Restoring macroblocks caused by DVD recorder?

[primus_fan2001]

Hey, I'm pretty sure this goes in this section (if not, I apologize). Anyways, I have a Panasonic DMR-ES15 recorder that works well for anything under 3 hours. However, the quality starts to turn crappy for anything over 3 hours (thanks to macroblocks). I was wondering if there was a program that would remove most of these macroblocks from the recorded video?

[FulciLives]

There are a variety of AviSynth filters for this.

1.) Blockbuster
2.) DeBlock

http://www.avisynth.org

http://avisynth.org/warpenterprises/

Good Luck !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[redwudz]

With AVI type formats, Smart Deblocker works fairly well. You can use it with VirtualDub Mod on MPEG, but it will output as a AVI type format and you will have to encode it back to MPEG. Info on Smart Deblocker here: http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=103873

AVIsynth is faster, but harder to configure for first timers.

[primus_fan2001]

So assuming I understand correctly, I would run one of the mentioned programs through either AVIsynth or V.Dub Mod, and then then re-encode the AVI output as an MPEG?

Plus, what's the learning curve for V.Dub Mod? I hear that it's very useful for this sort of stuff, but was under the impression that it could be a noob's nightmare.

[Bjs]

https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=270071

Vdub to bbmpeg ... simple stuff .

Bbmpeg also loads avisynth scripts .

[lordsmurf]

It basically just blurs the image. Something like MSU Deblock is a "smart" blur, only happening at the edges, but a blur all the same. Such is the price you pay when you use inferior equipment (such as Panasonic machines using their own chipsets and unintelligent settings).

[FulciLives]

It basically just blurs the image. Something like MSU Deblock is a "smart" blur, only happening at the edges, but a blur all the same. Such is the price you pay when you use inferior equipment (such as Panasonic machines using their own chipsets and unintelligent settings).

LS !!!

I missed ya ... good to see you back !!!

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

[echo1434]

It basically just blurs the image. Something like MSU Deblock is a "smart" blur, only happening at the edges, but a blur all the same. Such is the price you pay when you use inferior equipment (such as Panasonic machines using their own chipsets and unintelligent settings).

Agreed. All this talk about an initial poor encode, blurring the image, and then re-encoding(!) has me cringing.

Surely not an "optimal quality" conversion method. If you *must* stick with your current recorder, I'd highly suggest using a higher bitrate and splitting the video across two discs.

[vhelp]

Evening everyone

It strikes me funny, how people rely on the, SP quality mode of these
recorders, when their goal would seem to be to re-process them again
anyway. I mean, why rely on low bitrate for this ? It always strikes
me something, when I hear to come to the conclusion of this.

But just like echo1434; said, for re-processing purposes, one
should alway use the *highest* quality mode or setting that the given
recorder allows.

In theory, a VBR encode would seem logical to utilize, in terms of the
optimum compression ratio. But, this does not always apply to various
machinary that incorporates MPEG archetecture. And, when encoding for
highest quality, one should have an aim for I-Frame-like quality, that
is.., where quality is based on I-frame (less compression) principals.

Now, some Video Sources may be much cleaner, and can get away with a
lower bitrate algorithem scheme, but not every video sources are lucky
this way. Many are noisy. Take mine, for instance. I have Analog Cable.
It is (in short) a noisy source. But, one thing that keeps me using it
is the fact that this Source Medium does not suffer the MPEG artifacts
that plauge many so called, high-quality -- Satellite, anyone ?

I'm not sure about Digital Cable, but I know from experiences, that
Satellite (MPEG-2) is full of mpeg artifacts, such as pixelations, and
are found especially, in various motion scenarios.

So, I comprimise, and opt for Analog Cable, and put up with the noise
for the time being, in favor of no pixelation, with the small exception
of those channels that my Cable Provider airs, that may incorporate a
pre-processed MPEG video source. MTV, VHS, and BET are plauged by MPEG
artifacts, mainly pixelation.., weather Analog Cable or Digital Cable
or Satellite !!

But, regardless..

That is why I use (and choose) CBR and highest bitrate my MPEG encoder
will allow -- be it a Software or Hardware based, MPEG Encoder.

Althoug it might be that some users are not using the MSU Deblocking tool
properly, and not acheaving the results expected, I myself sometimes use the
block-reduction scheme found in TMPGenc, under the:

** Quantize Matrix\[x] Soften block noise

..with the [35] x [35] default setting.

-vhelp 4182

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