Improving bad VHS with TMPGEnc Xpress

[ROBERT BLACK]

I don't want to reinvent the wheel, just improve some REALLY bad VHS footage. I realize a couple of the responses will tell me to throw it out, but ANY suggestions to improve of this footage will be appreciated. TMPGEnc Xpress is my primary program for this.



http://img225.exs.cx/img225/6095/webpdvd0010yd.jpg

[lordsmurf]

That's not even remotely bad.
My proc amp and detailer would fix that.
Proc amp for color/brightness/contrast.
Detailer to sharpen it.

Throw that out? No way. That's a good source.

In just software, TMPGENC filters could fix the color.
Not much to do for sharpness, not in software.

[State Of Mind]

Could always try AviSynth...
A bit complex, but very useful...

[ROBERT BLACK]

That's not even remotely bad.


Throw that out? No way. That's a good source.

In just software, TMPGENC filters could fix the color.
Not much to do for sharpness, not in software.

Any suggestions for colour settings in TMPGEnc Xpress Lord Smurf? Maybe I should post more stills, the footage is so washed out that maybe that first still doesn't fully express it.

[lordsmurf]

Post more stills. Better yet, post a clip I can load in TMPG.

[MpegEncoder]

Could always try AviSynth...
A bit complex, but very useful...

I agree, if you're fixing VHS, avisynth is the way to go. It takes a little learning, but it's not that hard. Once you understand it and get some filters you like, it's extremely easy to do some serious cleanup. All in one step.

[ROBERT BLACK]

No video footage, but here are a couple more stills. Full resolution from the DVD-R. To make matters worse the original dub tape broke. Quality was the same. Will look into AVIsynth. Thanks.


http://img226.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img226&image=pdvd0034tb.png


http://img9.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img9&image=pdvd0019pl.png

[lordsmurf]

Severe bleeding, softness, and I bet waviness.
Try different VCRs for best playback.
Then filter for color.

TMPG, Avisynth, Virtualdub ... all the same.
Just pick the one you like best.

[ROBERT BLACK]

Suggest TMPGEnc Xpress levels for Gamma,Luma,Chroma, and Contrast please. Waviness isn't much of a problem, but a bit of it is there. I'm now stuck with the DVD-R as source. . Any settings in TMPG, Avisynth, Virtualdub that can reduce severe bleeds? Thanks.

[Nelson37]

TMPGENC, VDUB, AVISYNTH all the same? You've got to be kidding. These three progs are radically different, to suggest they are not is extremely ignorant, to say the least.

Vdub filters require colorspace conversion, avisynth filters are far more controllable and capable, IMO, TMPGenc filters are much less amenable to fine-tuning and far more limited, but are easily accessible.

Try the TMPGenc filters with some small settings changes. If this seems to be heading in the right direction, spend some time learning AVISYNTH, which is generally regarded as the best app for performing complex filtering tasks. You can open the AVS file in VDUB and scan thru to see the effects of the applied filters immediately, in different sections of the video.

Or you can just chuck all that, pronounce it rubbish, and buy yourself a couple grand worth of hardware, then come back here and make idiotic statements.

[lordsmurf]

Oh bullshit.
They're all just different versions of doing the same thing.

Some slightly excel at one task as compared to another one, but no single program walks away with a "superior to the others" awards, not even close.

For something as simple as color correction, any of these will do just fine. Use the one you like.

If you can upload a clip of like 10 second, yes, I can look at throwing together something really quick, and you can fine tune from there (TMPG TPR file).

[DVWannaB]

For something as simple as color correction, any of these will do just fine. Use the one you like.

This is very true from my experience (to the above statement).

Nelson37 does make a good point and through my experience rings true. All-in-all Avisynth is the best way to go for rudimentary to complex video pre-processing you can get that is free. For one reason only. The work, testing and re-working done by the coders in the avisynth world is much more robust and active. The filter progression is much more dynamic in the avisynth world and that makes it the best app for this kinda stuff.

As to the original question, I think you will have to do your own tests. Just do some sort test clips, maybe a minute long at various segments of your file and judge for yourself. Encode at CBR 8000 mbps. What I think looks good maybe different from you. Trust your eyes ........... may the force be with you

[lordsmurf]

Use the advanced color correct in TMPG too, not the simple one. The simple is simply no good.