Occasionally, the video and audio on over-the-air (OTA) TV programs played or recorded via Tablo can become unsynchronized, meaning the voices and sounds will not match the action on screen.
Why A/V Sync Issues Happen
Audio/Visual synchronization issues are generally caused by one or more 'blips' from interference in the incoming broadcast TV signal. These small errors can be virtually imperceptible, as they may only cause the loss or corruption of a single frame of video.
However, that corruption can create a 'speed bump' that knocks the audio and video of a program out of sync.
The synchronization issues can become more pronounced if multiple blips occur within a live TV playback session or recording.
This is not helped by the following factors:
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Mobile and Streaming Devices Aren't Designed to Play OTA TV
Most mobile and streaming devices aren't designed to play OTA TV. As such, most Tablo apps use specialized player software instead of the platform's standard player software. -
OTA Video Can Be Even 'Dirtier' Than Player Software Expects
All player software will attempt to smooth over errors and maintain A/V sync within a video stream. However, player software on digital devices was generally engineered for very 'clean', error-free video from internet-based sources. OTA video can be much more corrupted than expected, beyond what can be corrected even with specialized player software. -
Tablo Apps Can't Use the OTA Player Software on Smart TVs
While most smart TVs are designed to play OTA TV, app developers like Tablo cannot access or use the player software connected to the television's tuners. As such, the Tablo app must instead use player software designed for streaming-based apps, which is less fault-tolerant.
So to fix or avoid A/V sync issues, you need to start at the source.
How To Resolve Audio/Visual Sync Issues
Exiting playback and re-selecting the channel should temporarily reset the A/V sync of live TV. Rebooting your Tablo should do the same if you notice the issue on an in-progress recording.
However, the best way to resolve A/V sync issues with OTA playback on Tablo is to improve the incoming signal from your TV antenna.
Repositioning your TV antenna, avoiding sources of interference, and/or switching to a more powerful TV antenna can help.
For more details, see the article, "Troubleshooting TV Antenna Reception".