Hi there and thanks in advance.
I'm a dance teacher and am aiming to sync up my mic (USB snowball) with Spotify (running it into OBS via Soundflower) and port all that (along with the video) to Zoom in a synchronized fashion, with the best possible quality audio. With the goal being to up the quality of the music for my classes (as opposed to placing a bluetooth speaker near my USB mic and having the audio picked up externally). With my current settings I am experiencing a sync issue --- the music is hitting a smidge earlier than the video and voice (the video and voice (mic) seem to be in sync). And the Sync Offset feature doesn't appear to be working with my current settings I have been using.
What I am specifically attempting to do is use OBS' FINAL MIXED AUDIO (including an intentional/desired Sync Offset delay for reasons listed below) to send to Zoom for streaming to my students. Additionally, if possible I would love to have the music just pump into my ears (airpods would be an ideal monitor if bluetooth synching can be achieved), so that there is NO music in the room (so that the USB mic picks up only my voice and tap shoe sounds, not any music via a bluetooth speaker etc).
Thanks to message board postings here I am pretty happy with the quality of the sound of both the mic and the music. But the sync is slightly off, and with this style of dance (tap) I need it to be precise. I should also say that I DO NOT MIND LATENCY --- I don't expect to have my students be dancing with me in real-time --- my primary and only goal is to just make sure that whatever my students are seeing is synched up between the (1) video (2) instruction (usb mic / my voice) and (3) music (Spotify, running direct via soundflower or other). Basically, the package of video and audio I create and hear is what I would want my students to see and hear, otherwise it's a recipe for disaster! I first thought the out-of-sync-ness might be because I was wearing airpods, but it is still off when I use wired headphones.
I've attempted the Zoom feature of sharing screen (specifically using the 'share audio only' feature) and it is not working for me --- or rather it is technically working and the music does sound better--- but the sync is WAY out of whack. My current settings are pretty close, I'd say within 350ms --- but with a dance style like tap it is very noticeable. If I taught ballet I probably wouldn't care. I want to use OBS' Sync Offset feature to nudge my music later a tad, so that everything is synched up in the final Zoom stream. Or maybe there's a different audio mixing program I should be using to achieve this and just use OBS for video?
My troubleshooting process: I do an actual (solo) Zoom broadcast (as opposed to just a local video), record it, and then go back and analyze what it needs for better synching (determine where the delay is). Where I'm stuck now is I want to go back into OBS and adjust forward or back as needed. But the Sync Offset feature doesn't seem to work with my current settings elsewhere in the program and I'm not sure where the gremlin is. Has anyone had success with this? I'm stuck isolating the two audio sources that I am using (usb mic and spotify). I want to be able to control each track separately (in regards to the Sync Offset feature). ie I may need to nudge my voice ahead to match the music, or vice versa. But I don't want them _both_ moving together if one is out of sync. And right now, neither seems to respond to the sync offset (I've tried some high positive and negative #s and it seems to not be active like it was when I didn't have all these plugins going on.
I've made some great progress overall in learning and using OBS (for example I've set up a great picture in picture using a second camera (my ipad) to show a closeup of my feet from a side angle) but have hit a wall with this audio synching and would appreciate advice on what I might try next.
The most recent configuration is:
Audio:
using Soundflower to get Spotify into OBS, this is or at least seems to be working.
Blackhole/Soundflower/Multi-Output Device: I downloaded and running Blackhole for use in OBS (in order for Zoom to be able to grab the final mixed audio from OBS). I created a Multi-Output device in midi audio settings, where I have selected 'built in output', 'Blackhole 16ch', and 'Soundflower 2ch'. I checked the Drift Correction boxes for Blackhole and Soundflower. (NOT SURE REALLY IF I HAVE THIS WHOLE SECTION SET UP TOTALLY CORRECT)
Sound settings (in Mac): Audio output device is set to Multi output device, that seems to be correct but again I'm not sure if the correct items are part of this multi device group
In OBS:
relevant Audio settings: Mic Audio 1: the snowball mic (however my screenshot on this post shows 'built in mic' at the moment because the snowball is now unplugged and in my studio at the moment); Mic Audio 2: Soundflower (2ch) (for spotify); Advanced-->Monitoring Device: Blackhole 16ch. Desktop Audio 1 and 2 are Disabled (Is this correct?). (I ACTUALLY GET CONFUSED WITH ALL THESE SETTINGS --- IS THIS SECTION CORRECT?)
Advanced Audio Properties: my choices are (1) monitor off, (2) monitor only, and (3) monitor and output. I've tried different combinations to various degrees of success but am not sure what the correct settings should be.
The two devices (the snowball usb mic and spotify.) are active, both appear in the mixer, but aren't syncing great in the final stream recording).
For my testing I clap and count first a capella, then I add some music and do the same thing (ie. '1 - 2 - 3 - 4'). I'm in sync when I record, then when I watch back my MUSIC generally hits BEFORE my voice. (and my voice/clapping is now in sync with the video). So the issue is the music it seems, specifically I feel it is because I send the music direct.
Sync Offset with this current configuration (listed above) DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING. Which really was my primary aim. Not sure why.
Zoom settings:
audio: Blackhole 16ch
video: OBS virtual camera (works great)
quesitons/concerns that have kept me up until 3am tonight!:
Could the issue be that I'm using Blackhole AND Soundflower? I don't know enough about either program or their purpose (I comprehend the basics).
The multi-output device is a bit confusing to me, as well (do I have the correct items running through this). Do I have the correct 'master' and slaves?
Can Spotify (soundflower) go into OBS in one track, and my usb mic go into OBS in a second separate track, mix their volumes / and be able to control each individual track's Sync Offset? The volume mixing even seems suspect with these settings right now (meaning I'm not sure if OBS is controlling the volume or if that is happening say somewhere inside Midi Setup settings).
I imagine if I typed this at 3pm instead of 3am it would be more concise, so my apologies for the rambling nature of this one -- I just wanted to make sure to cast a wide net on it since I've tried say 30 different variations of setting adjustments....I feel like I could be close, but it's very blurry at the moment!
Is there maybe a different audio program I should consider using that can bundle my audio, send that to zoom and just use OBS for video?
cheers and THANK YOU if you've read this far!
I'm a dance teacher and am aiming to sync up my mic (USB snowball) with Spotify (running it into OBS via Soundflower) and port all that (along with the video) to Zoom in a synchronized fashion, with the best possible quality audio. With the goal being to up the quality of the music for my classes (as opposed to placing a bluetooth speaker near my USB mic and having the audio picked up externally). With my current settings I am experiencing a sync issue --- the music is hitting a smidge earlier than the video and voice (the video and voice (mic) seem to be in sync). And the Sync Offset feature doesn't appear to be working with my current settings I have been using.
What I am specifically attempting to do is use OBS' FINAL MIXED AUDIO (including an intentional/desired Sync Offset delay for reasons listed below) to send to Zoom for streaming to my students. Additionally, if possible I would love to have the music just pump into my ears (airpods would be an ideal monitor if bluetooth synching can be achieved), so that there is NO music in the room (so that the USB mic picks up only my voice and tap shoe sounds, not any music via a bluetooth speaker etc).
Thanks to message board postings here I am pretty happy with the quality of the sound of both the mic and the music. But the sync is slightly off, and with this style of dance (tap) I need it to be precise. I should also say that I DO NOT MIND LATENCY --- I don't expect to have my students be dancing with me in real-time --- my primary and only goal is to just make sure that whatever my students are seeing is synched up between the (1) video (2) instruction (usb mic / my voice) and (3) music (Spotify, running direct via soundflower or other). Basically, the package of video and audio I create and hear is what I would want my students to see and hear, otherwise it's a recipe for disaster! I first thought the out-of-sync-ness might be because I was wearing airpods, but it is still off when I use wired headphones.
I've attempted the Zoom feature of sharing screen (specifically using the 'share audio only' feature) and it is not working for me --- or rather it is technically working and the music does sound better--- but the sync is WAY out of whack. My current settings are pretty close, I'd say within 350ms --- but with a dance style like tap it is very noticeable. If I taught ballet I probably wouldn't care. I want to use OBS' Sync Offset feature to nudge my music later a tad, so that everything is synched up in the final Zoom stream. Or maybe there's a different audio mixing program I should be using to achieve this and just use OBS for video?
My troubleshooting process: I do an actual (solo) Zoom broadcast (as opposed to just a local video), record it, and then go back and analyze what it needs for better synching (determine where the delay is). Where I'm stuck now is I want to go back into OBS and adjust forward or back as needed. But the Sync Offset feature doesn't seem to work with my current settings elsewhere in the program and I'm not sure where the gremlin is. Has anyone had success with this? I'm stuck isolating the two audio sources that I am using (usb mic and spotify). I want to be able to control each track separately (in regards to the Sync Offset feature). ie I may need to nudge my voice ahead to match the music, or vice versa. But I don't want them _both_ moving together if one is out of sync. And right now, neither seems to respond to the sync offset (I've tried some high positive and negative #s and it seems to not be active like it was when I didn't have all these plugins going on.
I've made some great progress overall in learning and using OBS (for example I've set up a great picture in picture using a second camera (my ipad) to show a closeup of my feet from a side angle) but have hit a wall with this audio synching and would appreciate advice on what I might try next.
The most recent configuration is:
Audio:
using Soundflower to get Spotify into OBS, this is or at least seems to be working.
Blackhole/Soundflower/Multi-Output Device: I downloaded and running Blackhole for use in OBS (in order for Zoom to be able to grab the final mixed audio from OBS). I created a Multi-Output device in midi audio settings, where I have selected 'built in output', 'Blackhole 16ch', and 'Soundflower 2ch'. I checked the Drift Correction boxes for Blackhole and Soundflower. (NOT SURE REALLY IF I HAVE THIS WHOLE SECTION SET UP TOTALLY CORRECT)
Sound settings (in Mac): Audio output device is set to Multi output device, that seems to be correct but again I'm not sure if the correct items are part of this multi device group
In OBS:
relevant Audio settings: Mic Audio 1: the snowball mic (however my screenshot on this post shows 'built in mic' at the moment because the snowball is now unplugged and in my studio at the moment); Mic Audio 2: Soundflower (2ch) (for spotify); Advanced-->Monitoring Device: Blackhole 16ch. Desktop Audio 1 and 2 are Disabled (Is this correct?). (I ACTUALLY GET CONFUSED WITH ALL THESE SETTINGS --- IS THIS SECTION CORRECT?)
Advanced Audio Properties: my choices are (1) monitor off, (2) monitor only, and (3) monitor and output. I've tried different combinations to various degrees of success but am not sure what the correct settings should be.
The two devices (the snowball usb mic and spotify.) are active, both appear in the mixer, but aren't syncing great in the final stream recording).
For my testing I clap and count first a capella, then I add some music and do the same thing (ie. '1 - 2 - 3 - 4'). I'm in sync when I record, then when I watch back my MUSIC generally hits BEFORE my voice. (and my voice/clapping is now in sync with the video). So the issue is the music it seems, specifically I feel it is because I send the music direct.
Sync Offset with this current configuration (listed above) DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WORKING. Which really was my primary aim. Not sure why.
Zoom settings:
audio: Blackhole 16ch
video: OBS virtual camera (works great)
quesitons/concerns that have kept me up until 3am tonight!:
Could the issue be that I'm using Blackhole AND Soundflower? I don't know enough about either program or their purpose (I comprehend the basics).
The multi-output device is a bit confusing to me, as well (do I have the correct items running through this). Do I have the correct 'master' and slaves?
Can Spotify (soundflower) go into OBS in one track, and my usb mic go into OBS in a second separate track, mix their volumes / and be able to control each individual track's Sync Offset? The volume mixing even seems suspect with these settings right now (meaning I'm not sure if OBS is controlling the volume or if that is happening say somewhere inside Midi Setup settings).
I imagine if I typed this at 3pm instead of 3am it would be more concise, so my apologies for the rambling nature of this one -- I just wanted to make sure to cast a wide net on it since I've tried say 30 different variations of setting adjustments....I feel like I could be close, but it's very blurry at the moment!
Is there maybe a different audio program I should consider using that can bundle my audio, send that to zoom and just use OBS for video?
cheers and THANK YOU if you've read this far!
