[Avisynth] Using Avisynth filters to speed things up? (TemporalSmoother)

[TigerLord]

Hello!

I recently got a new computer, and learned I could speed up things even more by using avisynth filters and using fast recompress instead of using vdub filters (I use avisynth scripts and vdub to encode my DVDs...)

I found the new Mpeg2Dec.dll plugin, but I can't seem to understand the FAQ that comes with it..

TemporalSmoother(clip[,strength[,radius]])

What does clip stand for? A frame, filename ? and can I copy the values I found in my VCF when applying the temporalsmoother?

Ex.: VirtualDub.video.filters.instance[1].Config(2);

Using 1 for stenght, 2 for radius ?

Thank you in advance... I performed some searches before posting this in hiope of finding an answer, it didnt help much... and I hope this wont piss you off too much either... I did look at the documentation, however, it wasn't much self explinatory ...

[manono]

Hi-

You should be using the latest AviSynth 2.52 together with the latest mpeg2dec3.dll. But you should also probably be using the more advanced and faster TemporalSoften instead of TemporalSmoother. Here's some settings for light denoising:

Temporalsoften(2,3,3,mode=2,scenechange=6)

And for medium denoising:

Temporalsoften(4,8,8,mode=2,scenechange=10)

Courtesy of GKnot. But you can usually ignore the clip stuff. For the TemporalSmoother you just have to fill in the strength and radius. 1 for strength and 2 for radius will work:

TemporalSmoother(1,2)

Didn't you try that? I don't believe that TemporalSmoother is available in the MpegDec3.dll or AviSynth 2.52, but TemporalSoften is faster, and there are quite a few other alternatives. See here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45238&highlight=temporalsmoother) for a comparison of the two filters (sort of). And see here (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51181) for speed and compressibility comparisons for all of the filters (but not TemporalSmoother). TemporalSmoother has been pretty much been left behind as it hasn't been updated for YV12.

And here (http://www.avisynth.org/index.php?page=AviSynthManual) is an alphabetized list of the filters available within 2.52. Here (http://www.avisynth.org/index.php?page=FiltersByCategory) they are by category. And here (http://www.avisynth.org/~warpenterprises/) are all the 3rd party plugins (including the latest Mpeg2Dec3.dll).

[TigerLord]

Here is how my previous avisynth scripts looked like, and then I woukld add vdub filters:

LoadPlugin("E:\Editing tools\MPEG2DEC.DLL")
LoadPlugin("E:\Editing Tools\DecombLegacy.dll")
mpeg2source("E:\SG1\105\105.d2v")
Telecide(guide=1)
Decimate(cycle=5)
Crop(2,0,-2,0)
BiCubicResize(640,352,0,0.75)

However, I got the new avisynth, the new mpeg2dec3.dll .... decomblegacy wont load, telecide and decimate wont work either now, and I dont know which command is the equivalent (for decite and telecide...)

Here is how I tried it:

LoadPlugin("E:\Editing tools\MPEG2Dec3.dll")
LoadPlugin("E:\Editing Tools\DecombLegacy.dll")
mpeg2source("E:\SG1\113\113.d2v")
Telecide(guide=1)
Decimate(cycle=5)
Crop(2,0,-2,0)
BiCubicResize(640,352,0,0.75)
Contrast offset = Coloryuv(off_y=18)
Temporalsoften(4,8,8,mode=2,scenechange=10)

(instead of using temporal smoother and brightness filter I would like to use them in avisynth so I can use fast recompress and speed things up...)

None of these will work... could I install two avisynth versions?

[manono]

Hi-

DecombLegacy is for YUY2(). After switching to YV12, you'll need a more up to date version. Either use Decomb410b4 from here:

http://neuron2.net/decomb/decombnew.html,

which has commands you're pretty much used to already, or get the latest version here:

http://neuron2.net/ipw-web/bulletin/bb/viewtopic.php?t=56,

which has a bunch of new stuff. Read the docs carefully to get it straight. Making this switch will be worth it to you, as your encoding will speed up significantly. And make sure you have installed the latest AviSynth 2.5.2:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=57023

Let me know if you have any more problems. Good Luck.

[TigerLord]

I managed to make it work just ifne... I havent tested it yet (speedwise...) but it does look better in preview...

However, I would like to you help me with coloryuv ? I used to use brightness vdub filters ... I usually increased contrast a bit ... however, I tried contrast offset= coloryuv(18)
but it said it didnt recognise "contrast" ...

Last thing... I used to use temporal smoother AND a smoother . Do you recommend it or soften temporal makes the job?

Thanks !

[manono]

Hi-

I've never used ColorYUV (too complicated). But if you want to set your contrast with it, then here (http://www.avisynth.org/index.php?page=ColorYUV), knock yourself out. However, for adding brightness and/or contrast you might try the Tweak Filter (http://www.avisynth.org/index.php?page=Tweak). To add a bit of brightness, maybe Tweak(Bright=5) will work. For a bit of contrast, maybe Tweak(Cont=1.2). And for both, Tweak(Bright=5,Cont=1.2). You can fool around with the settings to tweak them to your liking.

I used to use temporal smoother AND a smoother .

If by smoother you mean you used a spatial smoother in addition to a temporal smoother, then maybe a combination temporal/spatial smoother like Convolution3d or FluxSmooth will work for you. Convolution3d, especially, comes with a real good help file with a bunch of presets for a variety of source material. If you like TemporalSoften and just want a separate spatial smoother, then Undot is a very light spatial smoother that helps with the compressibility a little bit. For stronger spatial smoothing, maybe try 2DCleanYUY2. But it's only for YUY2 and to use it, you'll have to add ConvertToYUY2() to the .avs ahead of it (and lose some speed).

Whereas Tweak is built into AviSynth, the others I've mentioned are 3rd party filters for which you need to load the PlugIn (just the way you load Decomb) before using them. You can find them and many others here (http://www.avisynth.org/~warpenterprises/).

[TigerLord]

That is indeed very cool ! Thank you, it worked perfectly !

Some people complained that my encodes were not as sharp as other xvid encodes out on the scene now (me encodes are DiVX, theyre iNTERNAL for a specific channel...)

However, the source is very noisy, which is why I use temporalsoften ... are there any other filter you recommend I could use to make it a little sharper so we can see a little more details ?

[manono]

Hi-

theyre iNTERNAL for a specific channel...

I'm not entirely sure what that means. But if it means that you're ripping copyrighted material for distribution, then you just made a mistake, and the powers that be around here may come down on you. If I'm wrong in my suspicions, then I apologize. But you probably shouldn't be mentioning that kind of thing.

As for your question; DivX5 can't compare in sharpness to XviD. About all I can suggest is to use LanczosResize, use a high enough resolution, and don't overdo it with the use of filters, especially spatial smoothers. Or switch to XviD and the sharper MPEG Matrix. There are plenty of sharpeners around, but I generally don't use them. I do use Unfilter once in awhile if my source is soft and the compressibility allows it. You can get it at the last link of my previous post. Try Unfilter(20,20). It's a fast filter also, whereas some of the other sharpeners are very slow.

[TigerLord]

No its not copyrighted materials... well its just like recording a tv show on a vhs tape and loan it to a friend... (which isnt illegal at all...)

Well perhaps it is, Im not sure... but I am ripping tv shows that air for fun, and I think that "the scene" does not tolerate DivX5, that is why I said that... I am not ripping any movies or things like that ... no worries :)

I tried once switching to xvid, but I couldnt manage to make it work well... xvid looks way more complicated than DivX5 (where you onyl require very few configuring operations, while they are tons of options in xvid I do not even understand...)

The thing is, I had lots of help from encoders , but they all used DivX5, sometimes xvid, but they did not master it well...

I am basically still a newbie, and well, even if xvid gives better sharpness, I wonder if it is worth it to take time and learn in (does it encode faster, better results?)

If yes, do you have any guides you can recommend ? Most of the guides here for DivX use Gknot (which I dont like) since it doesnt have as much flexibility as vdub (I find...)

Using avisynth with the new mpeg2dec3 helped out a lot in speed (ie. a 44min episode used to take me 8 hours on my 1.4, now it takes 1 hour :))

Thanks in advance for your kindness and help!

[killingspree]

Originally posted by TigerLord
No its not copyrighted materials... well its just like recording a tv show on a vhs tape and loan it to a friend... (which isnt illegal at all...)

Well perhaps it is, Im not sure... but I am ripping tv shows that air for fun, and I think that "the scene" does not tolerate DivX5, that is why I said that... I am not ripping any movies or things like that ... no worries :)
oh well, i guess that wasn't totally convincing, but i guess we can hardly tell you it's not ok to capture a TV show and show it to your friends if it is perfectly accepted in our society if you do exactly the same with a VHS tape :)

I am basically still a newbie, and well, even if xvid gives better sharpness, I wonder if it is worth it to take time and learn in (does it encode faster, better results?)
imho it's not as hard to learn... just read some of the xvid posts in the xvid forum and i'm sure you'll get some decent encodes. you won't be an xvid expert (i'm not either... ) but you'll get results you'll definitely like :)

encode faster: no definitely not... rather 2x to 3x slower
better results: depends, definitely possible

If yes, do you have any guides you can recommend ? Most of the guides here for DivX use Gknot (which I dont like) since it doesnt have as much flexibility as vdub (I find...)
i think it's best to read the forum... there's a guide on doom9 but it's also utilizing gknot!

hth
steVe

[manono]

Hi-

Here's the Newbie Settings Sticky (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=53136) from the XviD Forum. In it is a link to snowbeach's very good and detailed XviD guide.

But the encoding will be slower than DivX5. Especially if you use VHQ, which I recommend. I use VHQ 1 because I'm too impatient to use VHQ 4. You'll take a serious speed hit by using VHQ 4, but you'll get slightly better quality also. Don't you want to impress your friends? Then what's a few extra hours for improved quality? :)

does it encode faster, better results?)

Not faster, but with better results, in my opinion.