Avisynth - Filtering with QTGMC, TemporalDegrain and LSFmod - Blurry text

[waxstone]

I've written a script for filtering VHS captures before encoding. I think I've done a good job and for the most part it looks great, but I've noticed some loss of detail in text (see attached videos for comparison).

I've a feeling I won't be able to remove any of the ghosting and that it's baked into the recording itself. How do my results look and is there anything I should change?

My script:

Import("TemporalDegrain-v2.6.6.avsi")

video_audio = FFmpegSource2("Sample2.avi", atrack=-1).ConvertToYUY2().AssumeTFF()

crop_left = 8
crop_top = 4
crop_right = 6
crop_bottom = 4
video_crop = video_audio.crop(crop_left, crop_top, -crop_right, -crop_bottom)

processed = video_crop.AssumeTFF()
processed = QTGMC(processed, preset="Fast")

denoised = processed.ConvertToYV16().TemporalDegrain2(degrainTR=1).ConvertToYUY2()

sharpened_yv12 = denoised.ConvertToYV12().LSFmod(defaults="fast")
sharpened = sharpened_yv12.ConvertToYUY2().MergeChroma(denoised)

video_final = sharpened.AddBorders(crop_left, crop_top, crop_right, crop_bottom)

final_output = video_final.ConvertToYV12()
final_output = final_output.AssumeFPS(60000, 1001)  # Lock FPS to 59.94

return final_output
Prefetch(16)

[Selur]

Haven't looked at your files, but QTGCM is known to blur text a bit, try BWDIF or TDeint instead.

I've a feeling I won't be able to remove any of the ghosting and that it's baked into the recording itself. How do my results look and is there anything I should change?

Without knowing the source: no clue,...

[waxstone]

Haven't looked at your files, but QTGCM is known to blur text a bit, try BWDIF or TDeint instead.

I've a feeling I won't be able to remove any of the ghosting and that it's baked into the recording itself. How do my results look and is there anything I should change?

Without knowing the source: no clue,...

I've now uploaded the original video.

Doing a lot of encoding tests now to make a fair comparison.

[Selur]

Personally, I would denoise way more (probably with MCTemporalDenoise) and not use LSFMod, but maybe try CAS. (attached sample is too smooth and I totally forgot about the text )
I would also adjust the colors.
Side note: The 'Prefetch(16)' should be before the 'return'-statement.
Depending on time and motivation, one could also filter on a pre-scene basis. Intro&Outro could be denoised more aggressive.


Cu Selur

Ps.: also attached a version where I messed a bit around with the colors,... (script: https://pastebin.com/JkeV0aGh)

[waxstone]

Personally, I would denoise way more (probably with MCTemporalDenoise) and not use LSFMod, but maybe try CAS. (attached sample is too smooth and I totally forgot about the text )
I would also adjust the colors.
Side note: The 'Prefetch(16)' should be before the 'return'-statement.
Depending on time and motivation, one could also filter on a pre-scene basis. Intro&Outro could be denoised more aggressive.


Cu Selur

Ps.: also attached a version where I messed a bit around with the colors,... (script: https://pastebin.com/JkeV0aGh)

Thanks very much for the advice (especially on prefetch )

Although it looks like nice filtering again a lot of the detail is lost (see the Gamecube logo on the console). However the color is a bit of an improvement.

I'm going to focus a bit more on color. See attached a comparison between Capture, Encode and DVD. The DVD provides the full frame and correct color.

I'd like image of the encode to be more centered to match the DVD source, though due to the edge artifacts/standard garbage, I think the added black borders should remain.

Although the DVD source has that anime stretched, more than likely correctly, I probably won't stretch the encode to match the width of the DVD. I'd need to first to have a good look at the commercials and other material to see if everything needs stretched or it's just an anime issue.

Could you recommend a good method to correct VHS color based on a source such as DVD? See screenshot comparisons:


[Attachment 86766 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 86767 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 86768 - Click to enlarge]


[Attachment 86769 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 86770 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 86771 - Click to enlarge]


[Attachment 86772 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 86773 - Click to enlarge]

[Attachment 86774 - Click to enlarge]

[lollo]

Could you recommend a good method to correct VHS color based on a source such as DVD? See screenshot comparisons

GamMatch: http://avisynth.nl/index.php/GamMatch

Some example here:

https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=176004

https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=173695&page=12

https://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=173695&page=13