avi/ac3 out of synch

[Mogan]

Hi everyone, hope i'm in the right forum.
I have this problem.
I'm trying to mux an ac3 track taken from a dvd with an avi file.
The avi is

CD1
Runtime......: 00:54:24 (78,249 fr) 23.976fps
Video Codec..: XviD
Video Bitrate: 1675 kb/s
Audio Codec..: 0x0055(MP3) ID'd as MPEG-1 Layer 3
Audio Bitrate: 126 kb/s (63/ch, stereo) VBR LAME3.92

CD2
Runtime......: 00:54:29 (78,368 fr) 23.976 fps
Video Codec..: XviD
Video Bitrate: 1665 kb/s
Audio Codec..: 0x0055(MP3) ID'd as MPEG-1 Layer 3
Audio Bitrate: 126 kb/s (63/ch, stereo) VBR

The ac3 file is
Runtime......: 01:48:46
Audio Codec..: ac3 (0x2000) Dolby Laboratories, Inc
Audio Bitrate: 384 kb/s (5 ch) CBR

I'd like to make double audio, but i could be satisfied even with the ac3 track only.
The problem is that is out of synch and the more you play the more it gets out of synch.
I tried with virtual dub mod, interleaving every 1 frames, preload 500ms and the correct delay, but the audio play well just for few seconds and then slide out of synch.
What can i do?

Thanks
Mogan

[Hectic]

well, i'd say your computer is too slow to keep up because the avi file has too high of a resolution and/or bitrate to keep the audio and video in sync.

[Mogan]

Originally posted by Hectic
well, i'd say your computer is too slow to keep up because the avi file has too high of a resolution and/or bitrate to keep the audio and video in sync.
Don't think so, i have an amd athlon 1800+, 256 mb ram, 2 hd 80giga raid0.
There is a way to resync the ac3 track?

Thanks
Mogan

[Hectic]

wait, are you using an mp3 audio track or ac3? what tools did you use to mux the files? seriously, if you set the delay correctly..you really shouldn't have any trouble with sync problems...unless you changed the framerate to 24 under nandub or something which doesn't drop frames, it makes the video play slower.

[alexnoe]

Did you try AVI-Mux GUI?

[AlfaStation]

I agree with Hecktic. Had a similar probl.; maybe this might help:
I'm using a 733PIII and when I play-back movies (encoded in DivX5.05) with more then 3 audio tracks (ac3/mp3 don't matter - sepperate/non muxed but in same directory don't matter - and btw I use Vobsub&MPClassic for play-back) I get exactly the same problem. Especialy when the movies are in high bitrate (above 1200kb/s).
When I reduce the number of audio-tracks in the direcory/folder to 3 or less movie stays synchr. Also, I hope y're not using WinME as OS but W2k or XP!
Hope that helps.

Grtz,
AlfaStation

[alexnoe]

If the number of streams influences this problem, then the software you use is b0rked.

[Mogan]

I solved converting the video source to 25fps with nandub, and then mux.

Thanks
Mogan

[AlfaStation]

Alex,
I suppose y're replying to my post.
I'm using a +/- fresh W2k install, GordianKnot0.28.5 for encoding (following Doom9 DivX 5.xxPro guides), and MPC 6.4.6.0 in combine with VobSub for decoding/playback/switching of audio&Subs. MPC 6.4.6.3 did not resolve this problem, instead AC-3 playback was slightly worse so I resorted to MPC6.4.6.0 version. Had a similar probl. on Athlon1000 T-bird before MSI Mobo burned-out :( , but that's beside the point .
Anyway, my guess is hardware too slow to cope with multiple audio-files in comb with high bitrate movies since all plays fine limiting nr. of tracks to 3 or less.

Cheers,
Alfa

[alexnoe]

Since only one audio track is replayed at one time, I have really no idea how the CPU could limit the maximum number of streams.

What happens if you put all audio streams into the file itself?

[AlfaStation]

GordianKnot (standard) is limited to max 2 audio-tracks muxed into the avi (as far as i know) (mp3, ac3 or both) so i don't know what would happen if i muxed more then 2 tracks. Since I don't check the "delete intermediate files" -option (saves re-encoding everything all-over in case of a crash or limited space on HD for the final mux), so I usually end up with 4 up to 9 audio-tracks in same avi-folder(mp3&AC3&DTS...). When I play-back this avi (DiX5.05) audio gets badly out of synch (and choppy playback - often bad quality video too) as described above (playback using MPC/VobSub/AudioSwitch). Yet, when i delete some of the audio-tracks, and limit to 2 muxed (usually the English 160VBR & 128VBR French mp3) and 1 or 2 extras (like the AC3 English and the Comments track) playback is just fine.

Maybe that clarifies it further.

Any suggestions?

(Other curiosity: (probl' has nothing to do with the above) when I try to enable SPDIF thru-put to the 5.1 DTT2500 Creative desktop surround system by changing options in the AC3-filter in VobSub I get no sound at all. I have to change the option in the AC3-filter to 3/2+LFE5.1ch or 2/0, then fast-forward couple of frames till i get sound, then change to SPDIF mode in the AC3-filter, fast-forward again till i get sound at which point the "Dolby-Digital"-LED lights-up on the Amp, only then I get the SPDIF-sound thru-put to work on my system.
When i close the avi and open another i have to repeat this process if i want SPDIF to work. (I'm using a Creative Live Player 1024, latest drivers and W2k OS SP4). Nobody was able to help me on this topic so-far.... :) )

[alexnoe]

GordianKnot (standard) is limited to max 2 audio-tracks muxed into the avi (as far as i know) (mp3, ac3 or both) so i don't know what would happen if i muxed more then 2 tracks.AVI-Mux GUI is limited to 99 if you don't add subtitles as well

[AlfaStation]

K, i'll give it a try, just give me 'bout 20min. to re-rip (dvd2avi) the movie Catch me if you can. (Just chucked-out the 4 ac3-files) so i can test it with AVI-mux. Even if it don't work i'd have learned somethin' new. (never tried nor needed avi-mux so-far).
Any ideas on the other probl. by any chance...?

[AlfaStation]

Damn, can't seem to replicate/duplicate the problem. Playing the avi alongside 4 AC3-tracks and 1mp3 works just fine 6total tracks+1DTS (DTS=unplayable - no codec).
Muxing at the moment with avi-mux as we speak.
Let you know result of Avi-mux in about 10min.

[AlfaStation]

Big Problem.
Avi-mux created a 3.4 Gig file (which is normal: 1.1 gig video + 4xAC3 + 2x mp3 + 1xDTS) ReSULT: explorer generated errors... closes Norton AV & Ati-desktop . Restart :but as soon as I click the 3.4GB avi "explorer generates errors" etc.... Seems i 'm getting the 2gb error limit... pls help...
Using w2k +SP4 on NTFS-patition (on a ASUS Cusl2 mobo, IntelP3 733, 392MB SDram, 1x80GB & 1x 40GB on IDE mobo, 1x 30GB&1x8GB on Promise 133 controller. Thought W2k could read up to 4 gig?

What now...?

[alexnoe]

There is no 2 GB limit, and neither is there any other limit if you use NTFS. Do you by chance try to get auto preview for AVI files? You should switch that off.... the DTS track might be the problem

[AlfaStation]

OK, managed to delete the 3.4GB avi-file created by Avi-mux (which was on a fat32 partition btw - not sure if that was the problem tho, since i'm running w2k as OS from ntfs-partition) and checked open DML again in avi-mux to enable files above 2GB as i did before, but this time not using the DTS-track nor the 2th mp3-track (identical to the allready muxed mp3 avi-track). This time i get a 2.9 GB Avi and AGAIN, as soon as i click it i get "explorer generated errors....", Norton Av and Ati 7200 all in wonder shuts down !!!!!! :( :(

More suggestions... ?? :)
Ps, gotto get some sleep soon....

[alexnoe]

- Try to check 'legacy index' as well
- Then disable auto preview in windows
- try disabling Norton AV

[AlfaStation]

OK, I disabled the auto preview in windows and explorer doesn't shut down anymore. Thank you.
(i just love w2k, even when explorer did generate errors you don't have to re-boot... hell w98 & ME are soooooooo crappy! :) )
Playback is extremely choppy tho' and allthough all 5 audio-tracks 4xac3 + 1mp3 play fine, the resulting movie-file is unwatchable, which leads me to my first conclusion: cpu too slow?

I'll restart now and disable NAV but i doubt it would change anything.

Thks so-far.
AlfaStation.

[AlfaStation]

Just like before; Fresh restart, chopy playback , get about 10 frames, then freezes a fraction of a sec, again a few frames and repeats like that. Audio stays perfectly synch tho, but video can't seem to keep-up.
If i'm not too tired i'll try more tomorow, up in 3 hrs for work... whish me luck :) :)
Thks 4 the help so-far.

Over and out.
Alfa.

[AlfaStation]

FOUND-IT ! (well, just about :) )
Changed the audio-interleave options in AVIMUX from the standard 128kb to 1 frame/sec interleave. Movie plays allmost perfect. Now and again it skips a frame or two but result is watchable (with 6 audio-tracks muxed!)
( ps: Can't check "Legacy index" tho'...?)


Thks for all the help and info.

AlfaStation.

[alexnoe]

That sounds as if DMA is disabled for your hard disc :scared:

[AlfaStation]

I'm using the Intel(R) 82801BA Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 244B driver (which came with the Asus Cusl2 motherboard cd) and both primary and secondary channels are showing "Ultra DMA modus" on both devices.

I have not experienced any "dma-related" problems so-far. My LiteOn Dvd-rom rips at 4x up to 12x depending on the DVD-disk (and position of read), CloneCD & Nero both burn at max-speeds no probl. and my PlexWriter 16/10/40 (on the PCI Promise Ultra133 TX2-controller) does DAE at an amazing speed of upto 32x (using AudioCatalist).

I did have DMA-problems before installing the Intel(R) 82801BA Ultra ATA Storage Controller driver so i'm reluctant to uninstalling it....