Timecode is the gold standard for syncing visuals to audio, and we've written about it before. But plenty of churches run backing tracks from a laptop, a phone, or a simple playback app with no timecode at all — and still want the lyrics to land on the beat. Here are three approaches that work, from simplest to most robust.
Option 1: Use the Audio Baked Into the Video
The simplest method is to not sync two things at all. If your lyric video includes the backing track audio, play the video's own audio through the sound desk and mute your separate track. Video and audio can't drift because they're the same file.
- In ProPresenter, make sure the media cue's audio is enabled and routed to your audio output.
- In EasyWorship, tick Play audio in the media item properties.
- Send the presentation computer's audio output to a dedicated channel on the desk so the sound engineer can mix it.
This is how most small and medium churches should start. The downside: you can't adjust the arrangement or the mix independently of the video.
Option 2: One Trigger, Two Outputs
If you need a separate audio file (a custom mix, stems, a click for the drummer), the goal is to start both files from a single action so there's no human reaction time between them.
- ProPresenter: add the audio file as an Audio cue on the same slide as the video, so one click fires both. Set both to "Play from start".
- Ableton Live / DAW setups: put the video on a video track and the audio on an audio track in the same set, aligned on the timeline. Pressing play starts both. Ableton, Logic and Reaper all support video playback for exactly this reason.
- Playback apps (Prime, Loop Community): most can send a MIDI note or OSC message when a track starts. ProPresenter can be set to trigger a cue on receiving that message — look under Preferences > Devices.
Option 3: Dial In an Offset
If the video and your recording are different versions of the song — a longer intro, a count-in, a different tempo — starting them together isn't enough. You'll need an offset. Find a clear reference point (first lyric of verse one), note the timestamp in both files, and shift the video start by the difference. We cover this in detail in How to Use Timecode Offsets.
The Thing That Breaks All Three
Whichever method you use, drift is the enemy: video and audio that start together but slowly separate. Drift means the two files are at different tempos or different frame rates, not that your trigger was late. If you see it, don't keep re-nudging the offset — fix the source. Time-stretch the audio in a DAW to match the video, or get a version of the visual timed to your recording.
Which Should You Use?
- Volunteers running a laptop: Option 1. One file, zero sync problems.
- Band on a click, dedicated media operator: Option 2 via ProPresenter audio cues or a DAW.
- Multiple campuses or broadcast: proper SMPTE timecode is worth the setup.
All Talesoft Digital lyric videos are timed to the official multitrack release and delivered as MP4 with the audio included, so Option 1 works out of the box. Browse lyric videos →