diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 48b11a5..fae6b35 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -1642,7 +1642,7 @@ checksum = "09edd9e8b54e49e587e4f6295a7d29c3ea94d469cb40ab8ca70b288248a81db2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_client"
-version = "0.13.13"
+version = "0.13.14"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-stream",
@@ -1676,7 +1676,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_common"
-version = "0.13.13"
+version = "0.13.14"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
@@ -1688,7 +1688,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_server"
-version = "0.13.13"
+version = "0.13.14"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
diff --git a/client/Cargo.toml b/client/Cargo.toml
index 8e1510e..ec7b53f 100644
--- a/client/Cargo.toml
+++ b/client/Cargo.toml
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.13.13"
+version                 = "0.13.14"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]
diff --git a/common/Cargo.toml b/common/Cargo.toml
index 98ef855..ba2e962 100644
--- a/common/Cargo.toml
+++ b/common/Cargo.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version                 = "0.13.13"
+version                 = "0.13.14"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 
diff --git a/docs/operational-env.md b/docs/operational-env.md
index 19e83a5..6d78c90 100644
--- a/docs/operational-env.md
+++ b/docs/operational-env.md
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ Hardware-facing assumptions belong near the code that uses them; this file is th
 | `LESAVKA_UAC_DEV` | server hardware/device override |
 | `LESAVKA_UAC_HDMI_COMPENSATION_US` | server HDMI audio sink latency override |
 | `LESAVKA_UAC_LATENCY_TIME_US` | server audio sink latency override |
-| `LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN` | server audio sink clock-alignment override |
+| `LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN` | server audio sink clock-alignment override; defaults to `0` |
 | `LESAVKA_TEST_CAM_U32` | test/build contract variable; not runtime operator config |
 | `LESAVKA_TEST_CAP_CAMERA` | test/build contract variable; not runtime operator config |
 | `LESAVKA_TEST_CAP_MIC` | test/build contract variable; not runtime operator config |
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ Hardware-facing assumptions belong near the code that uses them; this file is th
 | `LESAVKA_TEST_VIDEO_SOURCE` | test/build contract variable; not runtime operator config |
 | `LESAVKA_TOUCHPAD_SCALE` | input routing/clipboard override |
 | `LESAVKA_UAC_DEV` | server hardware/device override |
-| `LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN` | disable only for A/B diagnosing UAC sink timing vs silence |
+| `LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN` | server audio sink clock-alignment override; `0` is the host-validated default |
 | `LESAVKA_UPLINK_CAMERA_PREVIEW` | client media capture/playback override |
 | `LESAVKA_UPLINK_MIC_LEVEL` | client media capture/playback override |
 | `LESAVKA_USB_RECOVERY_` | USB recovery timing override |
diff --git a/scripts/install/server.sh b/scripts/install/server.sh
index 904f9ca..9cc3566 100755
--- a/scripts/install/server.sh
+++ b/scripts/install/server.sh
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ fi
   printf 'LESAVKA_UAC_DEV=%s\n' "${LESAVKA_UAC_DEV:-hw:UAC2Gadget,0}"
   printf 'LESAVKA_ALSA_DEV=%s\n' "${LESAVKA_ALSA_DEV:-hw:UAC2Gadget,0}"
   printf 'LESAVKA_UAC_HDMI_COMPENSATION_US=%s\n' "${LESAVKA_UAC_HDMI_COMPENSATION_US:-0}"
-  printf 'LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN=%s\n' "${LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN:-1}"
+  printf 'LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN=%s\n' "${LESAVKA_UAC_SESSION_CLOCK_ALIGN:-0}"
 } | sudo tee /etc/lesavka/server.env >/dev/null
 
 echo "==> 6a. Systemd units - lesavka-core"
diff --git a/scripts/manual/run_upstream_av_sync.sh b/scripts/manual/run_upstream_av_sync.sh
index 137588a..edace6c 100755
--- a/scripts/manual/run_upstream_av_sync.sh
+++ b/scripts/manual/run_upstream_av_sync.sh
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@ LOCAL_OUTPUT_DIR=${LOCAL_OUTPUT_DIR:-"${REPO_ROOT}/tmp"}
 VIDEO_SIZE=${VIDEO_SIZE:-1280x720}
 VIDEO_FPS=${VIDEO_FPS:-30}
 VIDEO_FORMAT=${VIDEO_FORMAT:-mjpeg}
+REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK=${REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK:-auto}
 REMOTE_AUDIO_SOURCE=${REMOTE_AUDIO_SOURCE:-auto}
 REMOTE_AUDIO_QUIESCE_USER_AUDIO=${REMOTE_AUDIO_QUIESCE_USER_AUDIO:-auto}
+ANALYSIS_NORMALIZE=${ANALYSIS_NORMALIZE:-1}
 SSH_OPTS=${SSH_OPTS:-"-o BatchMode=yes -o ConnectTimeout=5"}
 LOCAL_AUDIO_SANITY=${LOCAL_AUDIO_SANITY:-1}
 PROBE_PREBUILD=${PROBE_PREBUILD:-1}
@@ -62,6 +64,7 @@ ssh ${SSH_OPTS} "${TETHYS_HOST}" bash -s -- \
   "${VIDEO_SIZE}" \
   "${VIDEO_FPS}" \
   "${VIDEO_FORMAT}" \
+  "${REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK}" \
   "${REMOTE_AUDIO_SOURCE}" \
   "${REMOTE_AUDIO_QUIESCE_USER_AUDIO}" <<'REMOTE_CAPTURE_SCRIPT' &
 set -euo pipefail
@@ -70,8 +73,9 @@ capture_seconds=$2
 video_size=$3
 video_fps=$4
 video_format=$5
-remote_audio_source=$6
-remote_audio_quiesce_user_audio=$7
+remote_capture_stack=$6
+remote_audio_source=$7
+remote_audio_quiesce_user_audio=$8
 
 rm -f "${remote_capture}"
 video_args=(-f video4linux2 -framerate "${video_fps}" -video_size "${video_size}")
@@ -107,24 +111,102 @@ resolve_pulse_source() {
     '
 }
 
-audio_mode="alsa"
+resolve_pw_audio_target() {
+  if ! command -v pw-dump >/dev/null 2>&1 || ! command -v python3 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  pw-dump | python3 - <<'PY'
+import json
+import sys
+
+try:
+    objs = json.load(sys.stdin)
+except Exception:
+    raise SystemExit(1)
+
+for obj in objs:
+    if obj.get("type") != "PipeWire:Interface:Node":
+        continue
+    props = (obj.get("info") or {}).get("props") or {}
+    if props.get("media.class") != "Audio/Source":
+        continue
+    serial = props.get("object.serial")
+    name = props.get("node.name", "")
+    desc = props.get("node.description", "")
+    if serial is None:
+        continue
+    if "Lesavka_Composite" in name or "Lesavka Composite" in desc:
+        print(serial)
+        raise SystemExit(0)
+
+raise SystemExit(1)
+PY
+}
+
+capture_mode="alsa"
 alsa_audio_dev="hw:3,0"
 pulse_source=""
-if [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == "auto" ]]; then
-  if pulse_source="$(resolve_pulse_source)"; then
-    audio_mode="pulse"
-  else
-    printf 'PipeWire Lesavka source not found; falling back to hw:3,0\n' >&2
-  fi
-elif [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == pulse:* ]]; then
-  audio_mode="pulse"
-  pulse_source="${remote_audio_source#pulse:}"
-elif [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == alsa:* ]]; then
-  alsa_audio_dev="${remote_audio_source#alsa:}"
-else
-  printf 'unsupported REMOTE_AUDIO_SOURCE=%s\n' "${remote_audio_source}" >&2
-  exit 64
-fi
+pw_audio_target=""
+
+case "${remote_capture_stack}" in
+  auto)
+    if command -v pw-record >/dev/null 2>&1 \
+      && command -v pw-v4l2 >/dev/null 2>&1 \
+      && pw_audio_target="$(resolve_pw_audio_target)"; then
+      capture_mode="pwpipe"
+    elif [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == "auto" ]]; then
+      if pulse_source="$(resolve_pulse_source)"; then
+        capture_mode="pulse"
+      else
+        printf 'PipeWire Lesavka source not found; falling back to hw:3,0\n' >&2
+      fi
+    elif [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == pulse:* ]]; then
+      capture_mode="pulse"
+      pulse_source="${remote_audio_source#pulse:}"
+    elif [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == alsa:* ]]; then
+      alsa_audio_dev="${remote_audio_source#alsa:}"
+    else
+      printf 'unsupported REMOTE_AUDIO_SOURCE=%s\n' "${remote_audio_source}" >&2
+      exit 64
+    fi
+    ;;
+  pwpipe)
+    if ! command -v pw-record >/dev/null 2>&1 || ! command -v pw-v4l2 >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      printf 'REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK=pwpipe requires pw-record and pw-v4l2\n' >&2
+      exit 64
+    fi
+    pw_audio_target="$(resolve_pw_audio_target)" || {
+      printf 'PipeWire Lesavka capture target not found for REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK=pwpipe\n' >&2
+      exit 64
+    }
+    capture_mode="pwpipe"
+    ;;
+  pulse)
+    if [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == pulse:* ]]; then
+      pulse_source="${remote_audio_source#pulse:}"
+    elif [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == "auto" ]]; then
+      pulse_source="$(resolve_pulse_source)" || {
+        printf 'PipeWire Lesavka source not found for REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK=pulse\n' >&2
+        exit 64
+      }
+    else
+      pulse_source="${remote_audio_source}"
+    fi
+    capture_mode="pulse"
+    ;;
+  alsa)
+    if [[ "${remote_audio_source}" == alsa:* ]]; then
+      alsa_audio_dev="${remote_audio_source#alsa:}"
+    elif [[ "${remote_audio_source}" != "auto" ]]; then
+      alsa_audio_dev="${remote_audio_source}"
+    fi
+    capture_mode="alsa"
+    ;;
+  *)
+    printf 'unsupported REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK=%s\n' "${remote_capture_stack}" >&2
+    exit 64
+    ;;
+esac
 
 quiesce_for_alsa=0
 case "${remote_audio_quiesce_user_audio}" in
@@ -145,13 +227,32 @@ case "${remote_audio_quiesce_user_audio}" in
     ;;
 esac
 
-if [[ "${quiesce_for_alsa}" == "1" ]]; then
+if [[ "${capture_mode}" == "alsa" && "${quiesce_for_alsa}" == "1" ]]; then
   printf 'quiescing Tethys user audio before raw ALSA capture\n' >&2
   quiesce_user_audio
   trap restore_user_audio EXIT
 fi
 
-if [[ "${audio_mode}" == "pulse" ]]; then
+if [[ "${capture_mode}" == "pwpipe" ]]; then
+  printf 'using PipeWire-native mux capture target serial: %s\n' "${pw_audio_target}" >&2
+  timeout "${capture_seconds}" pw-record \
+    --target "${pw_audio_target}" \
+    --rate 48000 \
+    --channels 2 \
+    --format s16 \
+    --raw - \
+    | pw-v4l2 ffmpeg -hide_banner -loglevel error -y \
+      -thread_queue_size 1024 \
+      "${video_args[@]}" \
+      -i /dev/video0 \
+      -thread_queue_size 1024 \
+      -f s16le -ar 48000 -ac 2 \
+      -i pipe:0 \
+      -t "${capture_seconds}" \
+      -c:v copy \
+      -c:a pcm_s16le \
+      "${remote_capture}"
+elif [[ "${capture_mode}" == "pulse" ]]; then
   printf 'using Pulse source: %s\n' "${pulse_source}" >&2
   ffmpeg -hide_banner -loglevel error -y \
     -thread_queue_size 1024 \
@@ -196,8 +297,33 @@ capture_status=0
 wait "${capture_pid}" || capture_status=$?
 
 if ssh ${SSH_OPTS} "${TETHYS_HOST}" "test -f '${REMOTE_CAPTURE}'"; then
+  remote_fetch_capture="${REMOTE_CAPTURE}"
+  if [[ "${ANALYSIS_NORMALIZE}" != "0" ]]; then
+    remote_fetch_capture="${REMOTE_CAPTURE%.mkv}-analysis.mkv"
+    echo "==> normalizing remote capture to CFR for analysis"
+    normalize_status=0
+    ssh ${SSH_OPTS} "${TETHYS_HOST}" bash -s -- \
+      "${REMOTE_CAPTURE}" \
+      "${remote_fetch_capture}" \
+      "${VIDEO_FPS}" <<'REMOTE_NORMALIZE_SCRIPT' || normalize_status=$?
+set -euo pipefail
+src=$1
+dst=$2
+fps=$3
+ffmpeg -hide_banner -loglevel error -y \
+  -i "${src}" \
+  -vf "fps=${fps}" \
+  -c:v libx264 -preset ultrafast -crf 12 -g 1 -pix_fmt yuv420p \
+  -c:a pcm_s16le \
+  "${dst}"
+REMOTE_NORMALIZE_SCRIPT
+    if [[ "${normalize_status}" -ne 0 ]]; then
+      echo "remote CFR normalization failed; falling back to raw capture" >&2
+      remote_fetch_capture="${REMOTE_CAPTURE}"
+    fi
+  fi
   echo "==> fetching capture back to ${LOCAL_CAPTURE}"
-  scp ${SSH_OPTS} "${TETHYS_HOST}:${REMOTE_CAPTURE}" "${LOCAL_CAPTURE}"
+  scp ${SSH_OPTS} "${TETHYS_HOST}:${remote_fetch_capture}" "${LOCAL_CAPTURE}"
 fi
 
 if [[ "${probe_status}" -ne 0 ]]; then
diff --git a/server/Cargo.toml b/server/Cargo.toml
index 0e35f58..f7b0e57 100644
--- a/server/Cargo.toml
+++ b/server/Cargo.toml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.13.13"
+version                 = "0.13.14"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false