When managing a video production system in a church, syncing video and audio can become tricky, especially when signals are processed differently. A good understanding of timing, reference clocks, and how to solve common sync issues will help ensure your live worship experience runs smoothly and your live stream is free of glitches. From lip sync problems to sample rate conversions, here's a breakdown of key considerations when integrating video and audio systems.

Just like in audio, where a word clock keeps everything in sync, video systems need a similar timing tool. A reference clock, like Blackburst, ensures that all devices—video, audio, and converters—are operating on the same timing standard. This prevents issues like audio pops and strange interference sounds that happen when the timing is off. Some devices even allow for dual output, syncing both audio and video signals simultaneously, making things much smoother.

Lip sync problems occur when video takes longer to process than audio, leading to a delay in visuals. This is common because video requires more processing time, leaving the audio signal ahead. The good news is that most digital audio consoles can compensate for this delay, adding slight delay to the audio signal to sync it with the video. While tools are available to measure this precisely, your own eyes and ears are often the best way to ensure things look and sound in sync.

Audio systems may run at different sample rates, with common standards being 48kHz for video and 96kHz for audio. To integrate audio with video systems, you may need to perform a sample rate conversion (SRC), which adjusts the audio to match the video system's standard. Though this step adds processing time and potential latency, it’s necessary to ensure smooth, aligned output for both video and audio.

Keeping video and audio systems aligned from the start with the right tools can make a huge difference in your overall production quality, minimizing errors and maintaining the flow of your service.