Help me restore an awful VCD

Dark Shikari · 25th February 2009, 02:04

I have a copy of "The Genius That Was China," an old (and quite good) NOVA documentary. However, it only came out on VHS, and I don't have the equipment to do another transfer from the original VHS--and the only digital copy I have is an old VCD transfer. The quality is utterly atrocious, but I think we can probably try to improve this.

Also, if anyone can find me a DVD of it, I'd be quite gracious... but I don't think one exists.

Problems I've found:

1. Frame blending.
2. Massive ringing/blocking/artifacting (encoded at way too low a bitrate).
3. Motion jitter in low-motion scenes.
4. Just generally awful, loads of noise and grain.

Since I don't feel like figuring out how to cut DAT files today, here's a CRF 10 x264 encode (practically lossless) of a short representative clip.

The eventual goal is to put this on a DVD to replace the VCDs, so I would expect to upscale and so forth.

Here's a silly script so far of mine (doesn't fix blending):

Code:

pointresize(last.width,last.height*2).NNEDI().turnleft()
pointresize(last.width,last.height*2).NNEDI().turnright()
super = MSuper()
backward_vectors = MAnalyse(super, isb = true)
forward_vectors = MAnalyse(super, isb = false)
forward_compensation = MFlow(super, forward_vectors, thSCD1=500)
backward_compensation = MFlow(super, backward_vectors, thSCD1=500)
interleave(forward_compensation, last, backward_compensation)
dfttest(tbsize=3,sigma=3)
selectevery(3,1)
LimitedSharpenFaster(strength=150)
AddGrain(5,0.5,0.5)
AddGrain(8,0.3,0.3)
AddGrain(12,0.1,0.1)

Blue_MiSfit · 25th February 2009, 20:22

I'm looking at it now...

I'm curious about the logic behind your pointresize*2.nnedi. Why use this method instead of nnedi's double height mode?

I like motion compensated DFTTest! Creative!

I'll see what I can do...

~MiSfit

Blue_MiSfit · 25th February 2009, 20:48

OK.. here's my best shot. In short - if I had a decent VHS setup, I'd do a fresh capture for you

It's that bad...

Code:

super = MSuper()
backward_vectors = MAnalyse(super, isb = true)
forward_vectors = MAnalyse(super, isb = false)
forward_compensation = MFlow(super, forward_vectors, thSCD1=500)
backward_compensation = MFlow(super, backward_vectors, thSCD1=500)
interleave(forward_compensation, last, backward_compensation)
fft3dfilter(plane=0, sigma=2, sigma2=4, sigma3=4, sigma4=2)
fft3dfilter(plane=3, sigma=2, sigma2=2, sigma3=12, sigma4=12)
selectevery(3,1)

nnedi(0,true).turnright.nnedi(0,true).turnleft
lsfmod(Smode=5)
grainfactory3(g1str=4, g2str=7,g3str=10)

The only part I can't stand in the output is the drawn portion ~ 30 seconds in. The blending in that section, and the horrible blocking there has utterly defeated me

~MiSfit

Dark Shikari · 25th February 2009, 21:30

What about dealing with the frame blending? It's not as bad here, but in some parts it's the biggest problem with the clip.

I'll talk to the guy who owns the VHS to see if I can get him to have it transferred properly to DVD. It's 4 hours of video though.

scharfis_brain · 25th February 2009, 21:33

Quote:

I'll talk to the guy who owns the VHS to see if I can get him to have it transferred properly to DVD. It's 4 hours of video though.

Ask him to do at least a Transfer to DV.
Better would be YUY2 Huffy (or any other lossless codec).

The Video seems to be converted from PAL-Film (25p) to NTSC.
In its corrent stat (VCD) it cannot be restored. You can't do anything agains the blending.

You'll need a GOOD transfer of the VHS (as mentioned above) to remove the blending and other nastinesses.

Dark Shikari · 25th February 2009, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by scharfis_brain

Ask him to do at least a Transfer to DV.
Better would be YUY2 Huffy (or any other lossless codec).

It'd be nice, though I don't even think he knows what MPEG is...

scharfis_brain · 25th February 2009, 22:00

So maybe he might ask a 'professional' service to do a transfer to DV?

jeffy · 26th February 2009, 12:22

Dark Shikari, I don't know if they can help you, but according to the info I found the original VHS was published by "Coronet/MTI Film & Video" which was acquired by Phoenix Learning Group in 1997. Maybe you could ask if there is any plan for the DVD, if they own the rights for this title.
http://www.phoenixlearninggroup.com/Contact/

25th February 2009, 02:04	#1 \| Link
Dark Shikari x264 developer Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 8,666	Help me restore an awful VCD I have a copy of "The Genius That Was China," an old (and quite good) NOVA documentary. However, it only came out on VHS, and I don't have the equipment to do another transfer from the original VHS--and the only digital copy I have is an old VCD transfer. The quality is utterly atrocious, but I think we can probably try to improve this. Also, if anyone can find me a DVD of it, I'd be quite gracious... but I don't think one exists. Problems I've found: 1. Frame blending. 2. Massive ringing/blocking/artifacting (encoded at way too low a bitrate). 3. Motion jitter in low-motion scenes. 4. Just generally awful, loads of noise and grain. Since I don't feel like figuring out how to cut DAT files today, here's a CRF 10 x264 encode (practically lossless) of a short representative clip. The eventual goal is to put this on a DVD to replace the VCDs, so I would expect to upscale and so forth. Here's a silly script so far of mine (doesn't fix blending): Code: pointresize(last.width,last.height2).NNEDI().turnleft() pointresize(last.width,last.height2).NNEDI().turnright() super = MSuper() backward_vectors = MAnalyse(super, isb = true) forward_vectors = MAnalyse(super, isb = false) forward_compensation = MFlow(super, forward_vectors, thSCD1=500) backward_compensation = MFlow(super, backward_vectors, thSCD1=500) interleave(forward_compensation, last, backward_compensation) dfttest(tbsize=3,sigma=3) selectevery(3,1) LimitedSharpenFaster(strength=150) AddGrain(5,0.5,0.5) AddGrain(8,0.3,0.3) AddGrain(12,0.1,0.1) __________________ Follow x264 development progress \| akupenguin quotes \| x264 git status ffmpeg and x264-related consulting/coding contracts \| Doom10 Last edited by Dark Shikari; 25th February 2009 at 02:24.

25th February 2009, 20:22	#2 \| Link
Blue_MiSfit Derek Prestegard IRL Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 5,989	I'm looking at it now... I'm curious about the logic behind your pointresize*2.nnedi. Why use this method instead of nnedi's double height mode? I like motion compensated DFTTest! Creative! I'll see what I can do... ~MiSfit __________________ These are all my personal statements, not those of my employer :)

25th February 2009, 21:30	#4 \| Link
Dark Shikari x264 developer Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 8,666	What about dealing with the frame blending? It's not as bad here, but in some parts it's the biggest problem with the clip. I'll talk to the guy who owns the VHS to see if I can get him to have it transferred properly to DVD. It's 4 hours of video though. __________________ Follow x264 development progress \| akupenguin quotes \| x264 git status ffmpeg and x264-related consulting/coding contracts \| Doom10

25th February 2009, 22:00	#7 \| Link
scharfis_brain brainless Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 3,653	So maybe he might ask a 'professional' service to do a transfer to DV? __________________ Don't forget the 'c'! Don't PM me for technical support, please.

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26th February 2009, 12:22	#8 \| Link
jeffy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 943	Dark Shikari, I don't know if they can help you, but according to the info I found the original VHS was published by "Coronet/MTI Film & Video" which was acquired by Phoenix Learning Group in 1997. Maybe you could ask if there is any plan for the DVD, if they own the rights for this title. http://www.phoenixlearninggroup.com/Contact/