Free alternative to Sound Forge to fix out-of-sync issue ?

[donpedro]

It looks like (so far) this guide

How To Fix Gradual Sync Problems

is what I need to do (0.5s in 1h30min). But is there some software that is for free and can stretch or expand audio file ? Some kind of waw editor ? Shouldn't there be some bundled with Soundblaster Audio card (my case) ?

[Barnabas]

Save your time, and forget trying to fix a gradually out of sync file. Only files that are out of sync the same amount from start to finish can actually be put back the way they should. The major problem with a file that's in sync at the start, but slowly goes out of sync, is due to the fact the video is generally shorter than the audio because of dropped frames. Due to the random nature of when and how many frames dropped , while it IS possible to get the end of the file to be in sync, stretching the audio doesn't work very well in most cases, as the file will have more frames dropped at some places than others. It's just not worth the effort, and the results are RARELY correct from start to finish unless a fairly low amount of frames were dropped.

An easier way to correct the file that works in many cases is to re-encode to mpeg-2 with TMPGenc. You will lose some quality, but it's worth it if you REALLY need the file.

[ryanreko]

if you captured the video seperate form the audio and used mp3 vbr to encode the audio try to just sync the begining and the combine them in virtual dub perferably... i had sync issues with the latest bond and i guess it was actually in sync... good luck

[mats.hogberg]

Goldwave isn't free, but have a free trial version. CoolEdit ought to have that feature too, even if I'm not sure.

/Mats

[donpedro]

I am going to download trial versions and see....

Just FYI: I captured mpeg-2 (VBR 6000 video, MPEG 48KHz audio) file with external USB hardware encoder (audio+video). OOS issue is very small, 0.5s after 1h30min of movie. Captured file is playing in sync but when authored to DVD it is OOS. But this I discuss in another post. This one was just to find out what kind of options do I have with software that can expand or stretch audio file.

[jra111]

If I just capure to avi then encode to mpeg2 and never split the audio and video like you guys do will I still encounter this problem?

[donpedro]

If you don't have sync problem in avi or mpeg2, then I assume than no, you will not have this problem. However, you don't split audio and video but your authoring program does it anyway....

[donpedro]

Sound Forge trial dos not let me save so I can't test it... Still looking for some tool......

[Don2050]

DonPedro,

I am not sure if you tried this already, but incase you havnt....the part about using the 'Time Warp' feature in Gold Wave to lengthen or shorten your audio may be of help ... ???

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/userguides/138106.php

Anyway...I hope it helps

[donpedro]

Thanks Don2050, I will look around for Gold Wave. Is it freeware ? If not, is there freeware that can do this ?

[DarrellS]

But is there some software that is for free and can stretch or expand audio file ?[/quote]

There is a free audio program called Audacity. Not sure if it's what you're looking for but it's a pretty decent program for free.