Loss of audio/video sync with TMPGEnc MERGE Tool

[coeng73]

I converted several AVI files to MPEG-2 via TMPGEnc 2.524.63.181. They play perfectly fine. However, when I merge all the files with the MERGE TOOL, the resulting MPEG-2 file loses sync with audio/video about 30 min into the video. Its very subtle but I know its there. My wife actually pointed it out when we were watching the DVD that I created with TDA using that merged MPEG-2 as the source.

The MPEG-2 files that were used as inputs to the MERGE tool do not exhibit this anomaly. Only the file resulting from the merge.

[ZippyP.]

TDA can "merge" your video at the authoring stage, just add both clips to the same track. Joining before authoring causes sync problems, as you discovered.

[InXess]

There's been a load of topics touching upon TDA and sync issues. Happened to me as well (during authoring, never used it for anything else)

[mats.hogberg]

Zippy's correct - no need to join before authoring. In fact, I've never successfully joined mpg with TMPGEnc. It always end up with sync issues, and mostly far from "subtle"!

/Mats

[coeng73]

Thanks, all. I'll try your advice tonight and post my results.

[coeng73]

BTW, reply from TMPG support site I recieved today regarding this issue:

After reading your message, we have to say that the merge tool in 2.5 is a bit outdated and old, and occasionally will yield mixed results when trying to merge MPEG-2 files. It's great for MPEG-1 files, however.

We'd recommend that you try to merge your MPEG-2 files using either our 3.0 XPress program (which is the successor to 2.5 Plus), or use our MPEG Editor program (which was designed specifically for this sort of task).

[mats.hogberg]

They forgot to mention the best option: It's still not to join at all. Let the authoring app take care of that.

/Mats

[InXess]

Doesn't the authoring app come from the same maker?

[mats.hogberg]

Yes, but it works differently (and better) in their authoring app.

/Mats

[coeng73]

Got it to work in TDA. Thanks for the advice.