mpeg2 mkv to x264 mp4 always heavy artifacts

[jadsy]

Here's a script I would use as a base:

# Imports
import os
import sys
import ctypes
# Loading Support Files
Dllref = ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary("I:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libfftw3-3.dll")
Dllref = ctypes.windll.LoadLibrary("I:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libfftw3f-3.dll")
import vapoursynth as vs
core = vs.get_core()
# Import scripts folder
scriptPath = 'I:/Hybrid/64bit/vsscripts'
sys.path.append(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/DebandFilter/Flash3kDeband/flash3kyuu_deband.dll")
core.std.LoadPlugin(path="I:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/SharpenFilter/AWarpSharp2/libawarpsharp2.dll")
core.std.LoadPlugin(path="I:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/TCanny.dll")
core.std.LoadPlugin(path="I:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/libtemporalmedian.dll")
core.std.LoadPlugin(path="I:/Hybrid/64bit/vsfilters/Support/vcmod.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/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/EEDI3.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/SourceFilter/LSmashSource/vslsmashsource.dll")
# Import scripts
import mvsfunc
import muvsfunc
import G41Fun
import lostfunc
import havsfunc
# source: 'C:\Users\Selur\Desktop\1.mkv'
# current color space: YUV420P8, bit depth: 8, resolution: 720x576, fps: 25, color matrix: 470bg, yuv luminance scale: limited, scanorder: top field first
# Loading C:\Users\Selur\Desktop\1.mkv using LWLibavSource
clip = core.lsmas.LWLibavSource(source="C:/Users/Selur/Desktop/1.mkv", format="YUV420P8", cache=0, fpsnum=25, prefer_hw=0)
# making sure input color matrix is set as 470bg
clip = core.resize.Point(clip, matrix_in_s="470bg",range_s="limited")
# making sure frame rate is set to 25
clip = core.std.AssumeFPS(clip=clip, fpsnum=25, fpsden=1)
# Setting color range to TV (limited) range.
clip = core.std.SetFrameProp(clip=clip, prop="_ColorRange", intval=1)
# 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: 50
# 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=23.976, omode=6, speed=9, thresh=16, mode=2)
clip = clip = lostfunc.DeSpot(o=clip)
# applying deblocking using DeBlock QED
clip = clip = havsfunc.Deblock_QED(clip)
# denoising using mClean
clip = clip = G41Fun.mClean(clip=clip)
# contrast sharpening using CAS
clip = core.cas.CAS(clip=clip, sharpness=0.800)
# adjusting output color from: YUV420P16 to YUV420P8 for x264Model (i420@8)
clip = core.resize.Bicubic(clip=clip, format=vs.YUV420P8, range_s="limited")
# set output frame rate to 23.976fps
clip = core.std.AssumeFPS(clip=clip, fpsnum=24000, fpsden=1001)
# Output
clip.set_output()

I attached the filter settings.
Not sure whether the original was PAL or NTSC, so I used sRestore to go for NTSC instead of PAL.
Also note that there are probably way better filtering settings, but this is what I would start with.

Cu Selur

Cu Selur, thank you very much for your hard work! I have managed to solve the artifacting issue! It was problem in my computer, MPC-HC told me I was missing some codecs, I was not using MPC-HC before, I was using VLC which didn't told me anything. I was blaming the program and it was my PC.
So the last problem I have, Hybrid doesn't load audio tracks when ripping DVDs. It is not a major issue as I can rip DVDs with makemkv and than load it into Hybrid.
I have also installed Hybrid to dad's PC and there also does not load audio track.
If you would like to take a look on this issue, I have uploaded whole DVD image:

https://www.uschovna.cz/en/zasilka/HNBZGU2RXG35I8VA-A7I

I have also one question bothering me, I would like to know, which codec would you prefer, if you would have to choose between VP9 or h264.

Anyway, thank you very much for spending time and answering my noob questions. Hybrid is now my new primary encoding software.
Filip