Ripping my Simpsons Season 1 DVDs, need some feedback on my avisynth script

[Chainmax]

I have the region 4 NTSC set. Those DVDs are very badly mastered, with lots of noise, macroblocking and weird color issues everywhere. Here's the AVS file I cooked up so far:

ConvertoYUY2 (interlaced=true)
Spacedust()
Telecide(order=1,guide=1,post=1,hints=true)
KernelDeint(order=1,sharp=true)
Decimate(cycle=5,quality=3)
mipsmoot(spatial=4,temporal=3,spatial_chroma=8,temporal_chroma=6, scenechange=4,method=supersoft,downsizer=lanczos,upsizer= lanczos,scalefactor=0.65)
lanczosresize(640,480) or (576,432)

I'd like to slightly sharpen afterwards, but I don't know what filter to use and at what settings. So, do you guys think this script is ok or would you chnage/add something? If it's any help, here are my XviD encoding settings:

3 eps/CD w/AC3 @ 192kbps (==> avg video bitrate ~1180kbps)
MPEG quant type
QPel
VHQ4
B-frames @ 0/132/90/0

[Chainmax]

Anyone?

[JuanC]

I haven't used any *dust filter yet. But knowing it is a spatial filter I would recommend using it on progressive material. You should use every spatial filter after IVTC or deinterlacing, or at least after separating fields.

EDIT: Also, in my encodes I try not to use too many noise filters, some times it is better to tweak and use appropriately just one noise filter.

[JReiginsei]

Chainmax I pm'd you a couple days ago, I forgot to mention it.

[joshyg2]

Originally posted by JuanC
I haven't used any *dust filter yet. But knowing it is a spatial filter I would recommend using it on progressive material.

try the following:

separatefields()
spacedust()
weave()

[Chainmax]

OK, so the avs would now be:

Undot()
ConvertoYUY2 (interlaced=true)
separatefields()
spacedust()
weave()
Telecide(order=1,guide=1,post=1,hints=true)
KernelDeint(order=1,sharp=true)
Decimate(cycle=5,quality=3)
mipsmoot(spatial=4,temporal=3,spatial_chroma=8,temporal_chroma=6, scenechange=4,method=supersoft,downsizer=lanczos,upsizer= lanczos,scalefactor=0.65)
lanczosresize(640,480) or (576,432)
(I just read JReiginsei's PM and added the Undot() part)

Right? Any recommendations for the sharpening or replacements for the filters I'll be using?

JReiginsei: I forgot about Undot(). So, I just read the help files for DUP and MSharpen.
About DUP, do you think it's a better choice than manually examining the frames and then create an appropriate decimate chain?
Thanks for the MSharpen recommendation, I think I'll use it :).

[Chainmax]

What method do you guys use to spot and eliminate dupe/interpolated frames on a stream after using telecide? Having read FreierGeist's guide on encoding silents, I was leaning towards manual examination of a 30(NTSC) or 25(PAL) frame run, then creating a suitable decimate chain. Is there a better method? Also, given the DVD I'm going to rip, should I even bother to worry about this issue?

[JuanC]

Originally posted by Chainmax
... encoding silents .... Search for MultiDecimate a more adequate filter for this purpose, also from neuron2

[Chainmax]

Will do. Thanks for the recommendation :). Should I use this instead of the Decimate(cycle=5,quality=3) line I'm using in this rip or is it a bad idea to use multidecimate for single-step decimation?


I still have to step through a continous run of 25 (PAL) or 30 (NTSC) frames in order to see if there are actually any dupe/interpolated frames due to other factors than standard 3:2 NTSC telecining, right?

[JuanC]

Originally posted by Chainmax
...
I still have to step through a continous run of 25 (PAL) or 30 (NTSC) frames in order to see if there are actually any dupe/interpolated frames due to other factors than standard 3:2 NTSC telecining, right?
Right. You have to find a pattern first to figure out what decimation will be the best. Also, take a look at this thread: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=64009 you can use decimate several times...

[Chainmax]

Just one more question and I'll let this thread move on, I promise:

So, you think the filters I chose are good enough? Do you have any suggestion for alternative filters or additional ones?

[JuanC]

I think you have chosen two very good noise filters. That should be enough. If you would like to experiment with other denoisers take a look at the sticky thread about speed and compression (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51181)

It's a matter of personal taste. I do mostly encodes of analog TV captures, and after testing some noise / artifact reduction filters, I decided to keep two of them I always use: GuavaComb (removes artifacts related to luma/chroma crosstalk on analog sources) and PeachSmoother (reduces noise). They give me a good balance (it's a personal perception) of quality / speed

Besides quality (efficiency in noise reduction) and speed, you could judge a denoiser in terms of compressibility. Occasionally I also include UnDot() which is very fast and sometimes helps with compressibility.

[Chainmax]

Thanks a lot, you have been very helpful :) :).