VS10+ synch problem

[brianbrian]

I'm capturing dv from a Canon mvx250i into Visual Studio 10+. When checking the resultant .avi file I notice that the video and audio are approximately 2 seconds out of synch. Has anyone got any ideas about how to cure this. Is it a problem int the camcorder, or VS10+ ?
Thanks
Brian

[heinz-oz]

It's certainly not a problem with VS 10+ since I can capture (and so can countless others) with it and have no OOS issues.

Why you get this problem is a mystery because what you do and how exactly is also a mystery to us

We need a lot more info before we can hint at a solution. Which details, you ask? Have a look at this http://phpbb.ulead.com.tw/EN/viewtopic.php?t=8959

[Ken Berry]

While we will need the information to which Heinz refers, two things immediately spring to mind, and either one -- or both! -- may be your problem.

Your camera is a mini DV model, and as such, you should, for best quality, be capturing in DV format from it. That should not (cannot?) get out of sync because it is DV format in the camera, and you are not really capturing, only transferring the contents of the mini-DV tape to the computer in real time.

If you are capturing direct to mpeg-2, then if your computer is not up to the task, you get the sort of problem you are experiencing, which also can include jerky video...

Moreover, you should be capturing your DV format using the camera's firewire connection. It has one, and that is what it is for. Of course, your computer must have a Firewire card in it, but if it doesn't, then they are cheap these days, usually come with the required cable, and are easy to install. (If you are using a laptop, you can buy a Firewire PCMCIA card or whatever the newest version of it is called.)

A third possibility, if you are indeed capturing to DV, is that you are using the DV Type 2 Encoder, instead of the recommended Type 1. You change this in the Options cogwheel icon on the Capture > Capture Video page of VS. However, I doubt this is your problem as I have never heard of out of sync issues if you get the DV Encoder Type wrong -- it is usually jerky video and/or audio.

[brianbrian]

Thanks for your replies - I'll look at the suggested link that Heinz spoke about, but to answer Kens comments, I am using a firewire cable and have got a firewire card in my pc. Not sure how I can tell if the pc's 'up to it' or not, have to dig out it's specification ... Finally, I am saving it as DV type 2 - I thought that because this produces a bigger file that it would be better quality ? Anyway I'll have a look at this link now.
Thanks
Brian

[brianbrian]

I've now updated my profile as best as I can.
Going to try Ken's idea about saving as dv type 1 now - but it could be tomorrow before I get round to it. Cheers
Brian

[Ken Berry]

Thanks for the info. Regarding Type 1 and Type 2 DV -- they should both provide roughly the same size file. Type 2 Encoder deals with the audio and video in separate streams, though in the same file. Some computers which aren't overly well endowed with resources have difficulty with it. That is why we generally recommend people try using Type 1 instead.

As for deciding whether your computer is up to it, click on my system button below, and compare it to your own computer. I have no difficulty with mine capturing Type 2 DV (or for that matter direct to mpeg-2).

As I say, I have never seen anyone on this board having out of sync difficulties using Type 2 Encoder over Type 1. But since Type 2 does deal with the video and audio in separate streams, I suppose it might just be possible that if your computer is a borderline case -- i.e. with some internal architecture which just tips it one way or the other -- I guess things could get slightly out of kilter.

[GeorgeW]

Thanks for the info. Regarding Type 1 and Type 2 DV -- they should both provide roughly the same size file. Type 2 Encoder deals with the audio and video in separate streams, though in the same file. Some computers which aren't overly well endowed with resources have difficulty with it. That is why we generally recommend people try using Type 1 instead.

DV Type-2 files are actually slightly larger than Type-1 files (by about the size of a duplicate uncompressed audio stream).

As I say, I have never seen anyone on this board having out of sync difficulties using Type 2 Encoder over Type 1. But since Type 2 does deal with the video and audio in separate streams, I suppose it might just be possible that if your computer is a borderline case -- i.e. with some internal architecture which just tips it one way or the other -- I guess things could get slightly out of kilter.

I have seen reports from folks in forums (don't recall if it was here, or perhaps other boards I moderate/participate) that reported sync issues that were related to the DV Type they were using. The odd thing is I have seen complaints about both DV Type-1 and DV Type-2 -- it was most likely related to the users' computer configuration and the software they were using (perhaps Ulead handles either DV Type better than others). Go figure -- I know Sony Vegas doesn't like DV Type-1 files...

Regards,
George

[Ken Berry]

Nor does Adobe Premiere 2.0, which gives me occasional static pops in the audio track when I use Type 1 DV in it...

[brianbrian]

Compared with your pc Ken, it looks like I'm very short of ram - 512Mb compared with your 2 Gb !!! My hard disk space is also limited, but not at a crucial stage yet I think.
Brian

[brianbrian]

Ken - you're a star !
Just tried capturing as dv type 1, as you suggested, and problem solved.
Thanks very much for your help
Brian