Sync issue: no problem Vegas 14 out of sync in MS 17 (Solved)

JAFO wrote on 10/29/2020, 1:12 PM

I've used Vegas 14 Pro (and earlier versions) for a few years without issue. I recently got MS 17 Plat since it can render 1440p in a fraction of the time 14 Pro can, using the GPU. I started getting video/audio sync issues, at random, usually off by a second or so, but NOT on all videos. I know from researching that this is pretty common.

Captured from pc gaming with Shadowplay by Nvidia. I've been reading up and it seems the consensus is it has to do with the variable bit rate Shadowplay uses. That may be, but I'm not convinced unless 17 has given something up that 14 has.

Here's what's odd: I can pretty easily manually sync it back up sliding the video back and lopping off the front end of the clip and the rest is sync'd up. Compressing the video to run faster/shorter by that second difference *doesn't* seem to sync it. I don't see how it can actually be recording video longer than audio due to experimenting with Vegas 14 Pro and *the same file*, which works perfectly. The issue seems to be something that 14 Pro has or does that MS 17 does not, rather than an issue with the video itself. Unless it's an issue that 14 could just deal with.

Comparing 14 to 17, 17 doesn't seem to have nearly as many options for project properties as 14 Pro, I don't know enough to know if it's just streamlined or if it's lacking. I've compared preferences (ctrl+preferences) and my untrained eyes don't see anything that stands out, but I keep thinking there's something in there that's enabled on 14 Pro that is not present or enabled on MS 17.

That's a wall of text, but I prefer too much info to yet another post with no real info asking for help. I don't know if this can is legible or not, but it compares 2 files that have the sync issue in 17 and the third on the right did NOT have the issue. All 3 worked just fine in 14 Pro with no issues. I can post a video showing this as well, but I don't want to come across as self-promoting.

Thank you if you read all of that. If still awake and have thoughts about what might need to be enabled on 17, or is completely missing (maybe on Pro?) please let me know.

EDIT: short answer, it had to do with taking shortcuts. Add video properly to project media first and then to the timeline took care of it. I don't know why it worked perfectly in 14 Pro and requires the additional step in 17, but I'm sure it's good form to do it this way and the problem has tested as solved.

Comments

JAFO wrote on 10/29/2020, 1:22 PM

I'll update this as things develop, but at the moment I think the issue is that I've had the bad habit of dragging videos directly to the timeline instead of project media first, then the timeline. That wasn't an issue in 14 Pro, and doesn't seem to always be an issue here, but randomly it IS. I've experimented with the same files I've had trouble with, and it does seem reproduceable: directly to timeline the sync issue occurs, importing to project media first and the to the timeline and it doesn't happen.

That's easily dealt with, even if it stings a bit to admit, but maybe documenting this here with help someone else. If I find otherwise, I'll add details.

j-v wrote on 10/29/2020, 1:32 PM

To overcome many problems with captured video use the free OBS.
Look here: https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/faq-what-obs-studio-settings-work-well-with-vegas-pro--109925/

JAFO wrote on 10/29/2020, 1:40 PM

Geforce Experience apps like Shadowplay are free if you have the hardware but I do have a couple of other options I've paid for that being, Fraps and Dxtory. I don't think any of these have the main option that makes Shadowplay so attractive: it buffers gameplay video, or even desktop, and you can retroactively save the last 20 minutes. The time limit varies with the card specs, but being able to drop the last 20 minutes eliminates needing to constantly capture a lot of junk video you have to later sift through. You can *also* set it recording with a normal start/stop. Fortunately, this time the problem was the guy sitting at the keyboard and easily patched.

Musicvid wrote on 10/29/2020, 2:35 PM

Shadowplay has never worked right with Vegas. It didn't work any better in Vegas Pro 14 than it does in Vegas Movie Studio 17. OBS is recommended for direct use in Vegas, regardless of your belief in the "advantages" of Shadowplay.

This has been discussed before and the forum Search history will back up the facts, but not your expectations, unfortunately.

To use Shadowplay footage in Vegas, simply convert it in Handbrake first to CFR Same as Source.

The OBS settings for both average and optimal use in Vegas are detailed here:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/faq-what-obs-studio-settings-work-well-with-vegas-pro--109925/#ca762521

Welcome to the forum, and a good place to start your learning curve begins here:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/got-questions-consult-the-tutorials-first-please--120282/

JAFO wrote on 10/29/2020, 4:20 PM

Thank you for the warm welcome, no doubt it gets tiresome, as it does on all manner of forums. I saw the links before in my research a few days ago and in j-v's response. I'm sure the "belief" of a 49 y/o amateur doesn't mean much, but when something works for the job intended, then so be it. Certainly not when, as far as I can tell, other software doesn't offer the function that I'm interested in. I can't fault shadowplay for my own errors, as in this case. No doubt more advanced users will see shortcomings in shadowplay, Vegas 14 and MS17, and 12 and 9 for that matter, also in my past, but for the casual user, they get the job done.

As it is, in my research, I never saw mention of something as simple as I've described being the answer. The problem was aggravating regardless. Mostly, I read of people overthinking the problem in theoretical terms rather than having solved it personally. I've been on web forums for over 20 years and it's a personal pet peeve of mine when people ask a question about a fairly common problem but never follow up sharing the answers they've found. With that in mind, I risk ridicule for something so obvious being the issue and admit my ignorance. Former ignorance, as I've learned something with my experience. Maybe someone out there one day will find this post in their search and find the same answer beneficial.

Musicvid wrote on 10/29/2020, 5:41 PM

I hope that too. The incompatibility I mention is long standing. According to other reports, the problems lie beyond VFR, which both VMS17 and VP18 support. And I know others are working with different settings in Shadowplay; perhaps that is why you remember it working better with earlier Vegas versions.

When the kinks are worked out of Vegas' Screen Capture, the need for OBS will be minimized. You could help the effort by making a Product Suggestion -- that Vegas Screen Capture would support time-shift recording so that it may be more competitive for you and other Shadowplay users, as it seems unlikely that Vegas will be modifying its program to fully support Shadowplay recordings.