Audio stutters/skipping in exported video files

DR 17 Studio user here.

So I'm having issues with the audio skipping or stuttering (similar to how a record or CD skips, remember those?) in the exported video file. No matter what format and audio or video codecs I choose, it seems to be at different random places in the video with each export attempt. I already tried switching between 48000 and 44100 sample rates and alternating bit depths. I've also tried encoding with both NVIDIA and Quick Sync but to no avail. It seems to happen no matter what I adjust in the delivery page.

24 fps, 1080 project timeline. Different cameras thus various resolutions and frame rates. Mixed format and codec source files but project is kept to 24 fps. Project music is all MP3 32 Bit 44100hz and video file audio is either Linear PCM or AAC. Pretty standard fair.

Project is very light on the color correction and grading. Not too heavy on fusion/composite effects either.

I've heard some suggest making key frames every 1 frame rather than auto and I've tried that but it didn't help. Others suggested playing around between CBR and VBR but that hasn't fixed the problem either. Is there something specific that I need to be tweaking further or changing up in Fairlight page? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Anyone at all?

[Peter Chamberlain]

If you render to DNxHD or ProRes, do you still have the issue?

Are you using nested timelines or compound clips?

If you render to DNxHD or ProRes, do you still have the issue?

Yes. Regardless of format or codec it seems to happen each time.

Are you using nested timelines or compound clips?

Nested.

[Peter Chamberlain]

Are you using 17.3.2?

Are you using 17.3.2?

The skipping audio issue with nested timelines definitely still exists in 17.3.2, I just experienced it again on my main project.

I'm trying to create a simple reproducible test case, and will post that separately when I'm able to do so.

Are you using 17.3.2?

The skipping audio issue with nested timelines definitely still exists in 17.3.2, I just experienced it again on my main project.

I'm trying to create a simple reproducible test case, and will post that separately when I'm able to do so.

Pardon my delayed response as it's been a hectic week. I researched that further about nested timelines being a persisting issue with audio skipping and I'm kind of bummed out to hear it still exists in 17.3.2. Is that also the case when using its close "cousin" compound clips? How goes the test case?

The test case does not go well. I've spent several hours trying to reproduce the issue in a simple test project involving nested timelines, compound clips and multicam clips.

I've found several inconsistencies with audio rendering in nested situations - and even without nesting, if audio keyframes are used - but I haven't yet had it do the 'skipping' thing.

But it definitely exists in 17.3.2 because when I saw this thread a few days ago I rendered out my current project with nested timelines, then again decomposed, and compared the audio files and there was clearly skipping in it.

I've just not yet found that X factor that triggers it. It may even be somewhat random (or seemingly random) - it might only happen on some renders, and/or it might depend on the state of Resolve when the render is done. I'm really not sure at this stage.

I'll keep experimenting.

The test case does not go well. I've spent several hours trying to reproduce the issue in a simple test project involving nested timelines, compound clips and multicam clips.

I've found several inconsistencies with audio rendering in nested situations - and even without nesting, if audio keyframes are used - but I haven't yet had it do the 'skipping' thing.

But it definitely exists in 17.3.2 because when I saw this thread a few days ago I rendered out my current project with nested timelines, then again decomposed, and compared the audio files and there was clearly skipping in it.

I've just not yet found that X factor that triggers it. It may even be somewhat random (or seemingly random) - it might only happen on some renders, and/or it might depend on the state of Resolve when the render is done. I'm really not sure at this stage.

I'll keep experimenting.

Thanks. I continue troubleshooting on my end. Process of elimination. I wish I could find something more conclusive as directly pertaining to this even in the official reference materials. But I have yet to come across anything.

It happerns also during playback on my system, it sounds like the playhead jumps to random places of the timeline for a few millisecs. I tried many times to reproduce it without success, it happens only with real projects.

Here is an older thread showing the problem in action during playback
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=133251

Interesting, I've never heard it on playback, only on render. The first time it happened to me in a render I went back and checked the original timeline on Edit and couldn't find glitches anywhere. But if it's (seemingly) random then maybe it's hard to spot when specifically looking for it.

I noticed in that thread you linked you mentioned "multiple audio tracks" in the nested timeline? I didn't have that in my artificial test cases, so I'll go back and check for that specifically.

I'm sad to learn that this issue has existed for so long and apparently, still happening, as this describes my situation exactly. I have an 80 minute wedding video comprised of multiple nested timelines. Plays perfectly in Davinci, reliably has audio skipping in any exports; in my case it does seem possibly connected to image stabilization edits, as my heaviest use of stabilization is precisely where the skipping occurs.

But I need the stabilization. And I've tried different codecs, bit rates, sample rates, etc. Still reliably giving me fits.

For now, I think I'll try exporting the original timelines, and create the final composite out of imported video files.

I'm on 18.1.1 Build 7 with a Mac Studio M1 I purchased last fall. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I may post this twice since this is such an old thread. Hope that's ok.

I have this problem. I've found that it's entirely audio-dependent. In other words, using nested timelines isn't the problem, exactly. It's the presence of audio, and particularly multiple audio tracks in nested timelines.

I had a nested timeline that seemed to be the problem. I started by clearing out all muted audio tracks, and minimizing tracks in general. When I rendered just the section of my project where the problem showed up, from the top-level timeline, that actually fixed the problem. But once I rendered the entire top-level timeline, it returned.

This makes me think it's to do with something like a lost pointer to the original file that gets worse when there's a lot of previous files being tracked, but it's an assumption.

Anyway, the solution I found was to move all the audio out of the nested timelines, into the top level timeline, or one level down in one case. Deleting the original tracks completely in the sub-timelines gave me a file that renders perfectly.

The good thing about this is that nested timelines are still useful for video, which is a godsend. But it would really improve the whole experience if audio weren't this issue.

Using Resolve 18 on an M1 Mac mini, under Ventura, 16Gb RAM, 256Gb internal, 500Gb external SSD.

This is still a problem FYI on 18.6, just found out the hard way while nesting an edit along with audio.

Guess I'll drop the audio into the final nested to fix the issue as others have done. Ugh. I use nesting a LOT in Premiere and After Effects, but I've been determined to use Resolve 100%, this makes that challenging.

I used nesting a lot in Premiere Pro as well.

I found it less necessary, and even a hindrance, in Resolve. Having direct access to Effects, Color and Audio pages without going to another program makes working in a single timeline actually more efficient, I think.