In a packet communication network, to compensate for rate mismatches between transmitting and receiving devices, an apparatus and method provides for adjusting the playback sampling rate and for monitoring the buffer. The receiving device will monitor its buffer; relevant buffer data can comprise whether the buffer is approaching capacity or approaching depletion and the speed in which the buffer is approaching capacity of approaching depletion. The receiving device will then trigger an adjustment to the playback sampling rate to attune the rates of the transmitting and receiving devices or to compensate for jitters from any number of network complications. The receiving device may also store the buffer data for later action, for example, to formulate specific adjustment procedures or to compile specific conference profiles. The present invention may function alone or function in conjunction with other known methods in the art.