Can some kind soul help a Sonar Dummy to sync audio to video? Thanks

[FlightShadow]

I had some projects stored on my computer that was in storage for many years. They are in Sonar 8. I know it's outdated and Sonar is not the optimum program for working with videos, but it is all on there, ready to go. I'm trying to get it to render a correctly synced video with a separate audio file. I have the video synced, but when I export it, it get's rendered out of sync. It's probably ac compatibility problem with frame rates, codecs, etc. I tried to set them up right but it always comes out a bit off sync. I just need a bit of guidance. If someone could help me, please ask me the appropriate questions and I will help you to help me. Thanks in advance

[Bristol_Jonesey]

In Sonar, you can only sync your project to an existing video track

You cannot manipulate the video in any way

[Glenn Stanton]

DiVinci Resolve - free, kick *ss video editor. fairly easy to get started but has many pro features as well. it's free. https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/studio

typically i extract the audio from the video file, manipulate in Sonar (add music, mix, master etc) (although probably first, something like Acon Acoustica or RX to clean up the raw audio), then export that as a WAV. then take my video and audio into Resolve - remove the old audio from the video track, import the new audio into my media pool and drag that onto an audio track. 

presuming you didn't mess with the timing of the audio you originally extracted, syncing will be a piece of cake, and you can then export into as many formats as you would like (like hundreds of them if so inclined).

[John Vere]

I would imagine that Sonar stores the video in a folder? I’ve never worked with video in Sonar so not sure. 
But if so then you should have access to both the video file and the audio files. 
This might then be easier to fix using a professional video editing software. 
 

The big question is when you say it is only out of sync with the export? In other words it played in sync inside Sonar?

So it would seem to me you have the option of dropping the video with out the audio into video editing software and then only export the audio mix down from Sonar and then drop that into the video editor as well. 
 

Another option is open the project in the new Sonar and see if that works better. 

[FlightShadow]

Thanks for the help guys. As I mentioned, the video and the separate audio track (not the video's original audio track) are already loaded and synced. They play just fine in Sonar, but when I export the video with the new audio track it exports with no problem, but the audio get's rendered out of sync by just a second or so.

[57Gregy]

4 hours ago, FlightShadow said:

Thanks for the help guys. As I mentioned, the video and the separate audio track (not the video's original audio track) are already loaded and synced. They play just fine in Sonar, but when I export the video with the new audio track it exports with no problem, but the audio get's rendered out of sync by just a second or so.

What happens (in Sonar) if you move the audio (you can't move the video) by the amount it's off and re-export it? Will it then be off by 2 seconds?
I would use a video editing software, load the vid, then import the synced-up audio track from a folder you saved it to.

[dougalex]

On 7/19/2025 at 6:28 PM, FlightShadow said:

I'm trying to get it to render a correctly synced video with a separate audio file

This is my approach:

I only use the video capability in Sonar to be able to conveniently check the video while I am mixing the audio. I might for example easily confirm if my overheads on drums are panned properly. Suffice to say there are many visual cues that can help you get the mix sounding better and not have to redo it later (like... oh look the singer picked up a tambourine and I cannot hear it at all because I had it got gated/muted)

THEN after mix is done to my satisfaction, I render the audio, and import  the audio into a video editor, where I sync the audio to the video, (and continue editing the video if desired). I use Vegas Pro but there are probably excellent free video editors.

Edited 11 hours ago by dougalex