I need help with a super 8 film

[Keepitsimple]

Hi,

I have about one hour of super 8 film. Encode time or size is of _NO_ concern. Im only after quality. I am completely new to this so I have no clue what kind of enhancements can be made.

Here is a sample which I hope show what type of problems there are. There might be a bit more action sometimes but its mostly close ups on children.

http://www.dd.chalmers.se/~tveit/video/VTS_06_1.demuxed.m2v

Thank you very much in advance for your time!
/Pontus

[Blue_MiSfit]

Well, it looks like your film is already digitized into MPEG-2.

If size is of no concern, leave it as-is. Re-encoding will only reduce the quality.

~Misfit

[Keepitsimple]

Yes we paid a guy to convert to digital. But I thought maybe denoise or something would improve picture quality.

[rfmmars]

Yes we paid a guy to convert to digital. But I thought maybe denoise or something would improve picture quality.

The capture could be better using a 3 cdd and analog color balance.

You can use Msu Smartbrigtness and "Fump's" Color Mill 2.1 and RGB-eq 2.11 to do the balance now.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4474/netbaby0xd5.th.jpg (http://img223.imageshack.us/my.php?image=netbaby0xd5.jpg)

Richard
photorecall.net

[Dark Shikari]

Use fft3d denoise--it is very powerful and vastly improves the quality of MPEG-2 videos in my experience.

[Keepitsimple]

rfmmars, Im not familiar with virtualdub. Does it exist any equivivalent filters in avisynth?

Dark shikari, Do you have a sample script? Im quite new to avisynth.

[SeeMoreDigital]

Hi Keepitsimple,

Any reason why your 720x576 MPEG-2 source has been encoded using interlaced fields and not progressive frames?


Cheers

[Keepitsimple]

Hi Keepitsimple,

Any reason why your 720x576 MPEG-2 source has been encoded using interlaced fields and not progressive frames?


Cheers
I dont know anything of the process. My parents went to a studio and this is the result.

For all I know it could have been interlaced from the beginning. It was a long time since I watched the original tape.

[rfmmars]

rfmmars, Im not familiar with virtualdub. Does it exist any equivivalent filters in avisynth?

Dark shikari, Do you have a sample script? Im quite new to avisynth.

Both filters could be called in "Avisynth" but in this case it is so much easier to use Virtualdub. Your talking millions of sliders combinations possible with these filters so learning the basics of Vdub isn't that hard. Vdub goes hand in hand with Avisynth. Yes, I would deinterlace.

Richard

[SeeMoreDigital]

I dont know anything of the process. My parents went to a studio and this is the result.

For all I know it could have been interlaced from the beginning. It was a long time since I watched the original tape.So are you saying the MPEG-2 stream was created from a "tape" source and not directly from the "film" source?

[Keepitsimple]

No it was created from "film". It wasnt tape. It was so long ago, I didnt even remember we used a projector to watch it. The studio used the original film to convert to digital format.

Would you say that its a bad copy? My parents would likely be interested in a better copy if possible.

[SeeMoreDigital]

Would you say that its a bad copy? My parents would likely be interested in a better copy if possible.Converting from a "film" source to an MPEG-2 video stream is not without it's limitations. Even more-so if the MPEG-2 stream is then authored to DVD.

Do you happen to know the frame capture speed of your 8mm film sources. If it was at 24 fps, then there's no reason why your MPEG-2 video could not have been progressive, instead of interlaced. Thus creating far more detail.

That said, depending on the equipment some of these "film-to-digital" specialists have at their disposal, it should be possible to convert 8mm film to a series of high-resolution (1280x720 or even 1920x1080) digital images.


Cheers

[rfmmars]

No it was created from "film". It wasnt tape. It was so long ago, I didnt even remember we used a projector to watch it. The studio used the original film to convert to digital format.

Would you say that its a bad copy? My parents would likely be interested in a better copy if possible.

If it was so long ago, say 7 or 8 years or more, then it had to be tape. This is what I do for a living, see my website.

Super 8 film is grainy when compared to the old double 8mm. Also if it was high speed Etachomre, the grain is worst as time passes. If it was Kodacrome then grain and color dyes are more stable and true. Also the tube cameras a decade ago were not as detailed as the CCDs of today plus white balance is not so good.

Yes if your film was recaptured at 750 lines, you will have lots more detail and sharpness but the grain will show more too.

This grain can be reduced with post video processing. When the DVD is made you must decide if you want it interlaced for TV viewing or interlaced for running on a PC.

The film was not shot at 24 fps but could be done anywhere from 12 to 18 frames per second.

Richard
photorecall.net

[Keepitsimple]

I dont know about tape. We used a projector to show it. It was shot 30-18 years ago.

[rfmmars]

I dont know about tape. We used a projector to show it. It was shot 30-18 years ago.

What I ment was when did you had the Mpeg2 file made?

Richard
photorecall.net

[Keepitsimple]

Ok, I missunderstood. It was made about 3 years ago.

[rfmmars]

Ok, I missunderstood. It was made about 3 years ago.

So I assume this was a digital capture from film.

Richard

[Keepitsimple]

So I assume this was a digital capture from film.

Richard
I dont know the details on how they turned the film to a dvd.

I hope they did it with good equipment. Its hard to judge though since our projector naturally wasnt the best to begin with. Ie I dont know how good the film really is.

[rfmmars]

I dont know the details on how they turned the film to a dvd.

I hope they did it with good equipment. Its hard to judge though since our projector naturally wasnt the best to begin with. Ie I dont know how good the film really is.

Give some time and I will post a frame as good as it gets.

Richard

[Grumbledook]

Hello Keepitsimple

I too am on the verge of converting 8mm film to digital format,
and then burn to a DVD+R, so that me and my family can re-watch how we were back in the old days,
but now in HQ digital video.
Ah yes, It brings a tear to ours eyes. :']
*Ahems...*

Actually my question was, do you still have the source 8mm film, if not, then maybe the whole digi film?
You see, I'm an experienced anime encoder, but normal flicks I can do too.
I use avisynth the best way I can.
I would like to convert your 8mm to digital the proper way, with no pay, and for free, cuz that's just me. :)
That is, if you still have the sources, and if you allow me to do it.
As a bonus, I could put subtitle tracks (on/off) in the film. You may choose which, because I speak 5 languages (eng, dutch, french, german, polish) myself, even some Japanese.
If needed I can ask my friends for 7 additional subs (incl. swe, fi, pt, ru, es, il, jp).
So think about my offer. If you'd like to see some of my work or have questions,
please contact me here.

Greets,
Grumbledook

[rfmmars]

Here are some frames that show different film grain & color. Frames in motion look better than stills. Kodak's Kodachrome is the most stable film stock.


http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/7436/filmjn8.th.jpg (http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=filmjn8.jpg)


Richard
photorecall.net

[Keepitsimple]

Grumbledook, thank you very much for your offer; you seem like an honest man. But I cant take the risk.

rfmmars, colors look very good.

[Grumbledook]

Grumbledook, thank you very much for your offer; you seem like an honest man. But I cant take the risk.
Hmm? What Risk?
*Looks in the mirror*
Aww, shii... :p

You see, I only use the Pirate Avatar as my alter-ego on the net.
I'm just a normal guy like everyone else.
I don't think there is a risk of fire, for 99% sure,
maybe just a slight risk of burning. :eek: