Elgato Game Capture HD +Audacity Problems

[TrueBlue1981]

This may be a bit tricky to explain, but I'll do my best.

I record footage with the Elgato software and my commentary with Audacity, the same way I've always done it (previously with an Hauppauge).

The first few times I recorded some videos, it was fine.

I start the Elgato capture, then 5 seconds I start the Audacity capture. Due to this, the duration of the Audacity recording is always 5 seconds BEHIND the Elgato recording. So when I stop the Elgato, Audacity is 5 seconds behind, and I then stop Audacity so that both recordings are the same length. This method helps me sync up the video and commentary tracks.

However, I have no idea if this problem is Audacity or the Elgato software, but what happens is... at a random point in both recordings, the Elgato will fall behind Audacity in recording... when I stop both captures, the Elgato can be 15 seconds short of the recording on Audacity.

For example, it SHOULD be:

Elgato: 11:10:00
Audacity: 11:05:00 ...5 seconds behind during the whole recording.

But most of the time, it's been:

Elgato: 11:10:00
Audacity: 11:25:00 ...gains MORE seconds during the recording?!

Audacity starts off behind, the at an unspecified amount of time later, overtakes the Elgato. It's almost like Audacity is finding 15 extra seconds, or the Elgato is losing 15 seconds somewhere. This does seem to be random, as the last few times I've done it.. its all be perfectly synced. Then out of nowhere, it does it again.

But like I said... I have no idea if Audacity or the Elgato software is at fault.

I used a stopwatch to see if both programs went too fast or slow, but using the recording software on their own, the durations have been spot on. Neither of them have gone too fast or too slow.

It's never done this before until now, nothing has changed with my computer or both softwares... any ideas?

[TrueBlue1981]

Well this is nice, isn't it? Such a nice community of people willing to offer help.... oh, no.. wait... I'm lying.

So after nearly 4 whole months, not one dickhead was willing to help? Not ONE person has this issue? Not ONE person thought to say anything on the subject? Well, thanks for nothing bastards... it's been a pleasure!

Not really... I was being sarcastic. You know, this isn't the first forum I've posted this question in, either.. and you know what? I haven't had a response in any of THOSE forums either. What the **** is wrong with everyone? You all just too lazy to help someone out? Someone who asked a small, simple question? You lot who couldn't even be bothered to post a reply just saying "I wish I could help".... but no, everyone is too lazy nowadays to give a toss about people in need of help.

I'm willing to bet many people have posted here with Elgato related questions. How many people have had replies? All of them, I'd guess... but not mine.. nooooo.... let's leave my question unanswered for nearly 4 months... maybe the poster won't notice. Oh, well I DID notice, in case you can't tell.

**** you lot.. and thanks for nothing.. except being a **** load of ********.

[hech54]

Well this is nice, isn't it? Such a nice community of people willing to offer help.... oh, no.. wait... I'm lying.

So after nearly 4 whole months, not one dickhead was willing to help? Not ONE person has this issue? Not ONE person thought to say anything on the subject? Well, thanks for nothing bastards... it's been a pleasure!

Not really... I was being sarcastic. You know, this isn't the first forum I've posted this question in, either.. and you know what? I haven't had a response in any of THOSE forums either. What the **** is wrong with everyone? You all just too lazy to help someone out? Someone who asked a small, simple question? You lot who couldn't even be bothered to post a reply just saying "I wish I could help".... but no, everyone is too lazy nowadays to give a toss about people in need of help.

I'm willing to bet many people have posted here with Elgato related questions. How many people have had replies? All of them, I'd guess... but not mine.. nooooo.... let's leave my question unanswered for nearly 4 months... maybe the poster won't notice. Oh, well I DID notice, in case you can't tell.

**** you lot.. and thanks for nothing.. except being a **** load of ********.

Gotta save that one.

[Baldrick]

Great bump!

[TrueBlue1981]

Ahem... ...yeah, I kinda get a little... moody, when questions go unanswered for so long, haha. I thought I'd have at least ONE reply, even if it was just a "Wish I could help, but I can't" At least that tells me people are looking, you know? But, I'm still curious.. am I really the only one on Earth with this Elgato problem? Seems very odd

[Nelson37]

The answer should be pretty obvious.

Never heard of a recording being LONGER than the source, but Shorter, sure. Usually, in fact almost always, the video portion has dropped frames.

Your description is somewhat unclear whether you are referring to starting time of day or duration. The file that is correct in duration is the one that is NOT the source of the problem.

If you should have two 11-minute files, and they don't synch as you have described, which one is shorter? Outside of some major corruption, they're not going to get longer.

[TrueBlue1981]

All the times are relating to the duration of the video file, not the time of day.

I also mentioned Audacity in the first post, but that is definitely NOT the issue. It's the Elgato for sure.

Since I posted the first message, this problem has continued to happen. One such time it occurred, I had recorded a 35 minute video, and Windows reported the actual file length as 9 HOURS... I shit you not. Even in Windows Media Player and various video converters, ALL showed the video as 9 hours long... how does that even happen?

It's mixed results, really. Most of the time, the Elgato records flawlessly. When it goes wrong, the video durations are either longer OR shorter than they should be. I always look at the elapsed time recorded, and I remember how long it recorded for. Then i check Windows and see if it reports the file length as being the same as the elapsed time in the Elgato capture software. When it doesn't match, it's either too long or too short.... seriously. It's like, when it's shorter, it's missing or skipping frames. When it's longer, I have no idea... but it really does happen.

I've sent several tickets to Elgato to see if they can help, but so far they seem to be confused as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp5_uAVcQl4 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWzWRKY6l94

Those are two such instances the corruption has occurred. In the second video, the corruption happens around the 7:20 mark. You'll see how bad it gets.

If this does continue, though... I'll have to consider the Roxio Game Capture HD Pro instead.