Video Studio 11 video and audio sync mpeg2 files

[jhutchings]

I have a JVC everio model 255 camcorder that I recently purchased. I have used DV camcorders for years and have used Premiere to edit that material. I took the plunge into the mpeg2 world to speed up my workflow. I looked for various editors and narrowed it down to these.

Womble Video Wizard, Adobe premiere elements with mainconcept mpeg plugin and videostudio 11. I have used videostudio 10 in the past for dv editng so videostudio 11 seemed a natural fit.

I use a utility to import the "mod" files produced by the everio into my computer's hard drive. This utility simply changes the extension from "mod" to "mpg" and changes the flag from 4:3 to 16:9. For my test I went out and shot 10 minutes of video. My goal was to import the video into the timeline add a short introduction title, add transitions then use the smart render feature of videostudio to export the completed video. The new version of video studio highlights the mpeg optimizer feature so I thought this would be perfect. Well my 10 minute video starts to develop sync issues only after 6 minutes. Now here are my tests:

Womble -- same video, transitions, title, smart render, perfect sync.
Adobe -- same video, transitions, title, smart render with Mainconcept mpeg elements, perfect sync.

To me that confirms my video is good.

Specs of video

Mpeg2 variable bit 3825 min 6000 avg 8900 max upper field first
audio AC3 two channel 384 khz 48.

Procedure used within video studio

Import video into library manager.
On first import of video clip to timeline presented message to change project to match video clip specs. Answer yes.
Import rest of video clips into timeline, add title, transitions, no cuts.
Create finished video using "Create video using same settings as project"
Export is very quick, so smart rendering is taking place.
Also try the above with the new "mpeg optimizer", same problems

Test video in Windvd platnium version 8. Sync problems
Test video on another computer using Powerdvd version 5 sync problems.

I export my project this time rendering the entire project with no smart render turned on and test my video and everything is in sync.

One funny thing I took the video that was smart rendered and out of sync and converted it to mpeg4 using nero recode and played it on a pocket pc using coreplayer and guess what everything is in sync. This I do not understand.

I know version 10 had smart render problems, but I thought version 11 was fixed. I have tried to give as much info as possible. Is this 'bug' still in version 11 and is anyone else having these issues. Is there a fix or do we live with this. I know other programs are capable of doing this task correctly.

Thanks

John

[jhutchings]

Am I the only one having these issues?

[oneking]

Hey John. No, you're not the only one having these issues. I actually read a pretty involved article written by a VS guru. This guy knew everything, but wasn't too technical in his explanation. What it came down to, was that if you're adding effects, transitions, filters, whatever, then Smart Render is a crapshoot. Furthermore, unless the properties of your video clip MATCH the project's properties settings, smart render will do more harm than good. Finally I have found that for the very best quality, and keeping audio and video in synch, choose "same as first video clip" or "custom." For whatever reason, any other choice results in a loss of quality, particularly sharpness. Don't ask me why. This program has its bugs as you know, and there are all sorts of random problems associated with certain features of VS. But the good far outweighs the bad, when it's all said and done, which is why I prefer this program over just about anything else out there. I've spent hours upon hours learning through trial and error, how to avoid some of the random problems with this program, and would be more than happy to chat more with you, if you think that I might be able to offer some additonal help.

[jhutchings]

So Ulead puts out a new release of this product, points out their "mpeg optimizer" knowing that it is buggy and wants $100.00 for this. I do not understand. Can someone from ulead confirm that this is a problem, if not how do I use smart render and have my audio and video in sync.

[Black Lab]

Create finished video using "Create video using same settings as project"

So what are the project settings?

[jhutchings]

I use the use file settings option that is presented to me when I import my first video clip into studioplus. I answeer yes. This gives me the follwoing project settings.

Framerate 29.97
Frametype Upper field first
720x480
16:9
Quality 70
Variable rate 8900

Audio
AC3 2 channel 48000 freq 384 rate.

I can confirm this is indeed the same settings that my video was shot under.

When I go to render I choose use settings of first clip, and I have also tried it with use project settings.

No luck

Thanks

John

[jhutchings]

Changed the project settings to encode mpeg2 audio instead of ac3, the video settings are the same as before, this time the video smart rendered and guess what everything is in sync. Is this because all of the audio was rerendered? Anyway I can live with this. I just rerender the mpeg2 back to ac3 with moviefactory Any idea why the ac3 render will not work?

[stelch]

Hi guys
One thing I do not understand is why do you choose in the "Create Video file" section the choice"Same as project settings" or "Same as First Video clip"? Why don't you choose the DV, HDV or DVD choices? I always use the DVD choice and never had any problems. If I want the output to put it back into tape then I choose the DV one.

Stelios