DVD Lab / Audio Sync problem...

[darkcyber]

Ok, I'm recording movies from satellite onto my pc using Power VCR II in mpeg2 format. Then I use tmpgenc version 2.54 to encode it and cut out the junk. Then I use DVD-Lab to burn to dvd. When I load the movie into DVD-Lab it ask to demux the audio and I let it.

Here's my problem...I've burned several DVD's and checked them in my home dvd player and the audio is out of sync slightly with the lips..etc. I seems to get worse the farther into the movie it gets.


Anyone got any suggestions?

Thanks!
Darkcyber

[non-linear]

I've been having a similar problem myself. Like you, I've been using TMPGEnc to cut out the junk and using DVDlab to create the DVD. In my case, the audio sync starts partway into the video. If I select a different chapter after the point where the audio starts to lose sync, the audio is in sync at that point (just seems to happen when the movie is played straight through).

I've tried demultiplexing the movie in TMPGEnc, then importing the elementary streams into DVDlab, but that didn't help. I'm currently trying Ulead DVD Movie Factory to see if that works (although I hate that you're stuck with the chintzy menu styles they provide). I'm also gonna try TMPGEnc DVD author. I'll let you know if any of those seem to work better.

[non-linear]

I gave my movie a run in Movie Factory, and it plays without any sync issues. You may want to try that program. There's a 30 day trial. You can get it at www.ulead.com

Good luck

[dvdnew]

What multiplexer did you use? (Fast, DVD Compliant source or Flexible, any source)
What version are you using? (1.1, 1.15, 1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.2b)

I have good results with DVDlab 1.2 and Flexible multiplexer.

[darkcyber]

What multiplexer did you use? (Fast, DVD Compliant source or Flexible, any source)
What version are you using? (1.1, 1.15, 1.2, 1.2.1, 1.2.2b)

I have good results with DVDlab 1.2 and Flexible multiplexer.

I'm using DVD-Lab 1.1

Multiplexer? Don't know what are you talking about? I just record with Power VCR II, then use Tmpgenc 2.54 to encode it and then do my chapters with DVD-Lab and burn it.

DarkCyber

[dvdnew]

Download 1.2 update and use flexible muxer http://www.mediachance.com/files/dvdlabup12.exe

[jane_caldwell]

Ok, I'm recording movies from satellite onto my pc using Power VCR II in mpeg2 format. Then I use tmpgenc version 2.54 to encode it and cut out the junk.

Don't do this. There's no need to re-encode with TMPGEnc. You will just reduce the quality. Try to use the MPG2 file generated by PowerVCR in DVDLab.

[mkelley]

Jane,

You're right, of course, but he's doing this to "cut out the junk" and that's also where the problem is.

Anytime you start editing MPEG you introduce all kinds of issues, not the least of which is audio sync. Yes, it certainly can be done, and there are certain editors (such as Wobble) that are supposed to do a good job with MPEG, but quite frankly this is like hooking up your VW to try and tow your motorhome -- it just isn't a good idea.

The better approach is to capture in a format for editing, such as DV-AVI, and then use any of the excellent DV editors (even the free MS Movie Maker will do a good job with basic cut editing).

[darkcyber]

Ok, so I should be able to take the mpeg2 video file I recorded with Power VCR and just open it into DVD-Lab 1.1 and burn it and I shouldn't have any of the audio sync problems? That sure would be a lot quicker than what I hae been doing.

I guess I can just live with the extra junk, if it stops the audio sync problem and cuts down of the time. I've got to do something...my hard drive it filling up fast, since I stopped burning these because of the audio problem.

Also, if I do record in AVI format, then I can edit that and shouldn't have any audio sync problems with DVD-Lab either?

Thanks Jane and Mike for your help!
DarkCyber

[darkcyber]

Ok, I'm recording movies from satellite onto my pc using Power VCR II in mpeg2 format. Then I use tmpgenc version 2.54 to encode it and cut out the junk.

Don't do this. There's no need to re-encode with TMPGEnc. You will just reduce the quality. Try to use the MPG2 file generated by PowerVCR in DVDLab.

Well, you suggestion did not work at all. I recorded a new movie with Power VCR in mpeg2 and then put it right into DVD-Lab and it demuxed it and then had to run transcode on the audio. The I added the menus and chapters and burned it.

This disc turned out much much worse than the other ones I done using tmpgenc to re-encode...etc. In the ones I've done like this, the audio was just slightly off. In the one I did the way you suggested, the audio is way way off...I'm talking like 5-15 seconds off.

DarkCyber

[mkelley]

Let me reiterate -- encode in DV-AVI if you are planning on doing any editing. It's truly the only way to go.

DVDLab will not have any problems with video done this way (encoded as DV-AVI, edited, and then exported with TMPGEnc as .m2v and your audio).

[Faceman101]

He is recording with a MPEG2 capture card, he can not do DV AVIs.

I myself have just started trying out captured MPEG2s (got my card 3 years only used it for exporting, not capturing) and sync seems to be a major problem. With AVIs in DV format I've had not experienced these issues, but with MPEG2 it is a prob.

Some people have tried similar methods, I suggest

1. Do not re-encode

2. Try different DVD authoring programs
i.e. DVD Workshop, TMPGEnc DVD Author, etc

It seems people have different results on their machines with the same methods and software.

Like others have mentioned, Wobble can edit your MPG2 without re-encoding.

[darkcyber]

Well, what I have is an ASUS 8200 Deluxe Geforce 3 64 DDR ram card, with an S-Video in. So, I'm using the S-Video from my satellite receiver into my video card and recording my stuff.

Power VCR has the following formats to record with: DV NTSC..Average - Excellent, Mpeg 1 & 2...with various quality, plus standard DVD NTSC (which is what I have been using), and VCD...with various quality.

So, are you saying to record with DV-AVI or take my MPEG2 file and encode it with something like tmpgenc, but save it as DV-AVI?

DarkCyber

[mkelley]

Recording with and encoding to are two separate issues. What the poster after me was saying was that your card is not capable of saving a file as DV-AVI -- that is, it does real time capture/encoding to MPEG.

If this is true, then I have no further advice for you. Otherwise, if your card can *capture* as a DV-AVI (IOW, you capture for five mintues and end up with an AVI file that should be around a 1 gig file) then that is what I would suggest you do. Take *this* AVI file and encode it as MPEG using whatever encoder you want (such as TMPGEnc). All should be well.

This is *not* the same as taking an MPEG file and reencoding it to AVI -- that wouldn't make any sense whatsoever considerng your goal.

[darkcyber]

Ok, thanks mkelly...makes sense now

I'll check and see if I can get it to capture/record in dv-avi format.

DarkCyber

[darkcyber]

I don't know for sure if my card will capture DV-AVI, but I do know that Power VCR II does not offer that option.

What recording program does every get the best results with for recording from a satellite receiver?

I would like to record stuff and then burn it to dvd and get good quality.

Thanks!
DarkCyber

[hkmiller]

I have a similar audio out of synch issue. My audio is ~ 5-10 seconds ahead of the video.

Using WinFastPVR, which can w/ my Leadtek Winfast TV 2000 XP capture card, when I capture in MPEG-2 codec, then use TMPGEnc DVD Author for authoring & disk buring my audio is out of synch.

So, what is being said on this forum is to capture in uncompressed AVI w/o any codecs, then use, in my case, TMPGEnc to edit and encode to MPEG-2, then use my DVD author program to author.

By doing this, I should not hane any audio synch issues?

[mkelley]

That would be what I would do.

Note however that all capture cards, particular those which translate analog into digital (firewire) are not created equal. The Canopus 100 gets particularly good reviews in this regard (although I really like my Dazzle Hollywood bridge). I've never had sync problems but capturing in DV-AVI is not a promise you won't have them depending on your system.

[ImaWeTodd]

Since a read the whole thread, I just had to chime in.

It seems 3 different things are being discussed at once.

1. Mpeg2 Capture / Editing
2. Analog AVI Capture
3. Digital (Firewire) 'Capture'


My opinion on #1:

• When you capture an mpeg2 you have audio and video mixed in one file. This should play in sync or your sw/hw doesn't work.
• You can do this with software or hardware. I believe powervcr does it as software.
• If you separate the audio and video into 2 files (demux), like you may have done with DVD-Lab and TMPGEnc, you may not be able to remux them back in sync. You don't have to demux using DVD-Lab. Read the help on Assets.
• If you cut up the file like you did in TMPGEnc you are risking sync problems. MPEG2 is a complex file. 1 movie frame does not equal 1 bit of file. There are editor that work for people (Womble). Some people even have ok luck with TMPGEnc. Search the forums.
• If you want to edit, don't capture in mpeg. If you insist, look for an editor that works with your captures. I believe the maker of PowerVCR have one that works. Probably because they know the screwy things they are putting in that mpeg2 file.
• Definitely don't demux and reencode if you capture in mpeg.
• You should be able to author without demuxing

My opinion on #2:

• This gives you the most flexibility, but takes longer than #1
• With this you can cut,filter,encode,etc. with few penalties if you mess up. Compressions like huffyuv, mjpeg, & DV are less complex, and can be easily cut and/or recompressed with little loss.
• Audio may not be in sync to start. (Due to dropped frames, or pc timings). You can fix this before/after the fact. Because you have a machine that can capture in mpeg, I'd bet you would not have sync problems. VirtualVCR works great for me.
• Most people capture using huffyuv or mjpeg compression. You could use dv compression. Regardless, you need a codec for this (tools). Powervcr may only allow use of it's built in codecs. If you go with uncompressed video, you'd better have a fast machine and a fast harddrive. At full D1 24bitcolor you are going to be writing 720x480x30x24 + audio each second. That's a bunch of data.

My opinion on #3:

• Firewire capture is a different thing. The original poster is going from a digital broadcast to analog s-video back to digital with his card and powervcr is compressing it to mpeg2.
• Firewire capture is essentially copying the video file (captured by a digital camcorder and compressed using a DV codec) to your computer
• For this audio can also be out of sync This shows up on some peoples cameras using passthru for a movie long period. Some 'DVcard' products make sure they do not have this problem. If you have an old machine, this process can also drop frames and cause sync problems.
• Once you have copied the file, you are in the same place as after an analog capture.

• I capture from a miniDV cam using firewire.
• I capture from analog source using a cheap card, and mjpeg.
• I once had a cheap mpeg2 hardware card. I sent it back because if you did anything to the file, the audio was screwed up.
• Capturing a digital broadcast in its original compression, now that sounds interesting. That'd be like downloading movies.

[darkcyber]

ImaWeTodd,

Great information there. I appreciate that. Well, the only reason I capture (or record) from my satellite in mpeg2, is because I want the 720 x 480 resolution.

I will try loading those into DVD-Lab and not let it demux them and see how that works. I don't have to use TMPGENC, I was really just using it to cut out the junk at the beginning and end of the movie, because the clocks don't always match up on the pc and the satellite receiver. But I've put AtomTime on my pc now, so maybe that will resolve that problem.

And yes I do use FireWire for my captures from my DV Camcorder and I have no problems at all burning that to dvd...never have any audio problems.

Hopefully some of my problems will be resolved...I just got my new ATI All in Wonder 9800 Pro card in today

UPDATE!
Ok, I took one of the shows I recorded from satellite in mpeg2 format and did the 'Import Assest' into DVD-Lab and it ask whether to demux it or not...I selected no. It burned the dvd and the video is great...just no audio.

[mkelley]

UPDATE!
Ok, I took one of the shows I recorded from satellite in mpeg2 format and did the 'Import Assest' into DVD-Lab and it ask whether to demux it or not...I selected no. It burned the dvd and the video is great...just no audio.

Um, you really should be demuxing -- forgive me, as I just got back after surgery and I didn't reread this whole thread, but DVDLab needs to demux those resources. Trust me, it rarely will work without doing so. If the resource can't be demuxed (and in the case of "nonstandard" sources such as sat files this may indeed be the situation) it's unlikely you'll have much success with DVDLab.

You might want to drop by the DVDLab forum and post your problems there, as the experts have a lot more information to offer.

[ablaize]

I have been having similar problems with losing A/V sync in the final output. I have tried capturing with PowerVCR II, Cyberlink Power Producer, and even MyDVD. Always it seems the MPG2s (720x480 * 30fps * 3000-5000 bitrate) look fine and sync is good through the film but when authored to DVD I lose sync about 8 minutes into the film and it continues to get worse.

I have tried authoring with PowerProducer and TMPEnc DVD Author, both are fair programs and produce decent menus if the A/V sync can be kept in line.

Based on what you guys have said it seems the problem I'm having may be resulting from trimming the front of the video to remove the 10 - 30 seconds of blank tape at the beginning of a vhs.

I have tried VirtualVCR and VirtualDUB for captures to AVI but neither are compatible with my capture card. (V-Gear DV PRO PCI - Composite/S-Video in and Firewire). Has anyone used this card? If so, any tricks you can offer to help produce a quality VHS to DVD capture/author/burn?

Thanks.

P.S. I don't have a DV camara to use to run the Analog signal through to use the DV Firewire port.

[friesr]

I have been haveing a simular problem. I can author full d1 files without any problem. I do not demux the file when i add it to my assets, and the audio is in synch for the whole video...

My problem occures when i try to author a low bitrate file i have. I need to fit 5hr on one dvd. I am captureing at 1500 with 224 audio. With dvd-lab, the audio is way out of synch i have determined that dvd-lab has a bug with this low of bitrate although it is with in the standard... Now with MovieFactory2 it will burn this low bitrate without any problems with the audio... The only problem i have with mf2 is you can not manualy add chapers points past 3:18.50 and the menu building flexibility really sucks!

I really like dvd-lab! It just seems to not have the ability to handle non-mainstram bitrates eventhough they are in the standard window...

[ablaize]

You can try TMPEnc DVD Author. It has an option to set chapters in 3 different ways and I do not believe that it has a limit on when the chapter points can be set.

The menu creation is not the greatest, but if you have your own MPG backgrounds you can make a pretty nice motion menu.

It has a fully functional 30 day trial which is sweet.

[DeepX]

I capture straight 2 mpeg2 (hauppauge pvr-350) and never had any problems with aud/vid sync.

With my old capture card (straight to DV) I've had a lot of sync.problems.

And I use Womble MPEG2VCR for editting and no problems so far!
(with other editors I had problems)

Moviefactory2 to put it on DVD.


DeepX