How to Achieve Perfectly Smooth Video in Remote Interviews (No Lag or Frame Drops) ?

Why Do Remote Interviews Suffer from Frame Skipping?

Most video conferencing platforms use UDP (User Datagram Protocol) for video transmission. While UDP is optimized for low-latency streaming, it has significant downsides.

• No Packet Retransmission: Lost video packets are never re-sent, leading to frame skips and stuttering.
• Unreliable Delivery: UDP prioritizes speed over accuracy, which can result in missing frames and out-of-sync video

For live streaming, these trade-offs are acceptable, but for recorded interviews, missing frames reduce video quality and professionalism.

Why TCP Is Better for Pre-Recorded Interviews

TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) ensures smooth, frame-accurate video playback by guaranteeing reliable data delivery. Unlike UDP, TCP retransmits lost packets, preventing frame drops and maintaining video integrity.

Benefits of Using TCP:

• No Frame Skipping: Every frame is delivered, eliminating choppy playback.
• Consistent Motion: No jitter or stuttering, ensuring natural movement.
• Full-Quality Frames: No compression artifacts due to lost packets.

The only downside of TCP is slightly increased latency, but since the interview is not live, this is irrelevant. The priority is flawless video quality.

How to Force TCP for Remote Interviews

Many video conferencing platforms default to UDP, but some allow TCP-based transmission. Here’s how to ensure TCP for smooth video recording.

1. Use a TCP-Compatible Video Platform

Most modern platforms rely on WebRTC, which defaults to UDP, but some allow TCP-based connections:

• Zoom (auto-switches to TCP when UDP is unstable)
• Jitsi Meet (configurable to prioritize TCP)
• Riverside.fm (records locally, avoiding network issues)
• Zencastr (records locally and uploads over TCP)
• Ecamm Live (ideal for interviews rather than live calls)

2. Use a TCP-Based Video Recording Tool

If you are recording video separately, use tools that leverage TCP-based streaming:

• OBS Studio (supports RTMP over TCP)
• vMix (can use TCP-based NDI streaming)

3. Adjust Your Network Settings

If your video platform defaults to UDP, force TCP by:

• Blocking UDP in firewall settings (forcing fallback to TCP)
• Using RTMP or SRT over TCP instead of WebRTC-based tools
• Using a VPN with TCP mode (some VPNs tunnel all video traffic over TCP)

Final Thoughts: Prioritize TCP for Smooth Video Interviews

If you want perfectly smooth, professional-quality video interviews, avoid UDP unless you are broadcasting live. For pre-recorded interviews, TCP ensures no frame skipping, jitter, or packet loss, giving you flawless, high-quality playback.

By choosing the right platform, adjusting network settings, and prioritizing TCP-based transmission, you can record remote interviews without worrying about frame drops or choppy playback.

For more expert insights on video quality and remote production, stay tuned to iReplay.TV!

Article written by
Sylvain Corvaisier

Independent streaming and iOS engineer

Last modified: March 2nd, 2025