Audio sync is off only when creating Video File

webcombo · Post by **webcombo** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:45 pm

I have been using VideoStudio for over a year now, have had success on dozens of projects, and love this program. However, I am running into a problem that I can't seem to fix. I am transferring a VHS to DVD for a client, and here is my process (I have done this many times WITH success). I record the video into my MiniDV camcorder, and then transfer the files into Ulead using the IEEE firewire. I then create a Video File, and once that file is created, I input it into a new project and Create Disc and, in this case, am not even using a menu. This is just a straight up, copy a VHS tape to DVD with no cutting, special effects, or anything like that. What I don't understand is that when I watch the video on the timeline, it is all in sync. I have burned 4 different DVDs, using 2 different computers (1 is an AMD Athlon 3000 with 1 GB RAM and 160GB harddrive and the other is a Gateway Dual Core Athlon 3800 with 1GB DDR RAM and 250 GB HD) I watch the beginning of the DVD on my tv and the audio is in sync, but when I fast forward to about 30 minutes in, the audio is off by just a hair, and at 45 minutes, it is off by about 1/2 second. It is noticeable and since this is for a client, I need it to be exact. My last step, before I decided to post this, was to create the video file on the slower computer and when I watched the new rendered file, the same audio issues occured. I am stumped because on both the VHS and the MiniDV tape, the audio is synced just fine. If there is anything anybody knows about this wierd situation, I would be very grateful. I have pushed her back 2 days now, and have to get this done for her. Thank you all for all your time in posting wonderful advice for the rest of us.

TDK1044 · Post by **TDK1044** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 6:50 pm

When you create your video file, one option open to you is 'Perform Smart Render'. Uncheck (disable) this function and then create your video file. When you burn to DVD, burn at 4X or lower.

webcombo · Post by **webcombo** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:07 pm

Thanks for the quick reply. I will attempt that next. The only problem I have is that when I create the video file, that also has the 1/2 second sync issue. So burning the DVD at 4x probably wouldn't do any good because the file is already out of sync. Do you think I could possibly split the audio from the video file, adjust it to match up, and then burn the DVD from that? Or would that cause more audio issues because it is an edited file? I hope that all made sense.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:17 pm

Yes, this problem is usually related to rendering or re-multiplexing.

I am stumped because on both the VHS and the MiniDV tape, the audio is synced just fine.

Often, it is the result of rendering (or re-rendering) a file that appears OK, but actually is slightly corrupted. (Imagine if a bad video frame gets thrown away, but the good audio for that frame remains.... Now, you're out of sync.)

Maybe try a different Mini-DV tape. Some DV camcorders allow you to bypass the DV-tape recording step all together, by using your DV camera in "pass-through" mode as an analog to Firewire converter.

It might even be possible that a glitch in the analog tape is confusing the DV encoder, causing a defect which later reaults in an out of sync MPEG file. In that case, I don't know what the fix is.

At what point is the file converted to MPEG-2? Smart Render only comes into play when MPEG-2 is re-rendered, and there is no need for you to encode to MPEG-2 more than once.

webcombo · Post by **webcombo** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:18 pm

Actually, that is something I forgot to mention. I did think it was the MiniDV tape so I used a different one and no luck with that either.

TDK1044 · Post by **TDK1044** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 7:22 pm

Just disable 'SR' and you'll be fine.

webcombo · Post by **webcombo** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:35 am

Just an update for those helping me with this. I diabled the Smart Render, and that didn't do anything. I re-uploaded it to one of my computers, and at the same time, re-made the video file on the other computer. Both of them had the audio sync issues. I am beginning to think it is the VHS tape and that it is causing maybe dropped frames, while keeping the audio. That is the only thing that could explain why the audio is ok at the beginning of the video, but as it gets farther along, it becomes out of sync. I am still open to any other ideas if any of you have them.

Thanks for all that have helped already.

Post by **Ron P.** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 11:47 am

Go to Preferences (File menu >Preferences or press F6) go to the Capture Tab, and check the box to Show Drop Frame Information. Now when you capture your video, if you are dropping frames, and how many. Acceptible Dropped Frames to maintain syc =0 (in my book anyway). I have only on 1 or 2 occasions had dropped frames, and had problems with editing. So I would delete the captured video and do it again, after determing why I was dropping frames and correcting it. For me it was running a background app that was interfering at the time of capture...

TDK1044 · Post by **TDK1044** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:16 pm

One thing you can do as a work around is to find the point in your video where the audio starts to slip and then make an audio recording of the project from that point. Then you can take a stab as to how many frames your audio is out of sync and offset your new audio file by that amount. So that if you knew that your audio was ahead of your pictures by about 12 frames, you'd place your audio track 12 frames behind the pictures at the relevant point, knowing that the render will move it forward 12 frames placing it back in sync. Obviously you'd have to add a second, muted video file which represents the second half of your project playing aginst the new audio track.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 1:20 pm

Hi

What version of Video Studio are you using

Trevor

webcombo · Post by **webcombo** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 6:17 am

TDK, that does sound like a promising idea. I did actually split the audio from the video and then cut it in 2 areas so that I could move it around. I was looking for it to be perfect, not realizing that if I would move it off just a little, the render process might move it back into place because of the dropped frames, or whatever the cause is. I will have to try that. Thanks.

Trevor,
I am using both VideoStudio 10 and 9. I started with 10 and then went back to 9 and then back to 10 again. Just trying 2 different programs to see if it was a program issue at one time.