

What is the best program to sync audio and video?

The best program depends on your needs, proficiency, and budget. Here are a few options:

1. Adobe Premiere Pro: A professional-grade video editor with advanced synchronization features. It is, however, subscription-based and may be complex for beginners.
2. Final Cut Pro: A powerful video editor by Apple with a user-friendly interface and robust audio sync features. It’s pricey but a one-time purchase.
3. iMovie: A free video editor by Apple suitable for beginners. It has basic but effective audio synchronization tools.
4. VLC Media Player: A free and open-source media player that includes basic synchronization features, perfect for quick adjustments.
5. Kinemaster or PowerDirector for mobile devices: These offer useful synchronization tools for Android and iOS devices.

What is the best way to sync videos?

The best way is to use timecodes or a clapperboard while shooting, which provides a common reference point for syncing in post-production. Using dedicated software for syncing, like PluralEyes, can also save time and effort.

Why does my video and audio not match? How do you fix a video with audio that is out of sync?

Mismatching of video and audio, or them being ‘out of sync’, can occur due to encoding errors, streaming issues, or issues with the original recording. To fix it, use a video editing software and manually adjust the audio track to align it with the video (as described in the steps above).

Why is my video and audio out of sync over time? Why is the sound not in sync with TV?

Over time, video and audio can drift out of sync due to differences in the speed or rate of data processing between the video and audio. On TVs, this could be due to audio delay settings, or due to the video processing in the TV itself. Check your TV settings, adjust the audio delay if necessary, or use external speakers synced to the video source.

What does the audio and video out of sync mean?

When the audio and video are ‘out of sync’, it means the audio does not match the video. The audio could be playing ahead of the video, or the video could be ahead of the audio. It creates a jarring viewing experience as the movements on the screen do not match the sounds.

Best Practices for Syncing Video and Audio

Following some best practices can prevent audio and video from falling out of sync:

1. Timecodes: Use timecodes for synchronization, especially for long-form content or multi-camera shoots.
2. Clapperboard: Use a clapperboard at the beginning of video recording to create a sync point.
3. Dual System Sound: Record audio separately using a dedicated audio recorder. This will give you a high-quality audio recording that you can sync with your video in post-production.

By following this guide, you should be well on your way to effectively syncing audio and video. So whether you’re creating a YouTube video, a podcast episode, or any other form of media, you’ll be able to provide your viewers or subscribers with a seamless viewing or listening experience.