Audio out of sync with video on projects > 30 minutes

jcc561 · Post by **jcc561** » Fri Nov 25, 2005 10:04 pm

NOTE: I've read and followed the "recommended procedure" sticky in this forum and it did not resolve the audio sync problem. The error is introduced during conversion from .AVI to MPEG for DVD prior to burning a disk (i.e. the .AVI file does not have any problem but the MPEG file created in the "create video file" conversion process has audio noticably out of sync with video at the end of a 30 minute video). DVD exhibits exact same behavior as the MPEG file created (ie the problem is not in the "burn dvd" step).

I've converted the last 5 minute segment (which exhibits audio out of sync when part of the 30 minute video) as a separate video file and the audio is in sync with the video. So, the symptoms indicate a small error introduced in the coversion process that builds up over time (duration of the video) until it becomes enough out of sync to be noticable.

Following are the details.......

Capturing DV as .AVI file from Sony PC-101 camcorder via IEEE-1394 Firewire interface. As stated above, capture process produces no audio/video sync problems.

Properties of source file:
File - .AVI, 14.9 GB, 29.97 fps, duration 4226 sec, data rate 993.38 kbps
Video - DV video encoder type 1, 24 bits, 720 x 480, 4:3, 126662 frames
Audio - DV audio NTSC, 32 kHz, 12 bit, stereo, 135+ million samples

Project Settings:
I answer "yes" to "set project properties to match video properties" when putting the source video into the timeline for editing. Selecting "project properties" window indicates .AVI settings match the source.

MPEG properties are set as follows:
Data track - Audio & Video, Frame rate - 29.97 fps, Frame type - Lower Field First, Size 720 x 480, Standard 4:3, Media - NTSC DVD, Speed/Quality - 100, Vid data rate - variable/8000 kbps max, Perform non-square pixel rendering is checked, Audio - MPEG, Stereo, 48 kHz, 224 kbps

Output format: NTSC DVD

System information: In profile.

Add'l info: I have 80 GB free on the hard drive where I do the video editing/conversion. I disable Norton Anti-virus during all steps of the process to make sure there is nothing that should interfere with the conversion process.

I can only conclude that there is either a problem with the coversion process or a very significant shortcoming in the documentation (manual, etc) that comes with this product. Based on the behavior I've seen in the 10 - 12 tests I've done, I'd bet on a conversion process problem. In any case, this SW does not appear to work as advertised.

Any insights? Thanks!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 12:55 am

First three questions:-

1. Are your video files on your secondary Hard Drive and your copy of video studio on your primary drive.

2. Have you defragmented your hard drives.

3. Are your hard drives on seperate IDE ribbon cables to the motherboard.
In other words one should be a Primary Master, the other should be a Secondary Master, neither should be a slave drive on the same cable as the other.

jcc561 · Post by **jcc561** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 1:03 am

1) Video files and VS9 are both on secondary drive. In fact, that is the only thing on this drive.
2) Both hard drives were defragged prior to VS9 installation and defrag analyzer currently indicates no need to defrag.
3) They are on a single cable. Currently, the two hard drives are C: = primary master, F: = primary slave (the one with VS9 and the vid files). The second IDE connection is D: = DVD drive (secondary master) and E: = DVD/CD Burner (secondary slave). Without looking, I don't know if there is another IDE controller/connector on the MoBo.

Are you suggesting that everything would work if I was doing it all from my primary drive ( C: ) or if I had a separate IDE controller/cable for the secondary drive? Even though I'm not using anything on the primary drive during the process?

Thanks for the response.....if you have any other questions I'll be glad to provide more info.

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 10:24 am

The subject of IDE Cables is a matter of debate. Some experts suggest that the Hard Drives should be on seperate IDE cables where possible but others suggest the fastest devices (Hard Drives / DVD drives etc) should be on the primary cable and the slowest on the secondary.

One thing that is agreed upon though is that you should put the VS9 program on your primary "C" Drive and the video files on your Secondary "F" Drive.

The logical reason for this is - think of a hard drive is you would an old fashioned gramaphone. The Drive heads have to move back and forth over the hard drive surface in much the same way as the needle on the gramaphone player.

If everything is one hard drive the read/write heads are having to move back and forth more than if the task was split between two hard drives.
This obviously affects performance - similar to a fragmented hard drive in fact.

I'll have a further read through your original posts.

jcc561 · Post by **jcc561** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 4:24 pm

OK, I understand that having VS9 on C: and the video files on F: would result in less movement of the F: head during the process but not sure how that would cause the problem. It would seem that everyone who installs VS9 on their primary drive and edits on the primary drive would be doing the same process as far as head movement is concerned and therefore would have the same problem. And yes, it should improve the overall performance (time it takes) for the conversion process by eliminating the seek times for switching between data and program. I was more concerned about possible timing issues/artifacts caused by communication/switching between drives during the process though.

If I get some time I might try moving VS9 to C: but while that might save some hard drive head movement, I'm skeptical that it will solve this issue. But, probably worth a try.

michelehamilton · Post by **michelehamilton** » Sat Nov 26, 2005 5:27 pm

I have ran into this a few times..

1. Somehow .. someway....a "blimp" if you will, occured in my video... I cut out a TINY 2 seconds out of it....RIGHT when I noticed it was getting out of sync (about 45 minutes into the video).. THAT took care of it..see if you can find out just WHEN it is occuring noticeably...then try a NEW file from a few seconds after that point..

Try making ONE file out of the first part.. and a second file out of the SECOND part.. then put those .mpg's together.. (or however you save them)...

That worked for me as odd as it is!

Michele:)