DVD2AVI + TMPGENC source range = synch error

[marsmayhem]

I capped 2 music videos in one file using my RADEON 64MB DDR VIVO with the following specs:
MPEG2 720x480 @ 8000kbps, CBR, Deinterlaced, Visual Masking OFF.

The captured clip plays back fine without any synch problems, both under Media Player and ATI MMC 7.6. I've updated display drivers to latest ATI versions, and installed their recommended Capture Device (as on their tech support page).

I run the MPEG2 file through DVD2AVI, creating a .d2v file that I load in TMPGENC 2.53. Then I load the NTSC VCD template as my output type.

If I convert from the very first frame of the video, until some endpoint, the audio comes in at the right time. No synch problems at all.

If I select Source Range, and modify the Start point to somewhere other than the first frame, my audio comes in about 5 seconds after the video starts. I'm trying to get rid of a few seconds captured before the video started (ie. I capped about 15 seconds of black before the video started and I'm trying to trim my output file). Please help!

I know I can use the audio skew feature, but I want to know why the audio is getting out of whack to begin with, especially if it works fine if I don't change the start frame. I've tried the following without success:

a) Use TooLame external audio decoder
b) Used MPEG2 vfapi reader
c) Demux+Remux MPEG2 program stream

Can anyone shed some light on this perplexing problem. I haven't seen a similar synch problem to this because my original cap is in synch, and when I convert from frame 0, everything works just fine.

TIA

[marsmayhem]

Wow, 33 people checked out this question, and no one had any answers... Guess I'll have to answer my own question.

I fixed the problem after reading up how different MPEG decoders get installed on one's sysetm, and that not all MPEG codecs are created equally.

The problematic codec was Ligos MPEG Video Decoder. I played the clip in Media Player 7 under XP, clicked on the file in the playlist and selected Properties. It told me what it's using for Audio/Video decoding. There it was, Ligos. I found out that Ligos has some trouble keeping audio and video in synch.

I followed the advice of a similar thread about audio synch problems and downloaded DXMan and SysEnum. DXMan helped me unregister the Ligos Decoder from my system. When I played the MPEG2 file again under Media Player, it stated that it was using Ulead MPEG Video Decoder.

I retested the Source Range option under TMPGENC, and everything is in synch again after the encode.

Hope this helps the next person...

[Decepticon]

Hello,

Thank you for posting this message. It solved the problem that has been plaguing me for a week. I have had problems encoding with TMPGenc ever since I installed Ulead DVD MovieFactory which comes with the Ligos Decoder. As soon as I uninstalled it, the video files I encoded that had the problems of increased framerates (40 to 60 fps ) and popping audio disappeared! I thought it was the new version of TMPGenc I was using, but thankfully it isn't.

A warning should be put in the FAQ: avoid the Ligos decoder...

[marsmayhem]

Glad it helped. I have Ulead's DVD Workshop installed on my machine. I'm not mistaken, Ulead now ships their own MPEG codec, rather than the old Ligos one.

Were you using MPEG1 or MPEG2?