Sound Sync Problem Converting AVI to DVD

[paloch]

I have been trying to convert AVI video to DVD, but the sound gradually goes out of sync. The original AVI sound syncs fine.

I am using Cucusoft Avi to Dvd Pro v4.29 to convert files to m2v and mpa files. I am using a trial version of TMPGEnc DVD Author to create menus and encode. I then burn with TMPGEnc DVD Writer. I have also tried Ifoedit for encoding and Roxio DVD Builder.

Regardless of what I use, the sound gradually goes out of sync and then comes back. I am guessing it comes back in sync each time a new vob file is started.

It seems to me that if the sound on the AVI video is in sync, there must be a way to keep it in sync when converted to DVD, but I have not figured things out.

My AVI videos are not great video, so I don't want to spend hours working to get the sound in sync, but I would like to be able to watch without feeling like I am watching a poorly dubbed Japanese monster movie.

I would appreciate some help from anyone who can point me toward a solution.

Thanks,

Paul

[daamon]

Hi paloch,

We need some basic info first:

1. Use AVICodec or GSpot to get details of your AVI file (audio and video info) and post them here. AVIs come in a variety of "flavours" - uncompressed, DV, Divx, Xvid etc. and the audio can be different too.

2. You say you're getting video/m2v and audio.mpa - is there any way to get your encoder to output them combined as an footage.mpg file? It's commonly referred to as a "System Stream".

The reason I ask is that you can then check to see whether the encoded file(s) are out of synch. It'll help to narrow down where the problem is...

3. I don't know Cucusoft, but others will - so post your process and the settings used, so others can provide guidance / assistance in that area.

4. When you say the audio comes back in to synch, is that a gradual recovery or does it suddenly "snap" back in to synch? When it does, does it start gradually fading out of synch again or is it OK for the rest of the duration?

5. Use VirtualDub to scan for bad frames - may be a long shot, but worth it even if to eliminate that as a suspect.

And I see it's your first post - welcome to the forums and the site.

[paloch]

Thanks so much for the quick reply.

Video : 157 MB, 1030 Kbps, 23.976 fps, 640*352 (16:9), XVID = XVID Mpeg-4, Supported

Audio : 17.85 MB, 116 Kbps, 48000 Hz, 2 channels, 0x55 = Lame MP3, Supported

Cucusoft generates M2V, MPA and MPG files. I have tried using system stream as well as M2V and MPA with the same sync problem. System stream played using Media Player is in sync.

When the sound does go back in sync, it is sudden not gradual.

I will try VirtualDub as soon as I can.

Thanks,

Paul

[daamon]

Hi paloch,

Mmmm..... A curious problem - I've only ever read about people having audio out of synch either starting OK and gradually getting worse, or out by a fixed amount.

System stream played using Media Player is in sync.

Media Player is pretty forgiving and only sometimes shows up problems. My guess would be in the source file as it's less common for encoding and / or authoring to cause problems.

Anyhow, as it's MP3 audio there's a fair chance it's VBR (Variable BitRate). This commonly causes problems (at least for TMPGEnc, the encoder I use). It's usually fixed by using VirtualDub to extract the audio to a WAV file and then using that WAV file as the audio source in your encoder.

As the video file is only 175Mb, I'm guessing it's not too long in terms of time? If so, try just encoding the video and using the WAV as the audio source during authoring with TMPGEnc DVD Author.

The fact that the synch kicks in and is OK at a certain point may be (just guessing) due to a bad frame(s) - scanning with VirtualDub can find and fix this.

I've not had this problem myself, but have read and know enough to be able to suggest a few things...

Post back how you get on...

[paloch]

VBR audio seems to be the problem. I got a warning when I loaded an AVI file into VirtualDub. However, after using VirtualDub to make a wave file, TMPGEnc DVD Author will not accept the use of wave files as audio sources.

Any thoughts?

[daamon]

However, after using VirtualDub to make a wave file, TMPGEnc DVD Author will not accept the use of wave files as audio sources.

Any thoughts?

I thought VBR would be the culprit - usually is...

It's odd that TMPGEnc DVD Author (TDA) doesn't accept your WAV file. At which point are you trying to import it?

If you're tight for space (or you can't get TDA to work with WAV), use ffmpeggui to do WAV to AC3. I use 128 - 224 kbps depending on the quality of the original audio...

TDA will (should) take AC3...

[paloch]

When I load the M2V file, TMPGEnc DVD Author automatically loads the matching mpa file, but there is the option to browse for an audio file. TMPGEnc DVD Author displays an error message when I try to load a wave file. The error message does say it will take AC3, MPEG-1 or linear PCM.

I will try ffmpeggui and see what happens.

I really appreciate your help. I have been very frustrated for about two weeks, but can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

What part of the world are you in?

[daamon]

When I load the M2V file, TMPGEnc DVD Author automatically loads the matching mpa file, but there is the option to browse for an audio file.

That's normal...

TMPGEnc DVD Author displays an error message when I try to load a wave file. The error message does say it will take AC3, MPEG-1 or linear PCM.

I guess there's something it doesn't like about your WAV file. Maybe start a different thread in the "Audio" forum - provide the audio details as per above, and explain exactly what you're doing and that you want a WAV / PCM file for use as the audio source during authoring in TDA.

I will try ffmpeggui and see what happens.

You should be OK - that's what I do and have never had any problems. Mind you, TDA has never rejected my WAV files either and I extract them using VirtualDub. The difference is my AVIs are DV...

I really appreciate your help. I have been very frustrated for about two weeks, but can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

What part of the world are you in?

No problem - trust me, I know the pain and frustration you're feeling and I also know the appreciation. Others have helped me in the same way...

P.S. Look under my name / avatar for my location... Update yours in your profile if you like...

[paloch]

Silly me. All I had to do was look to the side and see you are from down-under. I am from Pennsylvania.

I converted wave files to ac3 and am currently encoding a test file to see how the audio is. I will let you know if everything works.

[daamon]

Easily done if you're new to the forums...

I'd be interested to hear... You're up late aren't you - in Penn?

[paloch]

I think I have a winner here. I burned a 50 minute video and the sound was good all the way through.

You said you use TMPGEnc for encoding. I looked into using something other than Cucusoft because it makes an mpeg file as well as m2v and mpa. It takes Cucusoft extra time making an mpeg file that I don't even need. I tried TMPGEnc, but wasn't sure of the mp2 sound file. Obviously if I need to convert the sound to wave and then ac3, it is irrelevant what kind of sound file my encoder puts out, but I have some avi videos that seem to have cbr sound. What is the difference between mpa and mp2?

[daamon]

Hey! Glad you've got it sorted...

You've caught me on a good morning (i.e. not Monday to Friday). Usually you'd get a disguised sarcastic comment about searching the "Glossary", but I was curious too so I looked up MPA for us.

MPA: Shorthand for MPEG Audio elemantary stream(no video). Also called MP2 for MPEG Audio Layer2

As it sounds like you're gonna use TMPGEnc, look into the MP2 tooLame encoder that TMPGEnc can use as an add-in. It's supposed to be better than the inbuilt one. While you're at it, you might as well get Lame and SSRC too (do some hunting around if you don't know what these are - you'd get a better answer than one from me...)

Just put the files in their own directories (mine are under "Program Files") and then set-up in TMPGEnc as per below:

[paloch]

Hi,

I was kind of busy over the weekend and just now am getting back to working with video.

It seems I have been dealing with two problems. Problems with AVI files encoded with VBR I have solved thanks to your help, but I also seem to have some files starting out of sync and they got further out of sync because of the VBR issue.

I am going to experiment with adding some extra frames at the start of the video or trimming the audio file. What program might I try to simplify the process?

[robertazimmerman]

This may be an overly simplistic approach, but have you tried Scenalyzer to capture your video? It maintains perfect A/V.

[daamon]

I am going to experiment with adding some extra frames at the start of the video or trimming the audio file. What program might I try to simplify the process?

VirtualDub for trimming AVI. Adding frames would be a little bit more involved.

Any half decent audio editor will trim the audio for you. Audacity is regularly recommended and is freeware. There are others...

@ robertazimmerman - I don't think paloch is capturing as his AVIs are Xvid with VBR MP3 audio... But, if he were, Scenalyzer Live would be a good choice for exactly the reasons you say.

[paloch]

To robertazimmerman,

The problem is: I am working with an AVI file that was captured by someone else.

[paloch]

I tried Ulead VideoStudio which allowed me to trim off a bit of the beginning of my sound file and then run video with sound to see if it was in sync. It is amazing how even a few frames difference can make video look so bad. After a bit of trial-and-error, I had good sync and burned a test DVD with good results.

Ulead was a little awkward to use. If I run into this problem more, I will be looking around for a better video editing program.

[robertazimmerman]

Ooops......silly me.

I have to admit that I have gooten so frustrated with out of sync files, that I simply load the WAV files into Cool Edit Pro (now Adobe Audition) and trim as needed. Once I have finished, I save the WAV and then convert it into an MPA file for burning.

This again may sound overly simplistic, but since Scenalyzer can maintain perfect sync in a sub-$100 program, why can't Adobe, Pinnacle et al incorporate the same technology and finally eliminate this pain in the butt issue with their programs?

Roberta

[daamon]

Hi Roberta,

This link might be of use in explaining and / or solving your problem. The symptoms sound similar, hope it's of use...

[paloch]

How are you able to determine how much audio to trim when using Cool Edit Pro? With Ulead Video Studio, I was able to view graphics of the audio track and video track and slide the audio back-and-forth to get it in sync. When I tried playing audio and video together however, I learned that my hard drive was badly in need of defragging as the video would not play smoothly enough to determine proper sync.

It is time for me to make a partition strictly for video files that I can easily defrag.