How to Delay a Video Source in OBS Studio

This guide provides a straightforward, step-by-step walkthrough on how to configure a video delay for a specific media source layer in OBS Studio using the built-in Render Delay filter. Whether you need to sync a camera feed with desynced audio or create a delayed reaction shot for your stream, this tutorial will help you achieve perfect timing.

Step 1: Select Your Video Source

1. Launch OBS Studio and navigate to the Scenes dock.
2. Select the scene containing the video source you want to delay.
3. Go to the Sources dock and locate the specific media source, camera, or capture card layer.

Step 2: Open the Filters Menu

1. Right-click on the target video source in the Sources list.
2. Select Filters from the context menu (alternatively, click on the source and select the Filters button located above the Sources dock).

Step 3: Add the Render Delay Filter

1. In the Filters window, look at the bottom section labeled Effect Filters.
2. Click the + (plus) icon in the bottom-left corner of the Effect Filters section.
3. Select Render Delay from the list of available filters.
4. Type a name for the filter (e.g., “Camera Delay”) and click OK.

Step 4: Configure the Delay Time

1. Click on the newly created Render Delay filter to open its settings.
2. Use the Delay (milliseconds) slider or type a specific value into the input box to set your delay.
   • Note: 1,000 milliseconds equals 1 second.
3. Close the Filters window to apply the changes.

Important Technical Considerations

• Limit per Filter: The Render Delay filter in OBS Studio has a maximum limit of 500 milliseconds (0.5 seconds) per instance to prevent performance issues.
• Stacking for Longer Delays: If you need a delay longer than 500ms, you can add multiple Render Delay filters to the same source. For example, adding two filters set to 500ms each will result in a total video delay of 1,000ms (1 second).
• System Resources: Render Delay temporarily stores video frames in your graphics card (GPU) memory. Stacking too many delay filters or using them on high-resolution sources (like 4K) can significantly increase GPU VRAM usage.