Burning DVD from MPEG2 file. Lip sync problems

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:23 pm

Hi,

I've put a lot of work into my latest masterpiece - edited the mpeg2 HDV footage then downconverted to SD (I hate that loss of quality!!!) then burning a DVD. Everything looks good (apart from that loss of quality again!!!) but the lip sync is just a fraction out.
I've searched the forum and this issue seems to keep popping up and never quite gets resolved but there is constant reference to the problem disappearing when software other than VS is used to burn the DVD.

So I tried that.
I used Windows DVD Maker.
Perfect result. No problems with the lip sync.
But I do lose some of the functionality in DVD authoring that exists in VS.

I know this is not the place to discuss other products but can anyone out there tell me how to either a) stop the problem happening when I burn a DVD using VS or b) point me to a good cheap piece of software that will burn great DVDs that have been edited in VS using High Def mpeg2?

After all this work on my masterpiece I really do want to make the DVD look as good as possible.

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 1:39 am

used Windows DVD Maker.
Perfect result. No problems with the lip sync.
But I do lose some of the functionality in DVD authoring that exists in VS.

I don't use Windows DVD Maker, but if you can get a DVD-compliant MPEG-2 file (that's in sync) from that program, you can author & burn the DVD without altering the audio/video "data". There is a check-box in your project settings that says Do Not Convert Compliant MPEGs.

Another (long) work-around might be to go-ahead and make a DVD with the other program, and then import the MPEG-2 from that DVD into Video Studio for authoring & burning (again checking the do not convert... box).

You might try making a DVD-compatible MPEG-2 file first (Video Studio's Share tab). If that's in sync, you should be able to make a good DVD from it.

Or, if you can make an edited in-sync HD MPEG-2 file, here are some FREE programs you can try for transcoding to DVD-compatible MPEG-2:
SVCD 2 DVD MPG Claims to convert almost anything to DVD-compatible MPEG-2.
HDTV 2 DVD MPG (Same website as above). It's supposed to work on transport streams, and I don't know if it will work with your (program stream) file.
SUPER is a "universal" A/V conversion program.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:27 am

We have a few articles on regarding audio/video synchronisation

1. Audio / Video synchronization issues
2. VS & MSP: Fix for Out of Synch Audio/Video

Preventing it from occurring in the first place is better than a quick fix cure.
As a result of this, I consulted with other Senior Members of the Web Board and have drafted out a work flow designed to help prevent such problems.
Suggested work flow by SJJ1805 for Video Creation

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:04 am

Doug,

My downconverted HD file (which is therefore SD) plays perfectly well on the computer - for example in Windows Media Player. Lip Sync is spot-on.

The problem only presents itself in the VS burnt DVD and therefore I assume

the error occurs during burning using VS.

And, yes, I do have "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" selected.

More ideas, please!

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:30 am

Hi, Steve

I think I have been well behaved in following reccomending procedures and processes in editing,

I am, however, working with MPEG2 files throughout the edit because I am working in high def. I only downconvert before final burning (which is, again, in line with your reccomendations I think).

To restate, my MPEG files AND the downconverted SD files play fine - there are no problems when I watch them on my computer.

The problem only exists on playing the VS-burnt DVD.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 9:21 am

Just to confirm, after editing in HDV format, you first select Share > Create Video File > DVD to downconvert to standard def mpeg-2. Then you select Share > Create Disc > DVD and insert the new mpeg-2?

FWIW, I don't follow the 'usual' workflow I use when dealing exclusively with standard def video (as above). Instead, I have my edited project in the timeline, and I jump immediately to Share > Create Disc > DVD if I have only one project to burn. If I have more, then I save my last project, start a new project to clear the timeline, then open the burning module and insert the *project* files in the burning module in the order I want, then burn. That way the full conversion is done in the burning process. So far, that has caused no problems, and certainly no out of sync.

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:16 am

Ken Berry wrote:Just to confirm, after editing in HDV format, you first select Share > Create Video File > DVD to downconvert to standard def mpeg-2. Then you select Share > Create Disc > DVD and insert the new mpeg-2?

That's exactly what I do - figured it was SJJ best practice

Re your second point - not quite sure I follow. Is this relevant to working with High Def video? (I know you are a Hi Def man!) I have created a lot of project files relating to my masterpiece but each references High Def mpeg2 footage. If I introduce my project files at the burn stage I assume I will also have to downconvert to SD during the burn - and all that work in one operation may cause VS to blow a fuse! What do you think?

The solutions and advice being by you and DVDDoug and SJJ are very, very, much appreciated. But are we ignoring the fact that there is no lip sync problem in the downconverted SD video - the problem only occurs on burning to DVD. Is the real solution to use another programme to burn the DVD and to cross my fingers that the problem gets sorted in VS12?

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:34 pm

Sorry, on re-reading my post, I obviously mis-typed. I mean, when using high definition mpeg-2 from my Canon HV20, but burning to a standard definition DVD, I edit in high def, but then jump straight to the burning module (Share > Create Disc > DVD) and let the conversion to standard def get done as part of the burning process. That certainly works for me with no out of sync problems. VS will only blow a fuse if your computer is not powerful enough to handle it.

The only way, if you, as you have, downconverted as a separate step, to produce out of sync video would be because your downconverted video is not absolutely DVD-compatible, or the Do Not Convert box is not ticked. Either way, a second conversion would then take place in the burning process, and that is where the out of sync error would be creeping in.

But try it my way and see if that works...

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 3:57 pm

Hi, Ken

Now that makes sense.
At the moment I'm trying a workaround by splitting the audio and then shifting it a little but it's real trial and error as the only test is to burn yet another DVD, and that takes time.............

I'll try your way next and see if it works. There shouldn't be any problem with machine power so it will be very interesting to see if it works. It would also save me a lot of disk space as I always keep the HiDef footage AND the downconverted SD footage for everything I do. This way I only need the HiDef.

But I am going to be breaking the golden one-thing-at-a-time VS rule.
If you don't tell I won't either.

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:14 pm

but it's real trial and error as the only test is to burn yet another DVD, and that takes time.............

Why not burn to a DVD Folder then play it with something like PowerDVD?

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 5:28 pm

Jeff,

The endgame is to have something I can watch on my TV and that others can watch on their TVs. I associate PowerDVD as a computer only option.

But I could easily be missing something!

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:35 pm

I meant to use that option to check the syncing problem, before burning to DVD.

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Sep 04, 2008 7:48 pm

maxfrost01 wrote:Doug,

My downconverted HD file (which is therefore SD) plays perfectly well on the computer - for example in Windows Media Player. Lip Sync is spot-on.

The problem only presents itself in the VS burnt DVD and therefore I assume the error occurs during burning using VS.

And, yes, I do have "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" selected.

More ideas, please!

Hi

Even though you have selected "Do not convert compliant MPEG files"

Does the burn continue without rendering the video.

After hitting the Burn button the blue progress bar should indicate ¡¥convert menu¡¦

You should not see ¡¥Convert Title¡¦

Is this what happens????

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:01 am

Ken,

It worked!

I have just burnt a DVD direct from my mpeg2 HD file - in other words downconverting during 'burn' rather than rendering a separate SD file before the burn.

Sync is perfect.

One other point to mention for the possible benefit of other forum users.

I actually had two DVDs with the lip sync problem. One was 38 minutes long and the other 58 minutes long - the latter much longer than anything I had worked with before. The lip sync problem was much greater on the longer DVD (maybe that's just to be expected?)
Whilst watching a 'real' DVD last night I noticed that it too had a very slight lip sync problem which I was able to correct using the 'Settings' screen of the DVD player. This also fixed the lip sync problem on my shorter home-made DVD.

So what do I deduce from all of this......

1. A lip sync problem may not be a software problem. Sometimes you need to check the settings on your DVD player

2. To save the potential embarrassment of point 1, check how the DVD plays on your computer before you put it your stand-alone DVD player (I now realise this is what Jeff was suggesting!)
3. The longer the video the greater the (potential) lip sync problem
4. Burning the DVD direct from the High Def file seems to eliminate the lip sync problem

As ever, thanks all for all the help.
This forum continues to refresh the parts other forums can't reach.

maxfrost01 · Post by **maxfrost01** » Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:11 am

trevor andrew wrote: Even though you have selected "Do not convert compliant MPEG files" does the burn continue without rendering the video.
After hitting the Burn button the blue progress bar should indicate ¡¥convert menu¡¦. You should not see ¡¥Convert Title¡¦

Is this what happens????

Trevor,

The quick answer is "I don't know and need to check" but I'm pretty sure that it DOES say 'Convert Title'.
Would I be right in thinking that:
1. If the progress bar goes straight to 'Convert Menu' then no rendering is taking place? Therefore if there is a lip sync problem after burning it must have existed before burning?
2. If it does say 'Convert Title' then I must have changed a setting - even one simple, small change would mean the whole video is re-rendered when burning the DVD.

Is that roughly where you're headed?