Better settings for ripping Blackadder Episodes

[ChAoS Overlord]

These DVD rips are a tad difficult, because in some scenes they are quite grainy. Right now I go for 233 MB a piece (all are 32 - 33 minutes long) in a resolution of 512x384 with DivX5 2-pass encoding (this gives me bitrates of about 850 kbit/s)

This is the script I've used, but I'm still not entirely happy with the result

LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\GORDIA~1\mpeg2dec.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\GORDIA~1\Avisynth_Spatial.dll")
LoadPlugin("D:\DOWNLO~2\decomb.dll")
mpeg2source("K:\BA1E1.d2v")
crop(13,1,698,572)
FieldDeinterlace()
BicubicResize(512,384,0,0.5)
SpatialSoftenMMX(1,4,6,false,false,4,4,6,8)
TemporalSmoother(2)

[Acaila]

The only way to get rid of the noise is by blurring. If you're not satisfied with the current filters I'd suggest just upping their strength. I personally prefer SmartSmoother over SpatialSoften though. You could place a sharpen filter after the blurring to make it a bit clearer again.

Are these DVD records from a TV source btw?

Another way to remove noise is by multiple resizing filters. You could try resizing to 480 first and then to 512:

crop(13,1,698,572)
FieldDeinterlace()
BicubicResize(480,360,0,0.5)
SpatialSoftenMMX(1,4,6,false,false,4,4,6,8)
TemporalSmoother(3)
BicubicResize(512,384,0,0.5)

Anyway, some sources will never look good so you'll just have to live with it.

Good luck.

[DJ Bobo]

1) If your source is that grainy, you should go for BilinearResize.

2) 512x384 is a way too much, you better go down to 448x336 or even 384x288. You better make a compressibilty Test with the new utility of Jonny to see what resolution is best for your bitrate.

3) You may consider using the PRO version of DivX for 25% better quality (with the options "Motion Compensation" and "Bidirectional Encoding")

4) I would introduce the TemporalSmoother line before the SpatialSoften one.

[ChAoS Overlord]

Originally posted by Acaila
Are these DVD records from a TV source btw?

Yes, they are.

Originally posted by bobotns
3) You may consider using the PRO version of DivX for 25% better quality (with the options "Motion Compensation" and "Bidirectional Encoding")

I am using DivX5 pro with B-frames

[ChAoS Overlord]

This is what I get when encoding with the given settings (the ones I used originally) more or less at the same positions

DVD Frame: http://membres.lycos.fr/chaosoverlord/MISC%20IMG/PDVD_000.jpg
DivX Frame: http://membres.lycos.fr/chaosoverlord/MISC%20IMG/bscap1.jpg

DVD Frame: http://membres.lycos.fr/chaosoverlord/MISC%20IMG/PDVD_001.jpg
DivX Frame: http://membres.lycos.fr/chaosoverlord/MISC%20IMG/bscap0.jpg

Could I ameliorate this by using your other settings? I think seeing the screenshots always helps!

I also upload a 26 second sample (less then 3 MB): http://users.pandora.be/joentje/BA-Sample.avi

so that you could have a look at it.

Thx for your insights!

[Acaila]

Nice green line on the second encoded image. Better make the crop res multiples of 4 to have FieldDeinterlace() work correctly....

[ChAoS Overlord]

Ah so that's where the green line comes from! I was wondering how it got there!

So what exactly would you change in my crop line? 696x572?

& apart from the green line, what do you think?

Originally posted by Acaila
I personally prefer SmartSmoother over SpatialSoften

Where do I find more info on the usage of smartsmoother + where to find this filter?

[DJ Bobo]

I almost forgot! FieldDeinterlace come BEFORE the crop line not after, so use the crop values you want. Consider only one thing, the resulting values must be divisible by 2

And also use Motion Compensation in DivX5 PRO (download the new version 5.01, it has a lot of bug fixes!)

You can use SmartSmoother in VirtualDub, download it from here:
http://sauron.mordor.net/dgraft/smooth.html

I personally use the parameters 3/25

[ChAoS Overlord]

Well I've read that using b-frames doesn't take up more cpu power, but using GMC does, so I prefer to just use B-frames.

If i use the smartsmoother, what am I to drop? Isn't there an Avisynth variant to it?

& As you've all seen the quality of the DVD thx to the captures, what settings would you use on this kinda quality?

I've changed it into this:

LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\GORDIA~1\mpeg2dec.dll")
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\GORDIA~1\Avisynth_Spatial.dll")
LoadPlugin("D:\DOWNLO~2\decomb.dll")
mpeg2source("K:\BA1E1.d2v")
FieldDeinterlace()
crop(13,1,698,572)
TemporalSmoother(2)
SpatialSoftenMMX(1,4,6,false,false,4,4,6,8)
BilinearResize(512,384)

Is it better to put spatial and or temporal before the resize?
Which one can I put afther resize? (as to improve speed)
Should I use TemporalSmoother(2) or TemporalSmoother(3)?

[DJ Bobo]

I know that it takes more CPU power, but you should use it since it improves things. And lower your resolution a bit to 448x336 for example (as said download the compressibility utility from jonny to found out the best resolution for your bitrate)

If you're going to use SmartSmoother, drop only the SpatialSoften line:

LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\GORDIA~1\mpeg2dec.dll")
LoadPlugin("D:\DOWNLO~2\decomb.dll")
mpeg2source("K:\BA1E1.d2v")
FieldDeinterlace()
crop(13,1,698,572)
BilinearResize(448,336)
TemporalSmoother(2)

Then load this in VD, choose Full processing, and load the SmartSmoother filter. As said, 3/25 is enough

[ChAoS Overlord]

Originally posted by bobotns
(as said download the compressibility utility from jonny to found out the best resolution for your bitrate)

I've tried it out, but when I start it, virtualdub fires up & it gives me an estimated time... a very long one.

Should I put an extra line in or something for this to work?

Also please see my edited post (since I edited it just as you were replying), I've read that putting the smoothingfilters in front should be better.

very important: in gordian knot what percentage of comp check should i pick?
1 to 15?

[DJ Bobo]

It is better to put them before resizing, so you can later use BicubicResize instead of Bilinear. But this will take much more time.
If you ask me, I always put the filters after resizing, since time is precious for me. But it's your decision.
In our case here, SmartSmoother will come later in any case, so you'll have only the choice to put TemporalSmoother before or after resizing. Making it before resizing allows you to use Bicubic resizing, but will make things a tad slower

In my opinion, TemporalSmoother(3) is too strong. I personally use (2) for TV-captures and noisy old material and (1) for good quality DVDs.

In GKnot: 5

[jonny]

@ChAoS Overlord:

>very important: in gordian knot what percentage of comp check should i pick?
>1 to 15?

Use 1%.
When the comp. test value is ok for you, make a final test using 5% to make sure the value don't change too much.

@bobotns: this way is faster :)

[ChAoS Overlord]

Resolution 512x384

At the 5% setting (gknot) I get a compressability of 43.9% which I guess is enough.

[ChAoS Overlord]

I did a reëncode, whereas the filesize originally was spot on (233) right now it's 15 MB of (248) how can this be?

[ChAoS Overlord]

c'mon guys please share your insights? If the virtualdub filter is the cause of the problem is there an avisynth equivalent to it?

[dividee]

Please don't be in such a rush.
If you talk about SmartSmoother, then no, there is no native avisynth equivalent to it. Spatial smoothing is an area where avisynth is a bit lacking...

[ChAoS Overlord]

But is it a plausible explanation that the incorrect filesize is due to the smartsmoother? If so, how come, I'm using two pass?

[Acaila]

No, SmartSmoother alone cannot be responsible for your increase in filesize. If any it should reduce it, since it blurs the images.

The order of filters CAN have an impact on filesize though. Although the codec should correct for this and in-/decrease the quants to use....

So what is the script you used this time?

[droolian01]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by bobotns
(as said download the compressibility utility from jonny to found out the best resolution for your bitrate)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there.
sorry to but in, but where can i download this compression check utility.
Thanks

[ChAoS Overlord]

LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\GORDIA~1\mpeg2dec.dll")
LoadPlugin("D:\DOWNLO~2\decomb.dll")
mpeg2source("K:\BA1E1.d2v")
FieldDeinterlace()
crop(13,1,698,572)
TemporalSmoother(2)
BicubicResize(512,384,0,0.5)

is what I used + the smart smoother in vdub.

[jonny]

@droolian01:
http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22272

[ChAoS Overlord]

I have to say, I put the virtualdub filter in the first pass as well as in the second pass, I think that is the right way, to use the exact same settings in both passes...