Capture- Which ColorSpace for later filtering

[grannyGeek]

I wasn't sure whether to post here or in Capture board. Please move me if I chose wrong.

My sources are commercial vhs movies, and I need to reverse-telecine.
I've been capturing with Huffyuv to YUY2 so that I could use Donald Graft's DeComb package (which I learned to use, thanks to very good included tutorial)
I then use Convolution3d and/or RemoveDirt.dll AviSynth filters to clean the video.

Now I have some tapes that I want to additionally use the excellent VirtualDub filter ColorMill for color correction, but I understand that VDub filters only work in RGB.
I've also read warnings to avoid colorspace conversions if at all possible.

I'm hoping for advice on which of three options I should follow ---
should I ---
1. Capture in YUY2, use DeComb, Convolution3d, RemoveDirt, and then let VDub convert the video to RGB to run ColorMill ?

2. Capture in RGB, use ColorMill, then convert to YUY2 for Decimation and cleaning ?

3. Capture in RGB, and find other filters to Decimate and clean that would work on RGB? then follow those with ColorMill.
( If number 3, does anyone have thoughts of what will work for RGB?

4. any fourth or fifth options you might suggest ????


What would YOU do?

thanks for any input -
granny

[Barnabas]

I would stick with YUY2

I suggest you give the Dotcrawl comb filter (for VirtualDub) a try since you are converting from VHS. That filter does an AMAZING job on captures from Video tape sources. There are some other good tape filters such as Flaxen, but the Dotcrawl comb filter is my favorite

[grannyGeek]

Barnabas, much thanks for responding.

Hope you don't mind if I ask for clarification -
do you mean I should use DotCrawl filter to clean instead of Convolution3d / RemoveDirt ?


So, are you recommending to capture in YUY2, use Decomb, and then use VirtualDub filters for all the rest of the procesessing?

another dumb question ---
with the VDub filters converting to RGB, would I need to add a line to my script to convert to YUY2 or to YV12 before sending to Quenc for encoding? Or will that happen automatically?

thanks for any advice --

[guns1inger]

Convert to RGB, process in vdub and frameserve directly from vdub Quenc would seem to be the logical order. Once vdub has opens the avs, quenc will not see it. You will still be going though the colourspace conversions.

Unless you are able to call the vdub filter from within your AVS. Seom vdub filters can be used by using the LoadVirtualdubFilter command, then accessing them like other filters. No all are supported though. I don't think colormill is, more's the pity.

[grannyGeek]

Hey guns1inger, thanks for posting.

I'm still out on a limb with one question tho --
Should I use DeComb in YUY2 colorspace to reverse-telecine, then convert to RGB, or should I search around for another filter that will do reverse-telecine in RGB colorspace. If I could find such a creature, I presume I would then be better off to capture in RGB right from the jump.

Please share your thoughts on this ---
granny

[grannyGeek]

I'm happy to report that ColorMill CAN be loaded in avs script.
I got the settings out of the vcf file, and it works just fine.

[Barnabas]

grannyGeek,

Yes, I prefer the DotCrawl filter to Convolution3d / RemoveDirt. It's not as well known, but unlike many filters, it does not seem to ever hurt the video, and only makes it look better. Take a good look at text from a VHS movie with the DotCrawl filter, versus the other methods and see which you like better.

You have to be careful with filters, as they can do more harm than good.

[grannyGeek]

Barnabas, thanks. I will check it out.
I do like when someone gives a strong testimonial (or vice-versa), it helps when I know somebody else got good results and gives me something to shoot for.

Ya, I've already had a few incidents of the awfuls from over-filtering---
banding problems, pixelization, that "Paint-By-Numbers" look from over-sharpening or too much contrast
< anybody else old enough to remember Paint-By-Numbers?>

So I'm learning to keep my filtering as minimal as possible.

VDub comparison panes don't always show untouched original, so I try to keep myself honest by running the original clip in a separate player for immediate comparison, and also periodically check TV playback with test burns to RW disk.

thanks for your advice.
sorry for babbling on again

[guns1inger]

Great news about colormill. On the downside, the interesting looking Dot Crawl apparently (according to the author) does not work with PAL source. Looks like we miss out on a nice plugin there.

I use the split screen script at the top of this post -> https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=297929 for before/after monitoring of tweaks. It can be used to show the original and the tweak, or simply different parameters for comparison of effect. and it can be loaded by MPC or VLC instead of vdub if necessary

[grannyGeek]

guns1inger --- Split-screen -- cool beans !!!!

Actually, I'm NTSC, so I guess DotCrawl will work for me ok. I'll test it tonight and see how it looks.

This is getting to be a LOT more fun now that I'm learning how to use some of the tools a bit

[Barnabas]

I guess we sort of take it for granted in NTSC land that everyone uses NSTC. I totally forgot that Dot Crawl could not handle PAL. Too bad, as it's the best filter for VHS I have tried in my 6 years of doing video conversions.