> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.livepeer.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Optimise latency

> Achieve low or ultra-low latency with WebRTC and HLS and tune OBS and in-browser broadcast settings.

Latency is the delay between something happening in front of the camera and viewers seeing it. **Ultra-low latency** (around 0.5–3 seconds) works well for interaction; **standard latency** (e.g. \~10–20 s with HLS) is fine for many other use cases.

## Protocols

* **WebRTC** - Best for low latency (\~0.5–3 s). Use a WebRTC-capable player (e.g. The [Livepeer Player](../player)).
* **HLS** - Broader support; typical latency \~10–20 s. With recommended low-latency settings, HLS on Livepeer Studio can be around \~10 s.

Choose based on whether you need real-time interaction (WebRTC) or maximum compatibility (HLS).

## Lowest latency: WebRTC playback

* Use **WebRTC** for playback (e.g. Livepeer Player with default settings).
* In-browser broadcasts are already optimised for low latency.
* **If the stream has B-frames, WebRTC playback is not available** and the player falls back to HLS. So for WebRTC:
  * With **OBS**: set keyframe interval to **1** and disable B-frames (`bframes=0`). Use the Livepeer Studio preset in OBS if available.
  * See [Stream via OBS](stream-via-OBS) for recommended settings.

## OBS settings for lower latency

* **Keyframe interval** - Lower = lower latency. Use **1** for lowest latency (and WebRTC compatibility).
* **Rate control** - CRF or CBR; higher bitrate often means better quality but more bandwidth. Don’t exceed your upload capacity.
* **B-frames** - Set to **0** for WebRTC and lowest latency. B-frames improve compression but add latency and break WebRTC ordering.

See [Stream via OBS](stream-via-OBS) for full recommended profiles (low latency, balanced, high quality).

## In-browser broadcasting

In-browser WebRTC broadcasts are low-latency by default. Viewers can watch via:

* **WebRTC** - \~0.5–3 s (use the Livepeer Player or another WebRTC/WHEP player).
* **HLS** - \~8–10 s if you prefer or if WebRTC isn’t available.

See [Livestream from browser](livestream-from-browser).

## Smoke testing

1. Open `https://lvpr.tv?v=<playbackId>` and check latency.
2. If latency is high (>15 s HLS or >4 s WebRTC), the issue is likely **ingest**: keyframe interval, bitrate, or B-frames. Adjust OBS/encoder and try again.
3. Compare with another HLS player if needed; the Livepeer Player’s HLS defaults are tuned for a balance of latency and stability.
4. For persistent issues, contact the [Livepeer Studio team](https://livepeer.studio) or community support.