captured Hi8 PAL - Need help with my script to improve picture

[Akuma786]

Hi, I have captured from Hi8 tape direct play from camcorder with following settings in camera(edit ON, TBC ON) using Hauppauge live 2 USB.

Here is sample of capture:https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/f3444c30-c9d6-435d-8138-fcaac3d72bf6

Here is my script:

AVISource("E:\bilals Hi8 Tapes\tape1\tape 1.avi")
AssumeTFF() 
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
QTGMC(Preset="Slower", Sharpness=0.7, SMode=1, EdiThreads=4)
DeHalo_alpha(rx=2.5, ry=2.5, darkstr=1.2, brightstr=0.0)
aWarpSharp2(depth=8, blur=2, thresh=128)
Crop(20, 0, -20, -10) 
AddBorders(20, 0, 20, 10)


Prefetch(16)

Can anyone take a look and help refine my script to improve quality please.

[davexnet]

try adding

tr2=0

to QTGMC to reduce some of the smoothing

[Akuma786]

tr2=0 doesn't change much.

[Akuma786]

Can the source picture quality be improved. Anyone , any suggestions please ?

[davexnet]

I think it would be a bit better if you could eliminate some of those black haloes and possibly smooth a little of the rough edges.
You might have to be patient; there are a few members who may have some ideas about working on the existing clp.

Regarding the capture itself,
have you tried hooking the camera direct to a TV to compare the image? Does it show the same problems?
If not, you have to think about whether there is something specific to the Hauppauge live 2 USB and or/the PAL format causing
the problems during the capture.

Sorry I don't have anything more specific.

[Sharc]

... you have to think about whether there is something specific to the Hauppauge live 2 USB ....

@Akuma786: Set the proc-amp sharpness to zero (or very low) for the Live2. Its default setting produces moiré and halos in my experience which people then try to fix in post.
Also, from field#198 to #211 the fields playback sequence gets messed up (stuttering repeats, depending on the source filter) due to dropped fields or frames between field #197 and #198 (aka frame #98/99). You can analyze this yourself using separatefields(). Use LWLibav source filters or BSSource instead of AviSource.

[Alwyn]

I reckon it's a bit on the reddish side. I open my AVSs in VDub2 and apply Camcorder Colour Denoise at full strength, then use Colormill to adjust the colours. In this case, I dropped the red to give it a more neutral look - note the white shirts. I also adjusted the levels a tad in Colormill to give it more contrast.

CCD 32bit & 64bit (my website, it's safe)

Colormill 32bit & 64bit

[Akuma786]

Thanks guys!

@davexnet, yeah just checked direct to TV, it's same problem. It's built into the capture it seems.

@Sharc, done a recapture of same segment with sharpness at 0. Here is sample:
https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/42e6c5ea-c6fd-4f93-b60d-fcacd7a73131

I think its slightly better, but them halo's are ugly. can anything be done there ?

@Alwyn, thanks.

[Sharc]

@Sharc, done a recapture of same segment with sharpness at 0. Here is sample:
https://www.swisstransfer.com/d/42e6c5ea-c6fd-4f93-b60d-fcacd7a73131

I think its slightly better, but them halo's are ugly. can anything be done there ?

Yes, it is definitely better, and no dropped fields any more.
Halos: You can try with dehalo filters and settings. If you don't succeed you can try to apply an edge mask yourself and smooth (blur) the edges. A tradeoff between damaging or improving the video though. Maybe someone else has a better idea.

[Akuma786]

Thanks Sharc, I'll recapture the whole tape with sharpness at 0 and then play around with my current script and see if dehalo filters can improve it. I'll also try the edge mask trick if i can figure out how to do it. Much appreciated.