Restoring from 2 videos with different quality into one.

[freeindy]

Hi,

I'm having problem restoring an old film from two sources into one good copy. What I have as original is this:

source1.avi:

Input #0, avi, from 'source1.avi':
  Metadata:
    encoder         : transcode-1.0.2
  Duration: 02:43:35.77, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1342 kb/s
    Stream #0:0: Video: mpeg4 (Simple Profile) (DIVX / 0x58564944), yuv420p, 720x480 [SAR 1:1 DAR 3:2], 1200 kb/s, 29.97 fps, 29.97 tbr, 29.97 tbn, 30k tbc
    Stream #0:1: Audio: mp3 (U[0][0][0] / 0x0055), 48000 Hz, stereo, s16p, 128 kb/s

source 2.mp4:

Input #0, mov,mp4,m4a,3gp,3g2,mj2, from 'Source2.mp4':
  Metadata:
    major_brand     : mp42
    minor_version   : 0
    compatible_brands: isommp42
    creation_time   : 2014-06-22 12:01:40
  Duration: 02:46:11.04, start: 0.000000, bitrate: 1625 kb/s
    Stream #0:0(und): Video: h264 (High) (avc1 / 0x31637661), yuv420p, 1200x720 [SAR 1:1 DAR 5:3], 1431 kb/s, 30 fps, 30 tbr, 30 tbn, 60 tbc (default)
    Metadata:
      handler_name    : VideoHandler
    Stream #0:1(und): Audio: aac (LC) (mp4a / 0x6134706D), 44100 Hz, stereo, fltp, 191 kb/s (default)
    Metadata:
      creation_time   : 2014-06-22 12:06:22
      handler_name    : IsoMedia File Produced by Google, 5-11-2011

The end result I want is the video from source2 and audio from source1 into the final version source3.mp4. I'd like to keep the video quality as much as possible on source2.mp4 if it's possible.

I've been trying changing fps on both to match yet still the audio doesn't get synchronised. It varies and is way off at the end of the move.

What steps, in order, should I take and how in order to restore this move? Any help is appreciated. I'm using Linux so any tool you might think is useful for this work, please do not hesitate to advice.

Thanks in advance. Best,
Indy

[jagabo]

You likely have different cuts of the movie (as well as different frame rates) and will require serious editing to get A/V sync.

I would start by locating a section where the two videos are identical except for the running time. Then calculate the difference in the audio lengths. Adjust the entire audio from video 1 to match the audio from video 2. For example, if there's a 10 minute segment in video 2 that matches video 1 (no cuts, no pastes), but clip in video 1 has a running time 0.3 percent longer, then shorten the entire audio from video 1 by 0.3 percent. That should compensate for the frame rate speedup or slowdown.

Then start looking for missing shots or additional shots. When the video1 has shots that aren't in video 2 you cut out those sections of audio. When video 2 has shots that aren't in video 1 you copy those section from video 2 into the new audio file to fill for the missing section.

[JVRaines]

If you are lucky and both transfers were by telecine, then a constant audio adjustment may work. If not, the speed difference is likely to vary throughout the film. In this case a graphical NLE is practically required to stretch or shrink the audio scene-by-scene.

[freeindy]

Thanks lads,

Too much serious work for me doing this. I just have to try to find a better copy.

Indy