Need Help with audio track sync

Kenny G

Newbie Joined: Jan 07, 2010 17:36 Messages: 8 Offline

Solved by

Dec 08, 2010 20:30

I am having a real hard time with power director. I used to use Nova Video Explosion Deluxe, but unfortunately times have changed and it is obsolete. So last year I bought PD8 and this year PD9 trying to replace it. Well, PD9 is almost perfect for me but 1 issue still lingers.
I make family videos about 45 minutes long, with several songs interlaced with pictures and videos. I try to get certain clips to hit at precise moments when lyrics are sung or to change along with the beat of the song. My issue is that I will have them where they belong in the timeline perfectly and i will go to preview just a small section and all of a sudden the song doesnt line up perfectly anymore(it really does, but not when I preview it)......it is now 1-3 seconds off. The only way I can hear it correctly is if I start playback from the begining of the song. Anytime I try to start playback from the middle of a song, the audio is off of where it really lies on the timeline. This does not go for the audio that is attached to the videos, just the music track I drop in.......why? How can I fix this? It is one of the most annoying things I have ever encountered.

Thanks

Cranston

Senior Contributor Location: USA Joined: Aug 17, 2007 02:26 Messages: 1667 Offline

Dec 08, 2010 23:16

Hi KennyG

This is what has worked for me in similar situations. Don’t know if it will work for you.
But whenever this sync issue happens with extra audio that I’ve added to a project, it's almost always an MP3, or other audio format file that has sync issues in my preview.
If I convert these files to a similarly spec’d WMA audio file, the lag or sync issues go away.
I’m not computer savvy enough to know why this little workaround seems to work (on my system), but it almost always does.
Click here PDtoots for a collection of PowerDirector Tutorials and Tips

Carl312

Senior Contributor Location: Texas, USA Joined: Mar 16, 2010 20:11 Messages: 9090 Offline

Dec 09, 2010 11:40

Cranston

My guess is it has to do with the time required to decompress the MP3 audio.
In some cases, re-encoding to 48 Khz sample rate will fix the timing also.

If you converted the MP3 to WAV, you would likely get the same result of getting the audio sync back. Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

Kenny G

Newbie Joined: Jan 07, 2010 17:36 Messages: 8 Offline

Dec 09, 2010 16:14

How would i go about re-encoding the sample rate?

Carl312

Senior Contributor Location: Texas, USA Joined: Mar 16, 2010 20:11 Messages: 9090 Offline

Dec 09, 2010 16:44

How would i go about re-encoding the sample rate?

One way is download the free Audacity audio editor and install the MP3 and MP4 Encoder (on the same web site)
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

MP3 is Lame and the mp4 is ffmpeg. They are on the download page for Audacity 1.3.12 (Beta).

Audacity can set the project at 48 KHz and then export the audio with the new encoding.
Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

Cranston

Senior Contributor Location: USA Joined: Aug 17, 2007 02:26 Messages: 1667 Offline

Dec 10, 2010 02:28

Carl wrote:

If you converted the MP3 to WAV, you would likely get the same result of getting the audio sync back.

Nope, tried often to convert to WAVs. They at times, can be problematic too. As well as a being much larger file size.
For some reason, on my rig, it’s the converting to WMA files that consistently cures any sync or stuttering issues that may arise now and then.

Also, mixing formats can cause hiccups for me. Like layering 3 sound effects at the same point, where one is a WAV, another a MP3, and the third a WMA, all stacked on top of each other.
But if I ensure that all my audio files are WMA files, then all is well.

That’s not to say that I can’t use MP3s or WAVs. I can. But when issues arise, converting all to WMA, is the cure that most consistently works for me.

Click here PDtoots for a collection of PowerDirector Tutorials and Tips

Carl312

Senior Contributor Location: Texas, USA Joined: Mar 16, 2010 20:11 Messages: 9090 Offline

Dec 10, 2010 10:10

That is good to know, Cranston. Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

LKB

Newbie Location: Lexington, MA Joined: Dec 09, 2010 16:42 Messages: 5 Offline

Dec 10, 2010 16:21

Hi,

We seem to have the same problem. I think it may be that either (or both) slow audio or slow video processing in the preview window causes them to get out of sync by half a second or so, making synchronization very difficult. I haven't seen a solution yet, except I bet a wicked fast computer with a lot of memory and an awesome graphics card...or maybe Cyberlink could give us a low-quality video rendering option for the preview window.

...L

Kenny G

Newbie Joined: Jan 07, 2010 17:36 Messages: 8 Offline

Dec 12, 2010 13:33

what is the easiest way to convert the mp3's to wma? I used to have switch sound file converter, but it was just a sample and they want me to buy it. I am not really in the mood to pay more money for software.

Carl312

Senior Contributor Location: Texas, USA Joined: Mar 16, 2010 20:11 Messages: 9090 Offline

Dec 12, 2010 13:50

Audacity with the ffmpeg addon. Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

McLean1

Contributor Joined: Jul 30, 2006 23:00 Messages: 336 Offline

Dec 12, 2010 15:08

Quote: I am having a real hard time with power director. I used to use Nova Video Explosion Deluxe, but unfortunately times have changed and it is obsolete. So last year I bought PD8 and this year PD9 trying to replace it. Well, PD9 is almost perfect for me but 1 issue still lingers.
I make family videos about 45 minutes long, with several songs interlaced with pictures and videos. I try to get certain clips to hit at precise moments when lyrics are sung or to change along with the beat of the song. My issue is that I will have them where they belong in the timeline perfectly and i will go to preview just a small section and all of a sudden the song doesnt line up perfectly anymore(it really does, but not when I preview it)......it is now 1-3 seconds off. The only way I can hear it correctly is if I start playback from the begining of the song. Anytime I try to start playback from the middle of a song, the audio is off of where it really lies on the timeline. This does not go for the audio that is attached to the videos, just the music track I drop in.......why? How can I fix this? It is one of the most annoying things I have ever encountered.

Thanks

What might be happening is that the audio you are using was converted with a variable bit rate. If that's the case the mp3 will stretch. You can reprocess with a constant bit rate to stop this from happening. I use Goldwave, personally, but any audio conversion software should work. The Wave Editor within Power Director may even work, although I didn't see anything specific when I took a quick peek. I imagine that Cranston's solution of going to a .wav format creates a file with a constant bitrate, so the .wav format isn't as important as the bit rate.

jamesvok

Newbie Joined: Dec 30, 2010 00:22 Messages: 2 Offline

Dec 30, 2010 00:28

Quote: I am having a real hard time with power director. I used to use Nova Video Explosion Deluxe, but unfortunately times have changed and it is obsolete. So last year I bought PD8 and this year PD9 trying to replace it. Well, PD9 is almost perfect for me but 1 issue still lingers.
I make family videos about 45 minutes long, with several songs interlaced with pictures and videos. I try to get certain clips to hit at precise moments when lyrics are sung or to change along with the beat of the song. My issue is that I will have them where they belong in the timeline perfectly and i will go to preview just a small section and all of a sudden the song doesnt line up perfectly anymore(it really does, but not when I preview it)......it is now 1-3 seconds off. The only way I can hear it correctly is if I start playback from the begining of the song. Anytime I try to start playback from the middle of a song, the audio is off of where it really lies on the timeline. This does not go for the audio that is attached to the videos, just the music track I drop in.......why? How can I fix this? It is one of the most annoying things I have ever encountered.

Thanks

Hi Kenny, did ou ever sort out how to sync the audio file with the video clips properly?
I am having the EXACT same issue.
Thanks,
james

McLean1

Contributor Joined: Jul 30, 2006 23:00 Messages: 336 Offline

Dec 30, 2010 08:37

Quote:

Quote: I am having a real hard time with power director. I used to use Nova Video Explosion Deluxe, but unfortunately times have changed and it is obsolete. So last year I bought PD8 and this year PD9 trying to replace it. Well, PD9 is almost perfect for me but 1 issue still lingers.
I make family videos about 45 minutes long, with several songs interlaced with pictures and videos. I try to get certain clips to hit at precise moments when lyrics are sung or to change along with the beat of the song. My issue is that I will have them where they belong in the timeline perfectly and i will go to preview just a small section and all of a sudden the song doesnt line up perfectly anymore(it really does, but not when I preview it)......it is now 1-3 seconds off. The only way I can hear it correctly is if I start playback from the begining of the song. Anytime I try to start playback from the middle of a song, the audio is off of where it really lies on the timeline. This does not go for the audio that is attached to the videos, just the music track I drop in.......why? How can I fix this? It is one of the most annoying things I have ever encountered.

Thanks

Hi Kenny, did ou ever sort out how to sync the audio file with the video clips properly?
I am having the EXACT same issue.
Thanks,
james

jamesvok, did you try reprocessing the audio to make sure you had a constant bit rate as opposed to a variable?

Kenny G

Newbie Joined: Jan 07, 2010 17:36 Messages: 8 Offline

Dec 30, 2010 09:13

I converted my music files from mp3 to wma using audacity and it worked perfectly. Now if I could only figure out how to remove a clip and trasition from the middle of my video without messing up the placement of everything after it.

McLean1

Contributor Joined: Jul 30, 2006 23:00 Messages: 336 Offline

Dec 30, 2010 22:08

Quote: I converted my music files from mp3 to wma using audacity and it worked perfectly. Now if I could only figure out how to remove a clip and trasition from the middle of my video without messing up the placement of everything after it.

You might be able to come close by marking down the length of the video clip and the transition, you might have a tweak it a bit, but you will need to put something in it's place or put something at the beginning so that it stays where you want it. Unless I'm missing your goal.

jamesvok

Newbie Joined: Dec 30, 2010 00:22 Messages: 2 Offline

Dec 30, 2010 22:26

Quote: I converted my music files from mp3 to wma using audacity and it worked perfectly. Now if I could only figure out how to remove a clip and trasition from the middle of my video without messing up the placement of everything after it.

I took your advice and it works perfectly now. I am VERY new to this, but love the software.
I am having another issue, and don't know what to do.. but that is not audio related. When I jump around clips, the preview screen goes half green and the clip is fit (squashed looking) into the other half of the screen. Here is a shot of what happens. Any clues? I know it is not the right forum, but heck you guys have great solutions to my audio...

And here is my video so far. I need to work some more but so far this is a lot of fun.


Filename	ScreenHunter_02 Dec. 29 20.43.jpg	Download
Description
Filesize	292 Kbytes
Downloaded:	187 time(s)

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at Dec 30. 2010 22:27

Shiromage

Newbie Location: United States Joined: Jan 05, 2011 17:30 Messages: 7 Offline

Apr 02, 2011 18:47

Wow. Never have I ever read a forum from the start, and as I kept reading I kept nodding my head, going:

"I have the SAME EXACT problem!"

But by the way kids, you can convert the mp3 to wma really easily within PD9. Just open a new project, put the mp3 in, then produce as a wma. I personally wanted a higher bitrate than what wma had to offer, so I converted to .wav instead. It fixed my problem! "Whoa, where'd the sound go?!"
"Where did you put it?"

Berto2002

Member Location: Southend-on-Sea, UK Joined: May 23, 2010 04:16 Messages: 74 Offline

Apr 16, 2011 05:40

This is an unbelievably ridiculous problem for this software to have in its ninth version. I can't believe I can't preview my video from any point and expect to have the audio in sync.

I have been faithful to this product, despite its failings, for two years and never had a problem with mp3 audio files before. This problem looks like it has been introduced in version 9.

I have Ultra 9 64-bit and a hex-core machine and it can't even sync a flippin' mp3 file. Come on Cyberlink, what are you playing at? Variable bit-rate mp3 files are NORMAL...

Can any of the experienced people on this forum let us know if this has been reported as a bug to Cyberlink? If not it really must be. I am happy to do it but it can be tedious getting them to acknowledge a problem so I don't want to waste their time if it is already being pursued.

BTW converting to WMA file (using Format Factory) worked for me. I can now review my video without having to start from the beginning every time! Phew, thank you very much to the contributors for this tip.

Rob AMD Phenom II X6 1100XT
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Windows 10 Home Premium 64-bit
PowerDirector Ultra 13

Bubba in TX

Senior Contributor Location: Central Texas Joined: Dec 12, 2009 21:32 Messages: 1332 Offline

Apr 16, 2011 11:05

For 5 bucks those keychain cameras are a good buy. And work far better than you expected.... __________________________________________
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Carl312

Senior Contributor Location: Texas, USA Joined: Mar 16, 2010 20:11 Messages: 9090 Offline

Apr 16, 2011 14:48

For 5 bucks those keychain cameras are a good buy. And work far better than you expected.

Bubba, you are in NV, are you sure the rest of us in the other states can find a keychain camera?

I doubt any such animal can be found in this little town of about 8000.

I want a $5 camera! Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.