I've read a lot of stuff on this forum about ripping DVD's etc, but here is a problem that's bugging me on my AV420. I record a program of the TV/satellite either straight on to my Archos or record it via VCR and transcribe it. (Both would be done real time - not ripped in the strict sense). Recorded stuff plays back perfectly on the Archos unit. Now... I move the movie or tv program onto my PC (Windows XP Home SP2) so I can either watch it on the pc or store it to save space on the Archos. My default viewer is the Creative Media Source (via Soundblaster Audigy Platinum). If I play it back through this I get a synch problem of a couple of seconds. If I choose to play it back through WnnDVD5 I get no such problems. If I transfer it back to the Archos unit I get the synch problem again. So it means I can't store stuff on the PC to play back later. I have several codecs loaded and they are all usable (ie "use this codec" is checked in the audio devices manager). Archos tech support suggested using Pocket DIVXencoder. I looked at this and guess what - its got a button for audio synchronisation corection. So I ran it and ended up with a movie with no sound at all. After that it crashed my PC with a stop error, so I won't be going there again. I tried Archos' own MPEG encoder, having downloaded the latest version and updating DIVX from within it, and it did no good whatsoever. All the knowledgeable stuff on here is mostly about ripping from DVD's. Is there anybody out there who has had this problem and knows a SIMPLE answer. I cannot understand how a movie can be ok on the Archos then will not play in synch on the PC. is it picking up a different codec perhaps, and if so why does it keep the incorrect synch when I copy it back onto the Archos. Its a great unit, but this is driving me crazy - can anybody help me please
Hi Stevenrw, This is a very strange issue, but I have encountered this before... We had an Archos guy on the Forums, and he said synch problems were driving him insane, he couldn't figure it out (it seemed impossible) and we agree with him, then? LoL It is a complicated issue because the Audio and Video are separate, and are combined or 'muxed' together (interleaved) into an AVI. Most players are instructed (by header information within the AVI) to preload 500ms audio, anticipating potential delay caused by different 'paths' the respective streams take through playback decoding (500ms = 1/2 second). However, a write-protected file should not be altered (cannot be altered) as you have described, or it would have to be physically re-interleaved. This is sometimes done - to correct synch! But once it's done it's done, y'know? It shouldn't change. The answer seems to be the different ways different playback devices treat the same AVI... I have seen this synch problem on PC myself, and having made the perfect AVIs personally, I was stunned (it was impossible). The solution was to re-boot the PC, and it seems the file itself was fine - all synch issues disappeared. You need a 'reference' playback device, your personal official standard. Perhaps your Archos and, say, WMP playback are similar - so stop using anything that does not play nice (ie. Creative?) And all kidding aside, when strange things are happening - reboot! It's something of a lost art (but still quite useful). Dunno if I have helped you but, I sure sympathize... These files have 'header' information incorporated into their container, as I have mentioned, and it is perhaps this (not the physical file itself) that is becoming distorted through the copying and different devices - but this is just a guess (and no definitive solutions to offer...) Regards
Hi The_ogs I've done a bit more digging meantime and found some interesting stuff... I tried (wth a new "clean" recording) playing it back through some of the other players I have installed. For example WMP V9, and Real player as well as WinDVD5. These all play the clip perfectly. It only seems to be the Creative Media Source that gives problems. So - the easy option is to change the default player for AVI to one of these. That solves the problem but I'm mystified with the Creative issue. Could it be picking up a different codec perhaps? I don't know how to ascertain which it is defaulting to, or whether I could change it anyway. (Codecs are a closed book to a newbie like me) Anyway, it seems to be fixed now, so maybe I'll just leave well alone, I know if I try to fix it anymore it'll all go horriby wrong! Thanks for taking the time to respond however. Maybe somebody else will benefit from this post also cheers
