MovieBox Audio/Video Sync

[dr.pauli]

P4@2.4GHz, 1GB RAM, ATI/AIW128Pro, Win2KPro, MovieBox USB connected to USB2 port, with all software supplied in box loaded.

Captured a VHS tape, commercially made, new condition, 88 minutes duration. Captured to MPEG2, 720X480, NTSC. Tried a capture at 8MBit, another at 6MBit, and another at 4.5MBit. ALL show ~2 second out of sync at the end, no out of sync at the beginning, when viewing the produced DVD or the DVD structure before being burned. HOWEVER, when I view the full sized MPEG file (~7GB in size), using WinDVD, there is NO out of sync at all, anywhere!

I have tied to re-author this using authoring packages other than Studio8, same results. I even re-authored using the baseline m2v and m2a files which Studio8 produced, same result.

It appears to me as though the "Rendering" process, which is changing the ~7GB raw MPEG file to a DVD-R burnable size of ~4.36GB is at fault. But even that seems iffy, since I fed the raw MPEG to another authoring package with the same results.

Anybody got any ideas or suggestions on how to fix this? I've also tried to use a couple of other softwares to capture, but they do not "see" the MovieBox. The documentation with the MovieBox implies that it can capture to other formats than MPEG2, but I can't seem to get it to capture to anything except MPEG2. TIA.

[jggimi]

Moved to DVD Authoring forum.

[fecastro]

Hi Jggimi!
I don´t know if I will be able to help you, but I going to try it.I have the same capturated card (Pinnacle Usb)and I also have to say that I have had the same problem with audio and video syncronization when I was capturing from a Vhs tape. The solution to all my trobles have been to use Tmpgen. You only have to select, in tools ,simple demux, and the files you obtain , you have to import with DVDMAESTRO and make the authoring with it.After do this, I usually use Ulead Movie factory To burn the disc, and the result runs perfectly.
If you have any question and I can help you, don´t doubh and ask me.

Sorry but I am learning English and I know that it is not so good.Bye

[dr.pauli]

fecastro -- I've fed the raw MPEG2 (about 7GB big) into TMegEnc Authoring package. I would have thought that would have been essentially what you suggested, except automated instead of manually done. However, I WILL give it a try as soon as I can. I'll nearing the end of my "recovery" of an improper shutdown of my PC by my kids. 2 weeks, 3rd new CD-R/RW burner, 2nd. power supply, several fallback/advances of saved states, and I'm apparently as good as new!

[dr.pauli]

fecastro - I finally got around to trying your suggestion, sort of. I used TMPegDVDAuthor to re-author the stuff instead of Maestro. No luck, I still have LOADS of sync issues. :(

For what it's worth, I've tried the following, all to no avail:
Studio8 capture and full process, with scenes, version 8.6.26.0.
Studio8 capture and full process, w/o scenes, version 8.6.26.0.
Studio8 capture, re-author w/TMPeg, from raw MPEG2 file, ~7GB.
Studio8 capture, re-author w/TMPeg, from Studio m2v & wav files.
Studio8 capture, Demux w/TMpeg, re-author w/TMPeg.
Studio8 capture and full process, with scenes, version 8.8.17.0.
Studio8 capture and full process, w/o scenes, version 8.8.17.0.
Studio8 8.8.17.0 capture, re-author w/TMPeg, from MPEG2 file, ~7GB.
Studio8 8.8.17.0 capture, re-author w/TMPeg, from Studio m2v & wav.
Studio8 8.8.17.0 capture, Demux w/TMpeg, re-author w/TMPeg.

I've tried several bit rates, all without any success.
Can anybody suggest anything? Other than trashing MovieBox and buying Canopus, that is.

[fecastro]

Dr Pauli, I had forgotten to tell you that I only use Pinnacle Studio 8 to capture .I don´t use the authoring "part".I make the authoring with Dvd maestro.
Good Luck

[dr.pauli]

Agreed, but I tried TMPEG DVD Author, that should work , I would have thought...but I still get the sync issues.

[dr.pauli]

I finally got around to running some more tests, the results, I think, spell out WHERE the problem lies, but not a solution to it. That will come later, I hope.

I ran numerous attempts (like 8-10) using different data rates,authoring techniques, etc. All gave essentially the same results, only the AMOUNT of sync slippage changed. It seemed to be getting progressively worse with each attempt. There, I think, lies the key. Remember, the CAPTURED files were ALWAYS completely in-sync, but the DVD structures were ALWAYS out of sync. I always used the same VCR and tape source for these tests.

I did a capture of a cable TV channel, about 2 hours in duration. Allowed all of the default Studio8 settings to prevail, like data rate, scene detection, etc. The resultant capture was, of course, totally in-sync, as usual. However, the resultant DVD file structure was ALSO in total sync throughout the length of the video! Bingo, I think.... It has something to do with the idea of coming off of tape and how studio is handling the re-encode. I have my own ideas as to what happens, how, and, more or less, why. Pinnacle has been made aware of what I think, although they have not responded to it. I am now trying to come up with a work around.

Remember, the captures are always Out-Of-Sync when coming off the tape, and there are NEVER any reports of dropped frames, ever. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, feel free to post them. TIA.