TV recording to DVD problems

gmichae · Post by **gmichae** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:35 pm

Hi everyone. I am trying to burn a recorded TV show to DVD and having problems doing it.

The TV show is 2 hours long, (I actually recorded 130 minutes, 5 before, and 5 after.) I recorded the show using InterVideo Win DVR 3. The recorded show has the following characteristics:
File
File Format: MPEG-2
File Size: 3,961,446 KB
Duration: 7800.167 seconds
Video
Video Type: MPEG-2 Video
Total frames: 233,771 Frames
Attributes: 24 Bits, 352 x 480, 4:3
Frame Rate: 29.970 Frames/Sec
Data Rate: Variable bit rate (Max 5529 kbps)
Audio
Audio Type: Dolby Digital Audio
Total Samples: 374,408,008 Samples
Attribute: 48000 Hz
Layer: None
Bit Rate: 384 kbps

I have the AC-3 plug-in and am running VS8. I allow the project properties to be matched to the video properties. When I record the DVD, I use the following setup for the burn:
General Options:
Encoder Driver: Ulead MPEG Now Encoder
Data Track: <fixed> Audio and Video
Frame Rate: <fixed> 29.97 frames/second
Frame type: Lower Field first
Frame Size
Standard: 720 x 480
Display Aspect ratio: 4:3
Compression Options:
Media Type: <fixed> NTSC DVD
Speed/Quality: 100
Video Settings:
DVD-VR Compliant: unchecked
Video Data Rate: Variable 3300 kbps
Audio Settings:
Audio Format: Dolby Digital audio
Audio type: <fixed> 2/0(L,R)
Audio Frequency: <fixed> 48000 Hz
Audio bit rate: 256 kbps

This results in about a 2.2GB project.

Now for the actual questions...

When I view the project to verify that everything is setup the way I want it, I get what appears to be video that is running faster than the audio.

The video appears to start about 2 seconds ahead of the audio, and then seems to get further ahead as it goes. When I view the original MPEG recording, the audio and video remain in sync throughout. Also, the audio "pulses" making it sound very poor for being recorded in Dolby Digital AC-3.

I edit the original recording, removing the commercials, using the Multi-Trim Video tool.

1) How can I keep my video and audio in sync?

2) Would reducing the bit rate for the audio recording help with the pulsing effect?

Is there anything else that I might try? At this point, I'm still quite inexperienced with VS and making DVDs in general, but am learning as I go. Thanks in advance!

jchunter_2 · Post by **jchunter_2** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 9:06 pm

The only thing that stands out is that your Field Order should be Upper Field First because you are capturing analog video from the TV.

Also, you changed audio bit-rate from 384 kbps to 256 kbps. Try to maintain the same settings.

BTW, are you previewing the project in Video Studio or viewing the video file in the PC?

gmichae · Post by **gmichae** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:05 pm

I've previewed the project in VS. I'd guess that the lesser audio bit rate is probably going to be where my "pulsing" is coming from?

jchunter_2 · Post by **jchunter_2** » Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:21 pm

Is the autio in sync when you do instant playback in VS with all the project clips in the timeline?
If not, try to identify where in the timeline sync is lost.
If so, then is the project video file out of sync all the way or does it lose sync in the middle?

david reece · Post by **david reece** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:25 pm

please respect the copyright owner of the material.

gmichae · Post by **gmichae** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:25 pm

JC: The audio is out of sync immediately with the video on the project preview, and appears to grow even further out of sync as the video plays on. I've tried to sync up the audio with the video, which I can get timed up pretty well, but it comes back to the video appears to be playing slower than the audio, causing the audio to drop out of sync as time goes by.

Reece: The show is recorded for private use, and I have no intentions of publicly showing or selling it.

jchunter_2 · Post by **jchunter_2** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 4:23 pm

Is the original captured video out of sync? If so, you could blame the capture device.
Otherwise, I'm out of ideas here. Torsten Hoff is more familiar with the AC-3 plug-in - Torsten?

david reece · Post by **david reece** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 5:24 pm

it is still copyright theft at the end of the day.

did the program have a (C) on it?

Did you ask the program maker for permission?

If you read the EULA it states you may use your own material or material u have obtained permission to use.

I am just stating the legal aspects here.

By the way my name is David!

THoff · Post by **THoff** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 5:38 pm

I may have a workaround, but this is a bit complicated, so bear with me.

I have exposed advanced encoder settings in Ulead's MPEG encoder by modifying the UVS.INI file in the ULEAD.DAT directory. Add the line ADVANCE=1 to both the [MPEGVIO] and [VIODRIVER] sections.

Now when you go to create a video file or DVD, there should be an "Advanced" button on the Compression tab. The dialog that appears when you click on the button has a "Multiplexer Settings" tab, where you can specify startup delays for both the audio and video. You may be able to compensate for the out-of-sync audio by changing the startup delay, provided that the difference is a constant one, and not getting progressively worse -- if that's the case, it's a whole different problem.

gmichae · Post by **gmichae** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:00 pm

David, I'm sorry. Didn't mean to offend. No, I don't have any "legal" permission to copy this TV show on to a DVD, but... what's to prevent anyone from doing the same? Monetarily speaking, for the broadcasting companies and the like to pursue individuals for copyright infringement is quite expensive, and wholly pointless, as they would spend more prosecuting individuals than they'd recover. Not to mention that I am not removing anything from the video to prevent FOX from having its name pasted on it. I just want to copy the show to a DVD so that my wife can watch it. She's in class during the time that the show airs.

Please, enough said on this topic. Can we please drop it, or create a new thread? I'd like to keep this thread focused on trying to solve the problem that I am experiencing.

Torsten: I believe that the sync issue progressively gets worse, but I will try your suggestion anyway. There is nothing wrong with eliminating possibilities.

Is there any way to determine what speed the video is being played back by VS? To me, without knowing all the nuts and bolts, it seems like the video playback is "missing frames." Almost as though the video was set to playback at a lesser frame speed (25 fps vs 29.97). If this were the case, wouldn't that cause the audio to progressively get further ahead, while the video remained at the constant rate?

Or, on the flip side, could the audio be playing faster than the video?

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 7:58 pm

Could you try a test of the file?

Open up VS with nothing on the timeline.
Goto >Share > Create Disk (the burning module).

In the burning module import the original non-editied video file
with the commercials.

In the burning parameters set "Do Not Convert compliant Mpeg2 files" = Checked (for mastering the dvd only if doing so).
(You could create chapters and burn a dvd disk with the commercials)

If the file was recorded correctly it should preview properly in sync.

Also as a test.
Record a short video using either Mpeg audio or LPCM audio using your
recording program (don't use dollby).
Then import the 2 test files into VS and see if the problem still exists using
the different audio codecs that are NOT dolby.

The Ulead Dolby plugin "Encodes" audio OK but "Decoding can have some problems". I experiended problems going from "Dolby to Dolby". Never problems going from LPCM to Dolby or Mpeg audio to Dolby.

I would also suggest to leave the project properties exactly the same as
the source file with respect to the video settings. The original file is
352 x 480 so leave it the same. This is still a dvd compliant specification.
Changing the frame size to 720x480 forces a complete re-sampling of all the video frames which disables smart rendering.
Keep the video bit rate the same as the original video.

Hope this helps,

MD

gmichae · Post by **gmichae** » Thu Jan 20, 2005 10:01 pm

THoff: I added the parameters to the UVS.ini file, and could not get the Advanced button options to become visible. Is there something else that needs to be done in order to make that work? I'd like to try your suggestion, but need to be able to get to it first.

MD: I tried both of your suggestions, and truth be told, the option to not convert compliant MPEG files was already checked. The second one, about recording using LPCM and MPEG audio was the kicker. BOTH formats had no out of sync problems on project preview. So, obviously, this means that the AC-3 plug-in has a problem. Could this be considered a bug for Ulead to fix?

rwindeyer · Post by **rwindeyer** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:20 am

An excellent discussion of copyright issues is here

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:44 am

The uvs.ini file may require editing for the dolby decoder to work properly.
I would contact tech support for this.

The advanced settings and ulead configuration files are located below a hidden directory that contains configuration files for many of the programs
installed on the computer (not just ulead software) so one has to enable "Show hidden folders" to access the directories.

You can copy the link(s) below and then paste them into a SHORTCUT on the windows desktop. One shortcut per link. The link must also include the quotation marks (1 at the beginning and one at the end). So make sure to
also copy the quotes when creating a shortcut.
If you paste the link into windows explorer then you CANNOT include the quotes at the beginning and the end.

This link should open the folder containing the configuration files:
These links are only good for VideoStudio 8

"%HOMEDRIVE%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ulead Systems\Ulead VideoStudio\8.0"

This link is a direct link to the uvs.ini file

"%HOMEDRIVE%\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Ulead Systems\Ulead VideoStudio\8.0\uvs.ini"

Very important:
Before editing any files create BACKUPS of the original files.
Otherwise VS may not start.

MD

gmichae · Post by **gmichae** » Fri Jan 21, 2005 4:45 am

Thanks maddrummer!!! That was the piece that I missed... I was looking at the UVS.ini file in the program files directory. Once I made the addition to the file in the documents and settings directory, it worked! Now I have to play with it for a bit. I'm going to try a couple of things. First I'm going to try requiring a constant bit rate on the Mux'ing. I found that when I lessened the video delay, it actually caused it to play faster than the audio... next I'll have to try increasing it. Fortunately, I can create a 10 minute cut of the show to show whether or not it's working. I'll let you know if I come up with something that works! Thanks for all your help so far, and I hope that this can bring a resolution to this problem.