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FCP HD video sync problem
I’m editing an interview that was taped w/ two DVX100s (both *supposedly* set to 24p Normal mode, audio recording at 48 kHz). I captured the footage at DV NTSC 48 kHz. Both tapes run non-stop for the duration of the interview (about 45 mins). I’m trying to sync them together in the timeline. Cam A’s audio is from a boom mic and Cam B’s audio is from lavaliers, so I can’t sync by audio (timbre/echo is slightly different).
The problem I’m running into is this: when I sync by movement within the frame the two cameras gradually drift in and out of sync. I’ve tried multiple sync points w/ the same result. Anybody have any suggestions/thoughts on what the problem might be?
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6 Replies
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Did you capture each tape (into FCP) the DV as a single clip? Somewhere around 35 minutes a DV capture can begin to lose A/V sync. This might be your issue. To fix it, try capturing each tape as at least 2 clips.
Mike -
Eh? I’ve captured hour long tapes without losing sync. This usually happens if the settings are wrong, there are TC or video breaks, and a few other causes depending on systems and media. Some cameras are prone to produce unstable sampling rates that will also cause sync drift.
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Tom – you are right – it’s not an absolute thing – just sometimes, some cameras. I think DVCAM is a little better at maintaining sync. Oh yeah, and in reference to capture settings, you should make sure that your camera is set to 2ch/16bit/48KHz audio, not 4ch/12bit/32KHz. AFAIK, if your tape is 32KHz, and your timeline is 48KHz, you are forcing FCP to do a realtime sample rate conversion, which probably doesn’t help things…
Mike -
Go to DV.com and read the column “Shooting and Editing 24p” by Adam Wilt.
Near the end of the article, Mr. Wilt writes that audo is recorded 2 frames ahead of video with the DVX100 in 24p mode. The solution, he writes, is to look in your DVD under Extras>DV Camera Tuner Scripts>DVX-100 Audio Sync Tool, and place this in your FCP plugins folder. It should then appear in the Tools menu.
Hope this helps.
–Derek
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By the way… as far as I am aware, when it comes to 24p, the DVX100 only shoots in Standard mode, not Advanced. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
–Derek
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Thanks for the prompt responses everyone. The problem has been solved. I ended up doing two things differently: 1) I recaptured each tape, splitting them into three separate clips each, and 2) I digitized from the DVX100 as opposed to the cheap little Panasonic miniDV palmcorder I usually use. I’m thinking the latter might be the culprit – anyone have similar problems using cheap consumer DV cams for decks?
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