Help - 100% Syncd Audio / Video "Movie Quality"

I've seen audio/video sync problems with H.264 and DivX-encoded movies on my computer. I think it's more inherent weaknesses in some codecs. The DV/miniDV cameras we used to use never had A/V sync issues, and I've never seen sync go off with the AVCHD format my current mini camcorder uses.

Aside from that, the VMSes that I've actually looked at it, audio and video are stored separately, a practice which practically invites sync problems (I don't know if this is the case many, most, or all of them, just on the couple that I've actually looked at how the files are stored).

That said, if the customer wants "movie style video", I'd tend to agree, he should use a "movie style" camera, not a security camera.

I won't have enough experience on this across enough equipment to make a blanket statement. However, the customer appears to be asking for a feature which is of primary importance to one product set (camcorders) and of secondary importance at best to another product set (CCTV).

Most cameras seem to embed the audio directly into the video stream, at least when we're talking about modern cameras, h.264, etc. The modest number of cameras I've tested from major players (a couple of Axis cameras, a couple of Dahuas under various names, 2 no-brand units) did a good job of creating an audio/video stream where the sync was not noticeably off, about as good as my Tivo.

I think the big variable in this would be how the VMS server/client handles storing and replaying the audio/video sync. Additionally, you have to factor in future software updates potentially breaking this, unless both the VMS and camera vendors list audio/video sync as one of their top features or selling points. If it works today, but not in 1 year, will you have recourse with the vendors to get it resolved?

Meanwhile, there are 2000 camcorder products out there designed to solve this exact problem.