Video ahead of audio on HD channels?

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I have battled issues with a/v sync ever since I went HD with D*.
I've owned seven different displays in this few year period with two different AVR's and a few different cables.
Yet, I still have this issue on a "daily" basis wth my HD channels.

Many times(majority) the audio is behind the video and I use my AVR's audio delay feature.

BUT......why would the video be behind the audio on a HD signal? There is nothing I can do about this that I currently know of and if it is say .5 seconds or earlier than the audio I can't even watch.

Any help?!?

HR22-100(HD-DVR)....BJC HDMI straight to display, optical audio out to AVR.(I used to run hdmi through avr then out to display but I had even more issues when doing that)

[BattleZone]

Most of these issues are problems from the network themselves, and with the local channels, you can often duplicate the problem on their OTA signal.

All of the networks are grappling over the problem of having lots of different input formats, both HD and SD, with several different forms of audio, that they have to deal with, and many networks have equipment that has compatibility problems. Industry magazines like Broadcast Engineering are full of articles about these problems, and the various ways they are resolving them, but the two big problems that are holding them back is the digital transition (local channels spending lots of money to maintain both analog and digital transmitters, as well as upgrade/move things for the transition) and the economy slashing operating budgets.

I expect most of these issues will be resolved more-or-less permanently over the next 2-3 years, but in the meantime, it's something we all have to deal with.

[WestDC]

No problem in VA with audio of the game.

hr22-100

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

My Eagles games' audio was ~80/100ms ahead of the video, so I slowed it to match.....real obvious in sports with hits and whistles, then guys talking in the booth.
Pretty normal.

It is when the video is behind the audio, because I obviously can't delay the video.


IIP.....So it is my locals you're guessing? This happens on ESPN as well as my locals though....as well as on TNT/TBS/Spike/Etc./Etc.(HD)

[jpl]

Hate to say this, but I don't think it's the local affiliate. Assuming you're getting Fox out of Philly, I didn't have any sync issues watching the game on FiOS. Fox wigged out near the end of the game - they were apparently having some technical difficulties, but out of sync sound issues wasn't one of them.

[EdM]

yeah I have this issue as well. Even with programming recorded by my dvr. I have to turn off my tv and turn it back on to get it corrected. I noticed that it is happening more often lately.

[jpl]

Most of these issues are problems from the network themselves, and with the local channels, you can often duplicate the problem on their OTA signal.

All of the networks are grappling over the problem of having lots of different input formats, both HD and SD, with several different forms of audio, that they have to deal with, and many networks have equipment that has compatibility problems. Industry magazines like Broadcast Engineering are full of articles about these problems, and the various ways they are resolving them, but the two big problems that are holding them back is the digital transition (local channels spending lots of money to maintain both analog and digital transmitters, as well as upgrade/move things for the transition) and the economy slashing operating budgets.

I expect most of these issues will be resolved more-or-less permanently over the next 2-3 years, but in the meantime, it's something we all have to deal with.

I have no doubt that what you're saying is correct - that these providers are grappling with these problems, but I have to say, if you're seeing this issue regularly... you need to get on DirecTV's butt, because it ain't the channel provider. Like I mentioned, I have FiOS, and the number of times I've had audio sync issues I can count on one hand. It's VERY rare - I can honestly only think of 1 occurance in my 22-month stint with FiOS so far (then again, my memory ain't what it used to be - but assuming I'm off by 200%, that still puts the grand total at 3 occurances).

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

Right now I am watching a recoreded CSI:NY that has the video at least a half second ahead of the audio....it is the same on many of my recordings.
This is only with HD, not at all on SD option.

[davring]

This has been an ongoing problem in our area as well, but not much in the past months. Many times it is the same OTA with my TV's tuner or the HR tuner and the sat broadcast. Sometimes I think it is entirely within my HR20 as trick plays may correct it. Occasionally resetting the DVR cures it and other times nothing cures it. As stated earlier, the problem can originate anywhere. It is my understanding that in the digital broadcast the video and audio are separate streams which must be reassembled upon decompression and keeping the two in sync is problematic. It definitely has gotten better in the last few couple of years.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

So why do some say they never have to change their audio delay?
Is it just because they aren't picking about it actually being in sync or is it something else?

Also, I believe I'm getting too many "0" in my sat strength tests.

[1948GG]

Industry magazines like Broadcast Engineering are full of articles about these problems, and the various ways they are resolving them, but the two big problems that are holding them back is the digital transition (local channels spending lots of money to maintain both analog and digital transmitters, as well as upgrade/move things for the transition) and the economy slashing operating budgets.

I expect most of these issues will be resolved more-or-less permanently over the next 2-3 years, but in the meantime, it's something we all have to deal with.

The BIGGEST reason by far that the problems don't go away, is because in 1983-4 the FCC and the Supreme Court decided that licenced engineers at broadcast stations needed to be basically optional.

After 6+ years of advanced education, that's when it became apparent to me I'd never work at the higher levels of network television engineering, and proceeded to concentrate my career into telecom.

As the years went by, the digital transition became reality, and the date(s) for that transition (2002/2003) came and went, it because obvious on the face of it that this 1984 Reagan 'deregulation' fever had, as they say...

unintended consequences.

Now it looks like the Feb/2009 will be pushed back as well. :nono2:

[jlast01]

I have this issue on a daily basis too, and have had it since switching to sat a couple of months ago. Never saw this with cable, so logically, I blame D*.

I don't really know what to do about it, but I'm not going to put up with it much longer...

[rehaklaw]

I too am having issues A/V sync. Some worse than others. MSNBC slight. CNN, Sportscenter and Price is Right probably 1/2 second off today. Do not notice it for live sports because the action on field is close enough. To test watch news type shows with "live" speakers. New to HD with Vip222 in Dec. 08 (DN)

[Kenkong586]

Unfortunately the major downside with HD, the video processing is so intensive--much more intensive than the audio processing so the audio is ready before the video and comes across before the video. Also, from what I understand from the chief engineer at the station I work at, there is no agreed standard on syncing audio to video when it comes to digital television and HD.

[CorpITGuy]

Unfortunately the major downside with HD, the video processing is so intensive--much more intensive than the audio processing so the audio is ready before the video and comes across before the video. Also, from what I understand from the chief engineer at the station I work at, there is no agreed standard on syncing audio to video when it comes to digital television and HD.

I agree with this. ^^

I had the same problem on Dish, have it currently on DirecTV and have even noticed it on some streaming media. It's not too bad, but if I start paying attention to it I struggle to stop thinking about it and focus on the programming.