How to get an AVI file burnt to DVD with proper audio sync?

June 16, 2005 12:57 PM

Ok, my google-fu has failed me. I'm trying to find a simple software program that will allow me to take an AVI file (or multiple AVI files - TV shows, mostly) and burn them to a DVD-R while still having the audio sync up properly. I've tried a couple of programs, and for some reason, the audio ends up being out of sync toward the end, although it's just fine at the beginning.
posted by gwenzel to computers & internet (8 comments total)

I use to convert my files from avi to svcd(plays on most dvd player) w/ a program called DVD2SVCD

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/DVD2SVCD/1012831180/1

But then I bought a new DVD playerfor $57 Philip's slimline from walmart that plays Divix avi's straight off a cd for television programs, much less of a hassle worth every penny!!
posted by tke248 at 1:08 PM on June 16, 2005

There is far more help than you could ever want on these matters on VCDHelp.com, even little search options to specify you want to go from X to Y format.
posted by phearlez at 1:13 PM on June 16, 2005

Short version: using virtualdub, you need to decompress the audio to a separate .WAV file, and then recompress it while doing a straight copy of the video to a new file. It takes about ten minutes total on a 2.4 GHz P4. This will prevent the skew from being introduced into the file.

Do you need step by step instructions?
posted by sun-el at 1:19 PM on June 16, 2005

I've tried some of the programs mentioned at vcdhelp.com, but the audio is still 'skewed' on the DVD output. I suppose the problem is with the source files rather than the conversion program... hmm...

sun-el: I read your comment and had the deer-in-headlights look, so I'll probably say yes, step-by-step instructions would be good. :-)
posted by gwenzel at 1:30 PM on June 16, 2005

Diko is a one-click DivX to DVD conversion tool. It's worked on every avi I've given it. Free.
posted by blag at 1:38 PM on June 16, 2005 [1 favorite]

winavi, it's handled everything I've ever thrown at it.
posted by madajb at 1:49 PM on June 16, 2005

My Sonic DVD is awesome.
posted by k8t at 2:14 PM on June 16, 2005

The problem you are experiencing usually has to do with the endonding scheme that the AVI was created with. It is most likely Divx/XviD with a VBR (variable bit rate) Audio Track. Transcoding a VBR file almost always results in the audio getting out of synch(at least in my experience)

sun-el is on target... you need to use a modified version of virtualdub (named virtualdub-mp3freeze) to convert the whole shebang to a format that does *not* use variable encoding on the audio track.

(I keep a scratch disk with at least 80 gig free, so I personally just have it save the video and audio uncompressed-- this tend to make GINORMOUS FILES however-- it's about 37gig for a 45 minute show-I do this to keep from degrading the video any more-- each time you convert to a different format, you are likely to lose quality)

Depending on the speed of your computer, the conversion to MPEG-2 should take about an hour and a half for your typical 1 hour show sans commercials. From there you can use pretty much any authoring software to make the disc.
posted by tj at 2:46 PM on June 16, 2005