Which Plugin should I use?

[TheKolkster]

I'm trying to encode this PRTF ep that was taken from VHS and burned onto DVD via DVD recorder. A low bitrate is low (The Vobs are only 480MB each) so the source isnt that great. I was wondering which filters I should use to clean it up. Here is a pic of the vid.

http://img301.imageshack.us/my.php?image=prtf1sample2yk.png

I've been working on this for a week. I've tried denoising it, sharpening it and smoothing it. Nothing is working, :confused: I got it to look good once, but I forgot how I encoded it.

So does anyone know which filters I should use to clean this up?

Thanks :)

[Chainmax]

What is your target format? Some form of MPEG4 or DVD? In any case, it seems that you should crop the video to get rid of the artifacting in the borders. Also, are you familiar with the concept of functions (i.é: filters that aren't DLLs but avisynth scripts themselves)?

[mg262]

Have you tried the Dust family of filters by Steady? PixieDust would be the one I would use on this for a start.

You may also need some deblocking filters before denoising... but it's a bit hard to tell from that shot. Did you resize it before posting? A weak sharpen after denoising might also be appropriate.

[TheKolkster]

What is your target format? Some form of MPEG4 or DVD? In any case, it seems that you should crop the video to get rid of the artifacting in the borders. Also, are you familiar with the concept of functions (i.é: filters that aren't DLLs but avisynth scripts themselves)?

My target format is AVI. I was going to crop it, but not until I was ready to encode it. And no I'm not familiar with AVIsynth scripts. (unless you mean scripting the plugins.

Have you tried the Dust family of filters by Steady? PixieDust would be the one I would use on this for a start.

You may also need some deblocking filters before denoising... but it's a bit hard to tell from that shot. Did you resize it before posting? A weak sharpen after denoising might also be appropriate.

Thanks, I'll try that too. Do you have a link for the filters? I cant tell if it's noise or not. I just assumed there was video noise since it came from a VHS.

Edit. Maybe this will help. Here is a small sample of the video. http://rapidshare.de/files/3067543/PRTF_Test__1__Untouched_.avi.html

[mg262]

they should be linked to on the main filters page (which is in turn linked to from one of the sticky posts on this forum, I think the FAQ)

If you've posted an AVI, it isn't really untouched... a chunk of the VOB would be ideal. By the way, if you recapture from the original VHS tapes (even with a capture card costing about as an average DVD) then I believe you'll get much better results -- so I would recommend going that way.

[TheKolkster]

they should be linked to on the main filters page (which is in turn linked to from one of the sticky posts on this forum, I think the FAQ)

If you've posted an AVI, it isn't really untouched... a chunk of the VOB would be ideal. By the way, if you recapture from the original VHS tapes (even with a capture card costing about as an average DVD) then I believe you'll get much better results -- so I would recommend going that way.

Well, what I meant was I didnt try cleaning it up at all. I just resized it. And I cant cap these cause it wasnt me. I got these DVDs from a friend accross the country.

[Chainmax]

My target format is AVI. I was going to crop it, but not until I was ready to encode it. And no I'm not familiar with AVIsynth scripts. (unless you mean scripting the plugins).

...

Edit. Maybe this will help. Here is a small sample of the video. http://rapidshare.de/files/3067543/PRTF_Test__1__Untouched_.avi.html

Since you are going to the AVI way, then I suggest that you keep the input resolution. About functions, they are avs scripts that are called with an Import line and need some DLLs to be loaded in addition to the function itself. For instance, I use the LimitedSharpen (http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=559994&postcount=3) function for sharpening. Just copy the text in that post, paste it into a .txt file, rename it to .avs and then load it like this:

LoadPlugin("X:\wherever\MaskTools.dll")
Import("X:\wherever\LimitedSharpen.avs")

As you can see, in order to use LimitedSharpen you also need to load the MaskTools (http://manao4.free.fr/MaskTools-v1.5.7.zip) filter package. As for how to use it, just use LimitedSharpen(), which is what I use.

Also, if the source looks like this, then I concur with mg262 that you need a deblocker. Try Deblock(), a filter from DGDecode.dll which can be found in the DGMPGDec package (http://neuron2.net/dgmpgdec/dgmpgdec141b2.zip).

One more thing: the video you posted already looks to have few details left, so I'd suggest that you use something like AddGrain(x,0,0) (http://home.comcast.net/~trbarry/downloads.htm) (where x should be 2 or 3) after the sharpening. IMO the video will look better that way.

[mg262]

I got these DVDs from a friend accross the country.Unfortunately, at least as I read it, that means that we can't really offer you any further help; under rule 6, we risk getting strikes ourselves.

[Chainmax]

If we adhered to that rule verbatim, then we shouldn't help people processing their own captures either...

[TheKolkster]

I'm confused. Is there an actual plugin for limited sharpen or do I just create a new avs script with LimitedSharpen() save it and then import it?

[mg262]

If we adhered to that rule verbatim, then we shouldn't help people processing their own captures either...I don't know. I certainly don't want to be (as they say in English schools stories) a prig, but I quite like hanging round here so I tend to be very careful of the rules.

I think capturing material you have taped yourself almost certainly comes under the 'fair use' clauses of copyright laws.

[Chainmax]

TheKolkster: Since you're asking for clarification about something I said before mg262 mentioned rules 6, I'll clarify that. I will refrain from further comments until a mod declares this thread kosher.

Yeah, you create an avs script, copy the function in there and save it. In order to use it, you must load MaskTools.dll and LimitedSharpen.avs the way I specified.


mg262: I didn't mean to scold you or anything of the sort (interesting spelling choice, by the way :p ;)) and I appreciate you remembering us that. About fair use, I couldn't say because I know nothing about it.

[Wilbert]

TheKolkster: Since you're asking for clarification about something I said before mg262 mentioned rules 6, I'll clarify that. I will refrain from further comments until a mod declares this thread kosher.
Sorry, i was paying attention to this thread.

I'm trying to encode this PRTF ep that was taken from VHS and burned onto DVD via DVD recorder. (...) I got these DVDs from a friend accross the country.
People are right here. This is a violation of rule 6. I hope you will be more careful next time. I will close this thread now.

If we adhered to that rule verbatim, then we shouldn't help people processing their own captures either...
That's totally different. In many countries you are allowed to process your own caps.