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The problem it solves
On location, or with multiple cameras, audio and picture are often recorded separately:
- Camera mics sound poor → audio is captured on a separate recorder
- Several cameras each record their own track → they must be aligned afterwards
- Interviews with one mic per person → several tracks must be merged into one
One approach is waveform sync: compare audio waveforms to find a matching point and calculate an offset. It may work without a slate or timecode when recordings share usable audio; results depend on the source material and tool.
How waveform sync works, and when it fails
The principle is direct: if two recordings captured the same sound at the same moment (a clap, a door, a cough), the waveform shows a matching feature, and the software computes the offset from it.
It fails when:
- There is no shared sound — the camera was too far away to pick up the same audio
- The quality differs too much — on-camera mic versus a recorder, so the features do not match
- There is drift — over a long recording, different devices’ clocks run at slightly different rates, so the tracks gradually slip apart; the start lines up and the end does not
Drift is one possible reason the start lines up while a later section does not. Check the beginning, middle and end before diagnosing it.
The options for sync today
| Approach | Requires | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Waveform sync | Shared ambience | Most location work and interviews |
| Timecode sync | Capable devices, jammed timecode | Professional multicam shoots |
| Manual alignment | A findable common moment | One-off, small amounts of footage |
| Do not record separately | — | Removing the problem at the source |
Recording a synchronized reference or using supported timecode can reduce later alignment work. Confirm what the recording setup actually captures before relying on it.
What to check in any other approach
- Can it fix drift — not just the start, but a correction across the whole recording
- Is it reversible — can the alignment be undone and redone
- Are multiple angles one timeline — three cameras plus one separate audio track; when you cut between angles, does the audio stay put
Where we sit on this line
If your post-production work includes transcription, text-based editing or organizing highlights, you can review the Aixcut podcast editing workflow. New accounts receive 2,000 credits; exports do not consume credits and have no watermark.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free PluralEyes alternative?
Compare waveform sync, timecode support, camera count and manual correction. Check drift and export formats on long recordings.
Is PluralEyes discontinued?
Maxon’s official PluralEyes product page currently states that PluralEyes is in limited maintenance mode and refers readers to the vendor’s FAQ; confirm the current status and support scope on Maxon’s site.
What is Plural Eyes and what is it used for?
It uses waveform synchronization: compare the waveform characteristics of separately recorded audio, compute the offset automatically, and align it — used to match a separate recorder against camera picture.
What is the best audio sync software?
There is no single best choice for every project. For short interviews, check whether waveform sync is reliable; for multicamera or long recordings, prioritize timecode support and drift correction. Test a short real clip and confirm the result imports into your editor and remains adjustable.
Is there a way to sync without a slate?
Yes. Waveform sync needs neither a slate nor timecode as long as both recordings share ambience. It can fail when audio quality differs a lot, or when long recordings drift.
It synced, but it is still off later — why?
One possible cause is drift: different devices’ clocks run at slightly different rates, so over a long recording the tracks slip apart — aligned at the start, wrong at the end. That needs a tool that can correct offset across the whole recording, not just the head.
What do I edit with once it is synced?
Depends on format: audio only, an audio editor; with picture, a video editor. Aixcut supports transcription, text-based editing and highlight extraction; compare those post-production tasks with your workflow.
Where Aixcut fits
If your post-production work includes transcription, text-based editing or organizing highlights, review Aixcut’s podcast editing workflow. For the adjacent decision, read the related guide.
Official sources
Capabilities, allowances and plans for the third-party products mentioned in this article follow their official pages. The notes below were checked against those pages in October 2026:
| Product (official page) | What the official page states |
|---|---|
| Maxon PluralEyes, Limited Maintenance Mode notice | The product page states “PluralEyes is now in limited maintenance mode”; the support article says the product entered limited maintenance mode on February 1, 2023, will not be updated for newer host applications, and lists Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, DaVinci Resolve and Avid Media Composer as natively syncing sound by waveform; installers are available by contacting support |
| Syncaila | The current release on the site is Syncaila 3.1, released October 13, 2026, for Windows and macOS, with a 20-day fully functional trial and 20 clips free forever across two tracks |
Each line comes from the vendor’s own page, checked in October 2026. Features, allowances and prices change; the vendor’s latest page always governs.