iMovie '11, Elgato Video Capture and Audio Sync

[mffl04]

In the middle of converting my families home movies to DVD (from VHS) and have ran into a small problem. Almost half way through the video I capture becomes out of sync from the audio. It isn't like this on the VHS or does it do it when watching Elgato Capture them. I have found where the audio becomes out of sync 20-30 minutes into the VHS it the audio drops out and then comes back in. I have 2 questions. 1st, has anyone seen anything like this happen? 2nd is how can I fix this within iMove. Ive tried detaching the audio but I can't delete the part that I have isolated where it begins to to out of sync. Thanks!

 

[Zwhaler]

Can you split the audio at the point where it drops off and again where it comes back in, and delete the empty segment? Then move part 2 right up against the first segment so it plays smoothly. If that doesn't work you can duplicate the audio track and overlay it so that the primary audio stops where it abruptly cuts off, and the secondary audio track below it comes in right where that blank space starts. Then you trim it so you have 2 audio tracks functioning as one continuous track.

 

[mffl04]

Thanks for the quick reply. How would I split the audio? A little more detail: I am trying to do this in the event library so I can fix the entire event (VHS).

 

[Zwhaler]

The above edits are done in the project window so you'll need to drag the video from event library into the project space to detach audio and then split. Drag the playhead to exactly where you want to make the split and then (with the audio selected after detaching it) at the top of the screen click Clip and then Split (or Shift + Command + S) Once you finish fixing the sync you can export the edited video from iMovie's share menu.

 

[mffl04]

The above edits are done in the project window so you'll need to drag the video from event library into the project space to detach audio and then split. Drag the playhead to exactly where you want to make the split and then (with the audio selected after detaching it) at the top of the screen click Clip and then Split (or Shift + Command + S) Once you finish fixing the sync you can export the edited video from iMovie's share menu.

Thanks! That worked perfectly. Unfortunately that must not be the only place out of sync because towards the end of the video it is a little out of whack. Must be something with the video capturing. Any better ways of capturing VHS?

 

[careypo]

I would use a stand alone video recorder for this and not go through iDVD. Make sure you only put 1 hour of video on each DVD. DVDs are dirt cheap. The quality will significantly degrade otherwise.

 

[mstrze]

I would use a stand alone video recorder for this and not go through iDVD. Make sure you only put 1 hour of video on each DVD. DVDs are dirt cheap. The quality will significantly degrade otherwise.

I would argue this too. WAY too much work to load in hours of VHS video and then export using iDVD. You can probably find a combo VHS/DVD unit for less than $100 bucks easily.

And I didn't think the splitting would work since your described the video and audio being out of sync starting about halfway through. You probably just noticed it at this point and it probably starts getting out of sync almost immediately. Unfortunately, it sounds like your setup creates some delay in processing (whether video or audio) and the system can't keep up. So breaking and re-adjusting the audio/video sync would likely have to be done at 10-15 minute intervals throughout each project.


FWIW I used to record my important VHS directly to my MiniDV camcorder tapes and then import into iMovie and I never had any issues that way. I never did a play-through. My 'archiving' of my VHS tapes to DVD though is done using my stand-alone DVD recorder in my home theater.