Audio-Video Synchronization across DTV Transport Interfaces: The Impossible Dream?

Randall Hoffner

The end-to-end DTV production, distribution, and broadcast system is a complex assemblage of many digital processing and storage devices. A number of interfaces are required to transport compressed and uncompressed DTV audio and video signals between devices in the system. Each component of the DTV system imposes its own latency on the audio and/or video signals flowing through it, and the delays imposed on audio and video signals respectively, are typically unequal, compromising audio-video synchronization. It is incumbent on those implementing DTV production, post-production, and broadcast systems to be aware of the latencies present at each interface and to take steps in correcting synchronization errors at each stage, thereby preventing the buildup of lip sync errors. This paper will discuss the potential trouble spots within the DTV system.

Print ISSN
Published
2000-11
Content type
Original Research
DOI
10.5594/J17554