Synching Audio on Commercial VCD?

[Brad]

I have a commercially pressed VCD and due to an error in encoding on the part of the company, the audio is out of sync with the video. How can I correct this without using VitualDub to push the audio forward, then re-encoding? Is there an audio program that I can use to push just the audio forward (after de-muxing), then I can re-mux? PLEASE let me know. Thanks!

[hitechjunkie]

by "push the audio forward", i assume you mean you'd like to clip off some from the beginning, having the audio start just a tad (msecs) sooner. i've had a lot of success doing that very thing with a utility called MP3-Cutter. you just load the mp2 file, bump the start point up some (10 increments = 250ms), and save.

[Brad]

I'm not sure if I want it to start sooner or later, I need to experiment to find out which one. But is there a program that can do both (free or shareware)?

[hitechjunkie]

i've never used MP3-Cutter to add (start audio later if the video is lagging), just cut (start audio sooner when audio is lagging).

although a bit more time intensive, a much more accurate method i've used for synching audio/video is:

- load video stream in vdub
- load audio stream in sonic's sound forge (this converts the stream to WAV)
- find a spot in both streams that should be occurring at precisely the same time
- note the time in each stream
- edit the audio stream accordingly (cut or insert)
- save WAV and convert to mp2
- re-multiplex audio/video streams

this has provided me with THE most synchronized audio/video streams in an mpeg. i've even done this with some older XVCDs that were out of synch by just a teeny weeny bit, but just enough to bug you if you spot it once. after that you notice it all the time. i hate that.

taking the time out to edit the audio stream in those has produced much nicer XVCDs and a much more enjoyable viewing experience.