Avisynth, Macroblock reduction...

[mh2360]

A lot of the sources i convert have macro-block problems, not major, but noticable. I mainly use Avisynth or Virtualdub fameserved to CCE (for DVD conversion), and I need a filter or Plugin that will either soften the picture (like Tmpgenc does) or maybe add a little grain or something to reduce the blocks. Any ideas? I've already tried the default plugins and filters, but I was hoping to find something better...

[Ejoc]

convolution3d ? I use AVISynth and Im not sure what Macro-Block problems are, but convolution3d is good for running on poor image sources.

[sammie]

Setting a soften or other filter to a degree where it masks macro-blocks would probably result in little discernable detail left in the picture. There is a threshold kind of phenomenon to macroblocks and maybe softening it a bit will get you below the trigger for the blockiness, but I wouldn't try to cover up macroblocks by filtering. Probably better to figure out why you are getting blocks in the first place. I would suggest giving us more details on what you are trying to do. VCD, SVCD, DVD, what size, resolution, bitrate, etc. The best guess I have at this point is high motion, or noisey (you mention poor sources, more detail here might help too) input file and a low bitrate output. Convolution 3d might help if the problem is a bad source, but a better source is proably a better option if the souce is bad enough to be causing serious macroblocks.

[mh2360]

Convolution3d made a difference, but man is it slow... CCE normally runs at around 0.80 on my system, but it slowed to 0.40 with C3D...

[sammie]

Yep, any noise reduction filter is going to be VERY slow. If you can get a setting which reduces macroblocks, without compromising the detail of the pictures too much then it almost certainly means a source that isn't clean. I'd suggest first work on getting a cleaner source. If that isn't possible then you are stuck with something like Convolution 3d. That's what I use with avisynth. For VDub I use Flaxen VHS. It's no faster and not necessarily better, but the settings seem more intuitive to me and I THINK I end up doing a better job with it. I don't know of any noise reduction filters (temporal, spatial or combo) that do a good job and don't slow things down a lot. I mean if you think about what that kind of filter is doing, it's pretty obvious why it would take a lot of time.