Audio sync w/ Moviefactory....other prog recommendations?

[mattman]

I'm authoring a bunch of MPEG-1 VCD files. The audio has been converted to 48KHz and the resolution is 320x240.

When I author with Ulead's DVD Moviefactory 2 (I've tried making images and making just VOB's), the audio of out of sync on some MPEG files. The raw MPEG files are perfectly in sync.

Moviefactory 2 isn't converting video, but during the output process is says "Video/audio multiplexing". I'm assuming this is where the audio is becoming out of sync.

I've tried just making VOB's with Moviefactory, and then creating images with IfoEdit, but they are still out of sync.

Is there anyway to have Moviefactory author the DVD's without multiplexing? Or is this mandatory?

[mattman]

btw, I have the options set at "Do not convert compliant MPEG files", so no video is being converted.

[mattman]

miniupdate: i used VCD2DVDMPG to convert the MPEG's into DVD compliant MPEG's (i used TMPGEnc before). Again, the MPEG's are prefectly synced, but when authored, they sometimes are out of sync

Any hints?

[mattman]

last night i also tried defragging all the partitions on my HD's, but i still got audio out of sync.

My systems specs: Athlon XP 2100+ (stock speed), 1GB RAM, 240GB HD space.

Is there another good program that won't demux/mux the MPEG-1 files when authoring a DVD?

[bloo]

MF is picky about audio, i usually do not convert it to 48mhz, i let MF multiplex it. i also un check" do not convert compliant..." that seems to do the trick, yeah i know it goes against logic, but it works. you also might want to try Cool B's guide from the main page. what used to take hours with MF took me 45 mins from start to watch, give it a look,

bloo

[mattman]

MF is picky about audio, i usually do not convert it to 48mhz, i let MF multiplex it. i also un check" do not convert compliant..." that seems to do the trick, yeah i know it goes against logic, but it works. you also might want to try Cool B's guide from the main page. what used to take hours with MF took me 45 mins from start to watch, give it a look,

bloo

strange, when I uncheck "Do not convert compliant MPEGs", MF goes ahead and convert all the video files....and takes a loooong time

It seems to be MF that's causing the audio delays, while it's demux/muxing.

Is demuxing/muxing mandatory when making VOB's? The MPEG-1 files are each about 210-220MB (tv captures).

[Specialist]

...the audio of out of sync on some MPEG files. The raw MPEG files are perfectly in sync.

...or so it may appear.

Truth is the SOURCE MPEGs make the difference between success or failure.

DV .avi source files work exceptionally well.

For example, when a DV .avi source file is captured, it will ideally have the following properties:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
Microsoft AVI files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Field Order A
DV Video Encoder -- type 1
DV Audio -- NTSC, 48.000 kHz, 16 Bit, Stereo

When the Ulead encoder is used to convert this type of file to VideoCD format, the file will be converted to an MPEG-1 file with the following properties:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 352 x 240, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(Video CD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 1150 kbps
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 44.1 KHz, Stereo

This works exceptionally well for me in Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2.

However, if one begins with files that have been 'ripped' from commercial DVDs or files that have been captured with certain hardware MPEG encoders, then problems can occur.

The question I always ask when individuals experience audio synchronization issue with Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 is:

"How did you obtain your SOURCE files?"

The answer to the question reveals why the problems occur.

The source file often isn't as clean as the individual believes it to be.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[mattman]

Specialist, the source MPEG-1 files were downloaded TV episodes. I hope it's not taboo to mention that.

Would I have better results using IfoEdit, dealing with the audio/video streams seperately? I really wanted to be able to make menus, though.

[mattman]

update: I tried out TMPGEng DVD Author and it worked perfectly

I wish that it had more menu templates, otherwise, it's a great program!

[rebarlow]

I've had the same experience with my MF2 trial. IF I am going to use MF2 for rendering, I rip the audio file separately then select the external audio file to add back in at rendering. Doing this I haven't had a sunch problem. At this point I'm not sure I'm gonna go ahead and buy MF2.

[Specialist]

Specialist, the source MPEG-1 files were downloaded TV episodes. I hope it's not taboo to mention that.

It's not taboo for you to mention that.

But it certainly is no mystery to me why you're experiencing audio synchronization issues.

Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2's menu creation capabilities involve lots of complex code working in the background - invisible to the user.

The program works perfectly with files that originate from sources the program was designed to support:

1. DV camcorders

2. DVD player/recorders

3. DVD camcorders

4. VCRs

But use files...

1. "downloaded from the net"

2. "ripped from commercial DVDs"

3. "captured by some ultra-proprietary hardware device"

...then all bets are off.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net

[FOO]

I thought the VCD audio spec was 44100 not 48000

---never mind, i can't read.

[Specialist]

I thought the VCD audio spec was 44100 not 48000

---never mind, i can't read.

Correct.

The VCD template in Ulead VideoStudio is as follows:

NTSC drop frame (29.97 fps)
MPEG files
24 Bits, 352 x 240, 29.97 fps
Frame-based
(Video CD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 1150 kbps
Audio data rate: 224 kbps
MPEG audio layer 2, 44.1 KHz, Stereo

I don't believe anybody has suggested otherwise.

Jerry Jones
http://www.jonesgroup.net