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Hi,

I have an older TV show DVD's that I am hoping to clean up the video on as much as possible. I am not really looking to upscale but just trying to improve anywhere possible.

Here's a sample file on Google Drive for one of the episodes that I remuxed to MKV. Other than that, the file is untouched from the original DVD. I realize the source is pretty bad and not expecting any miracles on this.

It would be awesome to get some recommendations on what filters in Avisynth/Vapoursynth and the levels for any filters to try. Mainly looking for a decent base set of filters/levels to start with and play around with for results afterwards. I have quite a few of retail DVD's from 1980's U.S. TV shows and they all seem to suffer from the same poor video quality.

I greatly appreciate any help and feedback! Big Grin

To start I would

enable "Config->Internals->Prefer Original->Frame rate" (before loading the source)
enable "Filtering->(De-)Interlace/Telecine->QTGMC Vapoursynth->Bob"
enable "Filtering->Vapoursynth->Frame->Reduction->sRestore" and enable 'Frate' and set it to 23.976
enable "Crop/Resize->Base->Picture Crop" and set left to 8 and right to 12

then I would look through the source to see whats it about.
Here just looking through the source, some scenes are really noise while others are partially cleaned up.
So fo a final product one might want to thing about scene based filtering.
(I would at least filter the intro, and may be the dark scenes, way stronger than the rest,

Then I would probably check what BasicVSR++ or DPIRDenoise would do to the clip. (both require a recent NVIDIA CPU and the torchAddon, DPIRDenoise is probably better suited)

Leaving the ML stuff aside I would choose a DeGrain filter, SMDeGrain and TemporalDegrain are probably good starting points and tweak the settings to my liking.
Then I would probably add Declock_QED which usually is a good idea on DVD content, add SpotLess with a temporal radius of 2.

So something like:

Code:
# Imports

import vapoursynth as vs

import os

import ctypes

# Loading Support Files

Dllref = ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary("i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libfftw3f-3.dll")

import sys

# getting Vapoursynth core

core = vs.core

# Import scripts folder

scriptPath = 'i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsscripts'

sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(scriptPath))

# Loading Plugins

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/SharpenFilter/CAS/CAS.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/DenoiseFilter/CTMF/CTMF.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/DCTFilter.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/DeblockFilter/Deblock/Deblock.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libtemporalmedian.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/GrainFilter/RemoveGrain/RemoveGrainVS.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/GrainFilter/AddGrain/AddGrain.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/DenoiseFilter/NEO_FFT3DFilter/neo-fft3d.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/DenoiseFilter/DFTTest/DFTTest.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/EEDI3m.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/ResizeFilter/nnedi3/NNEDI3CL.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libmvtools.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/temporalsoften.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/scenechange.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/fmtconv.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/MiscFilter/MiscFilters/MiscFilters.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/SourceFilter/DGDecNV/DGDecodeNV.dll")

# Import scripts

import nnedi3_resample

import mvsfunc

import smdegrain

import SpotLess

import adjust

import havsfunc

# source: 'C:\Users\Selur\Desktop\title_t00.mkv'

# current color space: YUV420P8, bit depth: 8, resolution: 720x480, fps: 29.97, color matrix: 470bg, yuv luminance scale: limited, scanorder: top field first

# Loading C:\Users\Selur\Desktop\title_t00.mkv using DGSource

clip = core.dgdecodenv.DGSource("E:/Temp/mkv_58c8c6132152712942132531ae1f0232_853323747.dgi",fieldop=0)

# Setting color matrix to 470bg.

clip = core.std.SetFrameProps(clip, _Matrix=5)

clip = clip if not core.text.FrameProps(clip,'_Transfer') else core.std.SetFrameProps(clip, _Transfer=5)

clip = clip if not core.text.FrameProps(clip,'_Primaries') else core.std.SetFrameProps(clip, _Primaries=5)

# Setting color range to TV (limited) range.

clip = core.std.SetFrameProp(clip=clip, prop="_ColorRange", intval=1)

# making sure frame rate is set to 29.970

clip = core.std.AssumeFPS(clip=clip, fpsnum=30000, fpsden=1001)

# setting field order to what QTGMC should assume (top field first)

clip = core.std.SetFrameProp(clip=clip, prop="_FieldBased", intval=2)

# Deinterlacing using QTGMC

clip = havsfunc.QTGMC(Input=clip, Preset="Fast", TFF=True, opencl=True) # new fps: 59.94

# make sure content is preceived as frame based

clip = core.std.SetFieldBased(clip, 0)

# adjusting frame count and rate with sRestore

clip = havsfunc.srestore(source=clip, frate=23.9760, omode=6, speed=9, thresh=16, mode=2)

# Color Adjustment

clip = adjust.Tweak(clip=clip, hue=0.00, sat=1.05, cont=1.00, coring=True)

clip = SpotLess.SpotLess(clip=clip, radT=2)

# applying deblocking using DeBlock QED

clip = havsfunc.Deblock_QED(clip)

# cropping the video to 700x480

clip = core.std.CropRel(clip=clip, left=8, right=12, top=0, bottom=0)

# removing grain using SMDegrain

clip = smdegrain.SMDegrain(input=clip, interlaced=False, opencl=True, device=-1)

# contrast sharpening using CAS

clip = core.cas.CAS(clip=clip, sharpness=0.700)

# set output frame rate to 23.976fps

clip = core.std.AssumeFPS(clip=clip, fpsnum=24000, fpsden=1001)

# Output

clip.set_output()/code]

Would be my starting point for tweaking.

Personally I would also boost the saturation a slight bit (1.05-1.1).

I would not apply AutoWhite since for my taste it would alter the general feel too much. 

Also I would think about adding some light grain at the end, depending on the output bit rate I choose. (if you use high bit rates, grain can help give the image a slightly more 'alive' 'feeling', but for low bit rates it will only cause problems since it's a pain to compress.

Also if you want to upscale the content to 1280 you could:

Use something like:

[code]# Imports

import vapoursynth as vs

import os

import ctypes

# Loading Support Files

Dllref = ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary("i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libfftw3f-3.dll")

import sys

# getting Vapoursynth core

core = vs.core

# Import scripts folder

scriptPath = 'i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsscripts'

sys.path.insert(0, os.path.abspath(scriptPath))

import site

# Import libraries for onnxruntime

path = site.getsitepackages()[0]+'/onnxruntime_dlls/'

ctypes.windll.kernel32.SetDllDirectoryW(path)

# Loading Plugins

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/DCTFilter.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/DeblockFilter/Deblock/Deblock.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/GrainFilter/RemoveGrain/RemoveGrainVS.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/GrainFilter/AddGrain/AddGrain.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/DenoiseFilter/NEO_FFT3DFilter/neo-fft3d.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/DenoiseFilter/DFTTest/DFTTest.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/EEDI3m.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/ResizeFilter/nnedi3/NNEDI3CL.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libmvtools.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/temporalsoften.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/scenechange.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/fmtconv.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/MiscFilter/MiscFilters/MiscFilters.dll")

core.std.LoadPlugin(path="i:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/SourceFilter/DGDecNV/DGDecodeNV.dll")

# Import scripts

import lostfunc

import adjust

import havsfunc

# source: 'C:\Users\Selur\Desktop\title_t00.mkv'

# current color space: YUV420P8, bit depth: 8, resolution: 720x480, fps: 29.97, color matrix: 470bg, yuv luminance scale: limited, scanorder: top field first

# Loading C:\Users\Selur\Desktop\title_t00.mkv using DGSource

clip = core.dgdecodenv.DGSource("E:/Temp/mkv_58c8c6132152712942132531ae1f0232_853323747.dgi",fieldop=0)

# Setting color matrix to 470bg.

clip = core.std.SetFrameProps(clip, _Matrix=5)

clip = clip if not core.text.FrameProps(clip,'_Transfer') else core.std.SetFrameProps(clip, _Transfer=5)

clip = clip if not core.text.FrameProps(clip,'_Primaries') else core.std.SetFrameProps(clip, _Primaries=5)

# Setting color range to TV (limited) range.

clip = core.std.SetFrameProp(clip=clip, prop="_ColorRange", intval=1)

# making sure frame rate is set to 29.970

clip = core.std.AssumeFPS(clip=clip, fpsnum=30000, fpsden=1001)

# setting field order to what QTGMC should assume (top field first)

clip = core.std.SetFrameProp(clip=clip, prop="_FieldBased", intval=2)

# Deinterlacing using QTGMC

clip = havsfunc.QTGMC(Input=clip, Preset="Fast", TFF=True, opencl=True) # new fps: 59.94

# make sure content is preceived as frame based

clip = core.std.SetFieldBased(clip, 0)

# adjusting frame count and rate with sRestore

clip = havsfunc.srestore(source=clip, frate=23.9760, omode=6, speed=9, thresh=16, mode=2)

# Color Adjustment

clip = adjust.Tweak(clip=clip, hue=0.00, sat=1.05, cont=1.00, coring=True)

clip = lostfunc.DeSpot(o=clip)

# applying deblocking using DeBlock QED

clip = havsfunc.Deblock_QED(clip)

# cropping the video to 700x480

clip = core.std.CropRel(clip=clip, left=8, right=12, top=0, bottom=0)

from vsrealesrgan import RealESRGAN

# adjusting color space from YUV420P8 to RGBS for VsRealESRGAN

clip = core.resize.Bicubic(clip=clip, format=vs.RGBS, matrix_in_s="470bg", range_s="limited")

# resizing using RealESRGAN

clip = RealESRGAN(clip=clip, model=0, provider=1, device_id=0) # 1400x960, do not use the anime model on normal content.

# resizing 1400x960 to 934x720

# adjusting resizing

clip = core.fmtc.resample(clip=clip, w=934, h=720, kernel="lanczos", interlaced=False, interlacedd=False)

# letterboxing 934x720 to 1280x720

clip = core.std.AddBorders(clip=clip, left=174, right=172, top=0, bottom=0)

# adjusting output color from: RGBS to YUV420P8 for x264Model

clip = core.resize.Bicubic(clip=clip, format=vs.YUV420P8, matrix_s="470bg", range_s="limited", dither_type="error_diffusion")

# set output frame rate to 23.976fps

clip = core.std.AssumeFPS(clip=clip, fpsnum=24000, fpsden=1001)

# Output

clip.set_output()

Note that I did no do any degrain since RealESRGAN usually does a good job on such sources, I also swapped SpotLess for DeSpot.
(SwinIR might also be worth a try, but is even slower than RealESRGAN)

-> Hope this helps a bit.
The main thing is to find a good balance between denoising/degrain which causes smoothing while keeping details.

Cu Selur

Thanks for the abundance of info and details! This is definitely a great place to start. I may do like you recommended and isolate some scenes that are worse than others versus same settings for the entire episode.

My main desktop does have a RTX 3080 card, so I can definitely leverage the GPU processing stuff you recommended.

I'll give this a try this weekend and thanks again for the wealth of knowledge!

Thanks! Big Grin

Quote: I may do like you recommended and isolate some scenes that are worse than others versus same settings for the entire episode.

You might want to read: [INFO] About Vapoursynth Filter Order/Queue (+ enable 'Use Filter Queue', enable "Filtering->Vapoursynth->Misc->UI->Show 'Apply onto to'" and play a bit with it to understand how it works. (looking at the Script View also helps)

Cu Selur

Is the ML stuff (BasicVSR++ and DPIRDenoise) only available in the Dev releases or is there a way to install manually? You had previously shared a dev build link via PM last year but it looks like when I installed the current public Hybrid release back in March over the top of it, it broke the ML stuff.

I completely uninstalled Hybrid and reinstalled the current public release version and now the ML stuff options are gone.

Thanks!

ML addon should work with any newer build, but I usually send links to my current dev to be sure that the version that is used is one where I know that it works with the addon.

-> will send you a new link to my current dev and the addon in ~15min.

Cu Selur

Received your PM and downloaded everything. I greatly appreciate the links for the Dev builds and addons!

Thanks!

Have fun with it. Big Grin

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