Audio and video out of sync on DVD

richardcook · Post by **richardcook** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:06 pm

Apologies if this question has been answered elsewhere.

I am experiencing audio and video sync issues with Ulead VideoStudio 10 Plus (full registered retail version) when creating DVDs. Here are the steps I have been taking:

1. Capture video as a DV-AVI type 1 (.avi) file.
2. Create new project in VideoStudio and drag the .avi file onto the timeline.
3. Check that the video plays back with audio and video in sync.
4. Go to "Share" to create a disc after adding basic menus - I will typically render the video as an .iso image and then burn the .iso image using DVD burning software such as Nero.

So the video plays back fine in the VideoStudio preview window with the audio and video perfectly in sync. Rendering to the .iso image introduces significant lag between audio and video which is sometimes up to half a second.

What's going on here?

The machine I am using to perform video editing on has been specifically optimized for video editing - it has very little extraneous software on it. My feeling is that I have something configured incorrectly since my machine is more than capable of playing the video back in preview mode with full audio-video fidelity. I don't think my system specifications are relevant, but here are some of them anyway:

1. 2.8 GB Intel Pentium 4 HT processor.
2. 2 GB of PC2-3200 DDR2 RAM.
3. 100 GB 5400rpm hard drive.
4. Windows XP Professional SP2.

This is a very clean machine: the hard drive was wiped and has a clean install of the operating system. The only software other than VideoStudio installed on it is Nero 7 Ultra Edition. I realized that a 7200rpm or higher hard drive would be preferable, but since this doesn't have any noticeable affect on previewing within VideoStudio I don't think that this should be problem: hard drive speed should not impact on the quality of DVD rendering.

So, does anybody know how to fix this issue as it's driving me crazy?

Thanks, Richard.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:28 pm

Hi Richard

Welcome to the forum.

Not sure why you are seeing out of sync audio.

First I would change your workflow to include Share Create Video File.

Capture to Dv-Avi
(After capturing your files should be already inserted to the timeline.)
Edit your project
Share-Create Video File (select Format pal/ntsc DVD)
This creates an mpeg 2 file of your project. (under 4.3 Gb)
Start a new project Share Create Disc—Add Video file. Using the Mpeg 2.

There should be no rendering of the video file during the burn process.

You can now create your Iso

I use Uleads Dvd/Vcd disc image recorder to burn these files. (Start-programs-ulead video studio)

Finally

Have a read at the ‘Recommended procedure’ at the top of this forum.

And the Quick Guide to DV-AVI from the link below.

Hope this Helps

Trevor

richardcook · Post by **richardcook** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:29 pm

So, since I posted this I have found quite a few relevant topics in this forum. Still, if you have any general advice, please do let me know!

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:38 pm

Hi Richard

Just an after thought.

Your pc spec’ can be relevant, you can include the details in your forum profile.

I was also interested in where you first noticed the OOS.

After creating the ISO? (how did you view this)
Or
After burning using Nero

Trevor

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:47 pm

Capture to Dv-Avi

What is the source of your DV-AVI file? How did you "capture" it?

All of my sync problems have been caused by bad video files.* I call it "sneaky corruption", because the files always played OK, but caused problems when making a DVD.

* In my case they were MPEGs. This problem is very rare with AVI/DV files transfered from a DV camcorder.

richardcook · Post by **richardcook** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:13 pm

Thanks, gents.

trevor andrew: I will try the modified procedure you outline tonight and see what happens. I first noticed the OOS when playing the DVD back on my TV. There is no OOS when the movie is on the timeline in VideoStudio. I will try testing the ISO image next time I render my video - I usually use Nero ImageDrive for mounting ISO images as virtual DVD drives for this kind of thing. I'll update my profile with my system specs.

DVDDoug: The DV-AVI was captured from a Canon ZR500 digital camcorder via FireWire. I used the built-in Windows video capture applet (which I believe is the same as that used by Windows Movie Maker). I am going to try using VideoStudio's video capture (as well as the Nero equivalent) at some point in the future to compare and contrast. However, I think that the original AVI file I captured is fine - it plays in every media player I have (including Windows Media Player, RealPlayer etc.) without any sync issues. But, as you say, there could be some "sneaky" corruption.

Thanks.

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:18 pm

Hi Richard,

During DVD Playback, how long before you notice the sync issue? Is it immediately, or does it start to show "x" minutes into the DVD, and gets worse the further you watch

Regards,
George

richardcook · Post by **richardcook** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:20 pm

George,

It is somewhat out-of-sync from the beginning and gets progressively worse as the movie proceeds.

Thanks, Richard.

P. S. My profile has been updated with more system information.

TDK1044 · Post by **TDK1044** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:53 pm

Render your final video file again and uncheck the 'enable smart render' feature.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:19 pm

And at the risk of sounding as though I am hammering the point, follow Trevor's original advice and first go to Share > Create Video File > DVD, and produce a DVD-compatible mpeg-2 file. Make sure you choose properties in the selected template which you intend to use later in the burning, especially bitrate.

Once you have this file, then close your project and open a new one, but leave the timeline empty. Then go to Share > Create Disc > DVD. The burning module will open. Insert your DVD-compatible mpeg-2 file(s). Make sure the burning properties are the same as the mpeg-2 properties -- check this in the middle of the three icons in the bottom left of the burning screen. If the properties are in any way different, then use the 'Change MPEG Settings' button in that icon to change them. Create your menu and burn.

Using this procedure, you should not have rendering in the burning phase (apart from production of the menu). BTW, make sure 'Do Not Convert Compliant MPEG Files' is checked in that same icon.

While it is theoretically possible to go straight from editing to the burning stage, too many people have had too many problems doing it this way. That is why we recommend the separate steps outlined above.

richardcook · Post by **richardcook** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:22 pm

Thanks, Ken. That's what I'll do when I get the time to work on my project again.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:35 pm

I should perhaps have added that you will not lose much time doing it this way -- at most, only the few seconds it takes for the extra key strokes. The rendering step in this new work flow (for you) will take exactly the same time as it takes if you blend it into the burning stage. But it relieves the burden on the computer. The way you have been doing it, you have been asking your computer not only to create the menus, multiplex the audio and video and actually burn -- all complex procedures in their own right -- but also to render the original DV into mpeg-2, all at the same time. There is little wonder that some computers just can't handle it... And the most common error that occurs is out of sync audio and video (or else the burner just throws in the towel altogether...)

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 2:10 am

A few posts for you to digest:

Audo/Video Synchronisation issues

From Camcorder to DVD with VideoStudio

VS & MSP: Fix for Out of Synch Audio/Video

richardcook · Post by **richardcook** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:11 pm

I've not had any success yet. I've tried following the various procedures to the letter.

I'm going to try encoding the AVI file as an MPEG-2 file in another program first. Tsk.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Sat Aug 26, 2006 7:36 pm

Hi Richard

Sorry to hear you are still having problems

When you capture your video I assume you select Dv as the capture format.

During capture, do you see any ‘Dropped Frames’

This can be viewed in the Information Panel lower right icon.

Trevor