Alchemy2 launches hardware solution for lip-sync errors
Alchemy2 have launched their solution to the digital lip-sync problem: the DDL4 and D.DaD Digital Delay components.
If you've been watching any form of digital content for a while, but particularly HD which requires greater time to process video, you'll probably appreciate (or not) the problem of the audio track playing fractionally ahead of the video. This is particularly noticeable when watching people speak, and it's darned annoying.
Alchemy2's solution can take up to 4 digital inputs, all of which can have audio individually delayed up to 1 second in 1mS or .25 video frame increments.
A fully featured remote control (gah, another one!) allows up to ten delay presets to be stored.
I'd be interested to know how easy it is to change the audio delay on the same input, because I've noticed different broadcast sources can have a differing amount of delay on them.
Whilst I am sure there will be other advances in correctly synchronising audio and video at all stages of content production, this looks like a valuable solution if lip-sync problems are becoming a significant issue.
The D.DaD provides all of the features of the DDL4, plus precise de-jittering circuitry. designed to enhance the "mediocre audio playback" of many DVD players and set-top boxes.
The DDL4 retails for $449, with the D.DaD at US$499.
Actually lip-sync error is not just a problem for those who "consciously" notice it but research done at Stanford confirmed that this contradiction of reality - sound ahead of the action that caused it - causes viewers to "distrust" the material or stated another way: "to be less immersed" in the experience. That was true even for viewers who did not notice any sync problem.
That's the last thing any of us want in our home theater where we have strived for(and spent big bucks for) an "immersive environment".
There is a link to the research paper from Stanford on the "Technical Details" page at www.LipFix.com if you want to read it and go through their testing procedures and statistics.
One other thing to note is that while many new a/v receivers are claiming a lip-sync delay feature, most do not allow "tweaking" the delay "on the fly" while watching and listening to your undisturbed program which is essential for true lip-sync correction. The only products that allow that currently are the new Alhemy2 products reviewed here, the Primare delay Box and the Felston DD340, DD540 and new DD740. These digital audio delays range from $249 to $499 and are a small price to pay to restore "reality" to your home theater system. I've been using a Felston DD340 since 2004.
Posted by: Nexsen B. Johnson | July 9, 2006 5:43 PM