Converting 720p to DVD

[carlmart]

Which filters might be worth trying to help "cheat" resolution when converting from 720p to DVD?

LimitedSharpen, awarpsharp, msharpen are some on Avisynth's filter list that I guess might help, but they might work better combined with some others. Or not.

Any suggestions are welcome.

[Guest]

What is your source material?

[2Bdecided]

What do you mean, "cheat" resolution?

[carlmart]

What is your source material?

720p x264 video file.


What do you mean, "cheat" resolution?

On one file I converted from 720p to DVD, the image got a bit softer than the original file. Certainly due to the lesser resolution.

Perhaps adding some sharpness or something things might look a little better after conversion.

[vampiredom]

Use Spline36Resize(704,480) [or 704,576 if you are creating PAL video]. If that's not sharp enough, try adding Sharpen(0.25) beforehand. Be careful about over-sharpening: The added noise and ringing artifacts can be annoying and excessive sharpness can cause flickering on interlaced displays.

[carlmart]

Use Spline36Resize(704,480) [or 704,576 if you are creating PAL video].

Maybe there's a misunderstanding: the file it's not 720 x 264. The file is 720 progressive, compressed with x264. It's an HD file that I would like to convert to DVD.

For the conversion I have been using AVStoDVD until now, but maybe I can add some avisynth filter to improve apparent resolution. The effect should be very subtle, to make the DVD image look closer to the 720p capability.

From what I have read, Spline36Resize is a resizer. How would it affect sharpness?

If that's not sharp enough, try adding Sharpen(0.25) beforehand. Be careful about over-sharpening: The added noise and ringing artifacts can be annoying and excessive sharpness can cause flickering on interlaced displays.

That's my concern: using a sharpness filter that would add noise or artifacts, which I certainly do not want. Certainly would have to be a very subtle effect.

[Guest]

You have 1280x720p at what frame rate? Do you want your DVD to remain progressive or can it be interlaced?

E.g., if your source is 59.94 fps you can make one field out of each frame for your DVD.

So, to guide you properly we need to know the answers to those questions.

Where did you get the source HD file?

[vampiredom]

Please provide more details about your source as Neuron asked. I am assuming you are converting 1280x720 to DVD. Spline36Resize is indeed a resizer, which does sharper scaling than Bicubic or Gaussian; but with less ringing than Lanczos.

[carlmart]

To start with let me say that I am using AVStoDVD as the vehicle for the scripts and the plugins handling, until I learn how to do it in a different way.

The main reason, besides the tests I did comparing with others, is that AVStoDVD uses HCEnc, which I can't make to work by itself. Every time I load HCEnc it goes out in 4 or 5 seconds. If someone teachs me how to use it directly I would love to.

According to MediaInfo the video characteristics are: 9479 kbps, 1920x816 @ 23.976 fps.

Do you want your DVD to remain progressive or can it be interlaced?

I think my authoring program, DVDLab pro, can't handle progressive files to make the DVD, which will be single sided. But I think my player can handle progressive and my plasma TV too.

[leeperry]

don't forget to use ColorMatrix() to convert from BT.709 to 601 ;)

[Comatose]

Oh my.

[carlmart]

I am assuming you are converting 1280x720 to DVD.

Yes, even if this video ratio, as you can see, is a bit different.

Spline36Resize is indeed a resizer, which does sharper scaling than Bicubic or Gaussian; but with less ringing than Lanczos.

Last night I made a standard conversion with AVStoDVD using Lanczos4resize, which is their default. Spline16resize is an option, but I suppose I can change the script and use Spline36resize. Do you think Spline 36 would improve on Spline 16? Why not Spline64 then?

I could only find one test that showed some images, but nothing between Lanczos and Spline.

Perhaps I would have to do some short tests myself and watch a burnt DVD with them to say the final word.

[carlmart]

don't forget to use ColorMatrix() to convert from BT.709 to 601 ;)

Know nothing about it. Can you tell me a bit more and how to script it?

[Guest]

I'm going to close this as it smells of rule 6 and you are ignoring my questions about the origin of your source. Also, you need MediaInfo to know what your encode is, whereas if you had made it yourself, you'd know those things. The video characteristics are not that of source material, but rather they are what you get with torrents and "released" videos. Finally, you have a history of discussing downloaded movies here.

Read and follow our forum rules, especially rule 6!