VHS source video with much grain (do I need P4x4?)

[alexVS]

I have video with much grain (VHS source).
I want to digitize it in AVC-x264 (720x576 PAL)

Actually I don't like denoise filters, because a lot of small details are lost after applying them.

I want to get the result picture as close to original as possible (including grain).

What x264 (meGUI) parameters should I pay attention? I use HQ-slowest preset. I wander if turning on P4x4 will improve quality of small objects (such as grain)?

[cacepi]

I wander if turning on P4x4 will improve quality of small objects (such as grain)?
Most grain is smaller than 4x4, however. What you want is lower deadzones so the grain isn't filtered out.

There's a tune option for grain retention in x264 now, and I'd bet it includes very low deadzones. Give it a try.

[Audionut]

It does indeed.

* grain:

Optimize for grainy content: deblock -2:-2, psy-rd 1:0.25, no-dct-decimate, ipratio 1.1, pbratio 1.1, aq-strength 0.5, deadzone-intra 6, deadzone-inter 6, qcomp 0.8

[Dark Shikari]

Grain isn't an object, and it isn't persistent between frames (each frame is a totally different grain pattern), so the p4x4 logic doesn't apply.

[scharfis_brain]

@alexVS:
provide an unprocessed sample of your VHS.