DVD recording freezes up

DivX or XVid encoded MP4 Video codec or AVI will almost always have either the Dolby Digital AC3 Codec or the MP3 encoded audio codec see the following links; Fraunhofer MP3 Decoder or LAME MP3 Encoder

This fixed audio lag can sometimes be caused by VBR audio encoded files and starts part way through the playback as opposed to CBR audio some standalone DVD players will exhibit sound lag in this case. It is a good idea to re-encode the VBR to CBR audio this usually solves the problem.

I suggest that you convert/encode all your DivX AVI files into CBR audio to avoid any such errors; all commercial DVD Video Audio is encoded in CBR (constant bitrate) which also reduces the audio filesize unless its encoded in LCPM which will give a much larger audio component.



Check the audio bitrate type open the AVI in GSpot the example below shows an AC3 audio already in CBR so can be left alone and should work fine.




MANUAL CONVERSION PROCESS

This audio MP3 conversion process it a bit of a long way around I know, but it does work!

• Open video in VirtualDubMod or VirtualDubMP3 (if there is an index error this can sometimes fix it for you.

• Ignore the error warning that the video contains VBR audio.
• Extract audio as MP3 ("demux" in VirutaldubMod or save as WAV, then rename to MP3 in VirtualdubMP3).
• Convert audio to WAV with CDex
• Open original video in VirtualDub,choose "direct stream copy" for video and "WAV audio" with "Full audio processing" with CBR MP3 compression (and interleaving with appropriate delay if out of sync) for audio.

SEMI-AUTOMATED CONVERSION PROCESS

You could also use several other easier methods including AVIDemux which uses VirtualDubMod or scan in the DVD-Video using TMPEnc v4.0 Xpress and applying a time lead OR lag however this does not solve a progressive lag *** but can be used to re-author a fixed audio lag error in milliseconds you can use either Windows Media Player Classic or KVM Player in real-time to find this lag or lead error and then adjust accordingly

If you can't work AVIDemux then AVIrecomp will be your best solution this is a bit more user friendly

NOTE> always keep a Backup copy of the AVI before you make any drastic changes as you could make the file unplayable the above process will only work on FIXED AUDIO LAG AVI files.

Progressive Audio Lag (starts in synch and runs fast or slow throughout the AVI is almost impossible to remove with re-encoding the AVI using the above methods.

*** Feel free to comment if you know of a foolproof way other than performing a full re-encode from the MPG2 or DVD VOB file.