[dvd::rip] A/V sync issues

Hi,

This is a long email so if you want to skip the "how i got here" just
go to the second-to-last paragraph ;).

I tried posting about this in transcode-users but didn't get a single
reply - also have some new info/problems to add here.

I'd been using the latest stable dvdrip with transcode 0.6.14, ripping
dvd's to xvid4. My problem was when ripping to mp3 audio the av sync
would always be off (usually, but not always, the audio would be at
least 2 seconds ahead of the video). AC3 (aka no transcoding of the
audio) worked perfectly and kept sync no matter which video codec I
chose.

I then updated to transcode 1.0.0 - AC3 still worked perfectly, and
while mp3 sync was still off it was only by the slightest amount
(although I don't know if this was luck or a change in transcode).

I then updated to dvdrip 0.97.1 for the gtk2 interface. 2 perfect rips
with xvid4 & ac3.
Updated to 0.97.2 to get rid of some of the bugs (like not finding the
avi to split it etc). Suddenly I was experiencing the nasty 99.9x%
stall on all transcodes - even though my workaround nptl was set like
it always is. So I backed down to dvdrip 0.97.1. Still having the
99.9x% stall! So, figuring it was actually transcode 1.0.0 and that I
had just been lucky with those 2 successful rips, I backed that down to
0.6.14 and re-installed dvdrip 0.97.2 .... yes I realize this is
version hell to follow but those of you still with me made it through!

So, now my problem? ac3 and mp3 rips have audio out of sync, and I have
1 ac3 rip that's in sync, but when i split it the second file goes out
of sync (even though there are equal audio and video chunks).

My system is a gentoo 4.6.12-r6 kernel, p4 3.06ghz, smp disabled in
kernel, 1gb ram... could someone PLEASE help me fix my transcoding
issues? Mainly I'd just like to get ac3 & xvid4 playing nice again, but
if I could get some help with mp3 audio and with transcode 1.0.0
stalling I'd be grateful.

Thanks,
        Jesse