Audio conversion math errors?

Karl-Diez wrote on 11/29/2025, 8:26 AM

I record live shows multi-track using a Mackie DL32R. I import the raw tracks to Pro tools in my studio for mixing. The mix is saved as .mp3 and .wav files. When I import the audio .mp3 to Magix, align the start of each wave forms, the files no longer are perfectly sync'd about 45-minutes later (end of set). Off by half a beat musically. Very noticeable. I saw a post that suggested that there could be a slight shift due to sample rate conversion accuracy. Suggestions or comments?

Comments

browj2 wrote on 11/29/2025, 9:35 AM

@Karl-Diez

Hi,

As a starting point, audio for video is 48 kHz. Are your audio recordings 48 or 44.1 kHz? If 44.1, then this could possibly make a difference when imported into the video editor.

Which Magix video editing program and version are you using?

John CB

johnebaker wrote on 11/29/2025, 12:25 PM

@Karl-Diez

In addition to @browj2 's comment, I would advise you not to use mp3 for video editing where there is a need for synchronisation to the video.

MP3's are a compressed 'final product' audio format and suffer from going out of sync when used in video editing.

Try running the mp3 files through an audio converter to WAV 16 or 24 bit, 48kHz sample rate, setting the bitrate based on the formula given below and importing them to the timeline:

Sample Rate x Bit depth x no of channels eg 48000 x 16 x 2 = 1536 kb/s

HTH

John EB
Forum Moderator