Audio and Video not syncing

bbrooks wrote on 6/29/2004, 9:27 PM
I just recorded a two hour movie into vegas from a vcr. The video was input through an ATI Rage interface and the audio was input through a separate sound card. The audio and the video sync well at the beginning but as the movie progresses it gets more and more out of sync. I am new to this so any help is appreciated.

Brandon

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/29/2004, 9:32 PM
That would be expected, capturing from an ATI Rage, and using a sound card separately to sample audio with. Sample rate and vid rate are different, so it's effectively a lost cause unless you're willing to put a lot of work into it.
Capture from a VCR using a DV converter device or camera to convert audio and video simultaneously, this will alleviate your problem, no sweat. Unless the tape has copy protection on it, then your converter likely won't allow the signal to pass.
bbrooks wrote on 6/30/2004, 3:48 AM
When you say capture from a vcr using a DV converter I am not sure what you are talking about. With the DV camera are you talking about re-recording the vcr tape to a dv tape and then play it back using the firewire hook up?
TheHappyFriar wrote on 6/30/2004, 5:28 AM
He's talking about hooking the VCR up to your digital camera (with the RCA ins) & then hook up your camera to your firewire (that's the ideal solution for analolg capture, unless you use an analog capture card like a Matrox that is built for "pro" capture).

Let me guess: when you zoom in at the end of the clip you captured, the audio is a little longer then the video, right? If so, unlink the A/V & use the CTRL+left mouse drag to stretch the video to the audio. I bet a steak dinner that it will all be synched up then.

As someone who doesn't own a DV camera and only captures/edits analog, I've found out to fix many of these things. :)
NaperRick wrote on 6/30/2004, 6:04 AM
Brandon,
I have an ATI AIW Radeon card and have the same problem when trying to capture analog video.
Happy's fix worked for me in most instances but not sure how that will work for a very long event.
Capturing having your analog VCR connected to the video/audio input of your DV cam and connecting the DV cam to the computer via firewire should work just fine. The DV cam acts as a passthru digitizing device.
Good luck
Rick
bbrooks wrote on 6/30/2004, 6:13 AM
Thanks guys. I did already try happy's solution but it's as if the whole audio track is "longer" than the video. by the end it still doesn't sync up again. Probably some time/space continuum thing. Einstein's theory of sync-o-tivity.

As far as the DV Camera fix. I tried something like that a little while back. When I hook up the vcr to the DV camera it comes in fine. when I then hook up the camera to the firewire in the picture from the VCR disappears. ?????

Any other words of advice or corrections on what I am doing wrong.

Brandon
Spot|DSE wrote on 6/30/2004, 6:17 AM
If the video and audio are reasonably close, within a couple seconds, you can use the rubber audio feature. But on 2 hours, I'm betting that by the end, you are at least a 30 seconds off. Rubber audio won't work there. You can also chop up the audio, but that will be fairly apparent. Capturing the audio/video as a DV stream will keep you in sync all the way through.
bbrooks wrote on 6/30/2004, 6:33 AM
I'm going to try the VCR through the DV camera thing again, but I have a feeling it's going to be the same thing. The fire wire deactivates the inputs.

It's a Sony Camera, so does anyone know how to alleviate the above situation?

Also is this correct.
1) RCA Video/Stero Audio out from VCR
2) into the input on the DV Camera (input uses chord that is RCA in to 1/8" plug with tip/ring/ring/sleeve configuration)
3) firewire out from camera to firewire in on computer.

If this is right, I am really frustrated
Brandon
Spot|DSE wrote on 6/30/2004, 7:40 AM
Some cameras don't allow bi-directional passthrough. Does the video you are recording contain copyguard? That too, will shut down the inputs.
rs170a wrote on 6/30/2004, 8:20 AM
"t's a Sony Camera"

Brandon, what's the model #?
As others have said, if it's a European one, the DV in feature is disabled.

Mike
bbrooks wrote on 6/30/2004, 8:33 AM
It should be a US model - purchased at Best Buy. It's the DV out that's the issue though - but only when the 1/8" cable is being used as an in. It's as if the choices are one or the other but not a combination of the two. So I haven't been able to get it to perform as a pass through device. AAAAUUUUGHHH!

I unfortunately do not have my camera with me. I'll try to get the model # posted tonight, if that will help.

Brandon
rs170a wrote on 6/30/2004, 9:02 AM
"I'll try to get the model # posted tonight, if that will help."

It might help because the procedure for doing what you want varies from camera to camera, even within the same company :-(
The other issue is that, in an effort to "save money", some manufacturers have disabled the pass-through feature.

The following is the procedure for doing this on one of the Sony camcorders. I'm not sure if this will work for you or not but it's worth a try.
1. Set the POWER switch to VCR
2. Set A/V > DV OUT in VCR SET to ON in the menu settings.
3. Start playing your analog VCR.
4. Start computer capture.

Mike
bbrooks wrote on 6/30/2004, 9:17 AM
I'll try that tonight and let you know.
Thanks Mike!!!!

Brandon
rs170a wrote on 6/30/2004, 9:25 AM
You're quite welcome Brandon - and good luck with it.

Mike
TheHappyFriar wrote on 6/30/2004, 11:52 AM
When I capture analog the audio is always longer (that's why I stretch the video).

What capture app are you using? I've noticed some could start capturing the audio and video at slightly different times. Since I've started using iuVCR (www.iulabs.com) I have had less problems. Give that a download & a try. Then do the stretch video trick & see if that works.
bbrooks wrote on 6/30/2004, 8:59 PM
Hey Mikey it liked it. It liked it. But not without trials and tribulations.

It seems that I can do the AV - DV conversion. My camera is an AC-L10A. Yes that part worked. Vegas's video capture did not like it however. I could hear the audio but the picture wouldn't come through. If I turned the camera off and on again or stoped the VCR and started again, the picture would show up for a few secs and back to blue screen. All the while the sound is coming through fine.

I did get the Sonic MyDVD capture to work just fine. I would rather it work through Vegas though. I would think a program like vegas would work with something like that. Any thoughts as to why it wouldn't work.

don't get me wrong, I'm happy - unlike most brittaney spears concerts everybodys lips are in sync with their voice. Just currious re vegas not "channeling" the flow that's all.

You have been an immense help.

Brandon
rs170a wrote on 7/1/2004, 3:40 AM
"But not without trials and tribulations."

Since you've tried switcing the camcorder off and on again (Vegas is sometimes fussy as to what order things get switched on for video capture), the only other thing I might suspect is your camcorder/VCR cable(s).
I'm lucky enough to have a Canopus ADVC-100 at the office (for analog captures) that I can bring home if I need to.
BTW, check your camcorder model # again please. AC-L10A comes back as an AC adapter. Thanks.

Mike
bbrooks wrote on 7/1/2004, 5:37 AM
Mike,
I'll check out the model # tonight. I probably got in a hurry and wrote down the wrong #.

I'm not sure that it would be the cable due to capturing just fine using Sonic MyDVD. I'll try turning on the camera first and then opening vegas. I did it the other way around previously.

Thank you again for you fountain of knowledge.

Brandon
rs170a wrote on 7/1/2004, 6:44 AM
> I'll check out the model # tonight.
> I probably got in a hurry and wrote down the wrong #.

When you do, try www.henrys.com/manuals to see if it's listed there.

> I'll try turning on the camera first and then opening vegas.
> I did it the other way around previously.

I was going to suggest doing that but forgot to mention it. Good idea :-)

Mike
bbrooks wrote on 7/1/2004, 7:30 AM
I've got the manual, I probably got in a hurry/disctracted and wrote down the wrong thing but thanks. I'm going to check out that site anyway for some other stuff I need.

I've got some audio gear (firewire based) that if I turn it on after I start Vegas, Vegas will completely lock up. Hopefully this will help but if it doesn't I'm not sure what to do. Like I said, I can use MyDVD to capture, the only drawback there is I can't hear the audio during capture.

Brandon
bbrooks wrote on 7/3/2004, 4:19 AM
Mike
my camera is a DCR-TRV11. Any input/interesting tidbits about this camera would be appreciated.

Thanks again,
Brandon
Chienworks wrote on 7/3/2004, 6:43 AM
If I turned the camera off and on again or stoped the VCR and started again, the picture would show up for a few secs and back to blue screen.

This is usually the result of having DV Device control enabled in VidCap. Since your camcorder isn't playing a tape but merely converting the signal, VidCap shouldn't be trying to control it. Go in to Options / Preferences / General and UNcheck Enable DV device control. This should fix that problem.
bbrooks wrote on 7/3/2004, 9:19 AM
Chienworks
TA DA... and this is why we have forums. Thank you thank you thank you

Brandon