NTSC VHS summary 6: Hybrid for Conversions, Deinterlacing, Upscaling to MP4

[brockway]

I've spent the past year slowly plugging away at capturing some NTSC VHS tapes. I had to create notes to keep things straight, so I thought I'd share them in case they help others. I'm a newbie. Not an expert. These are not comprehensive. Take them for what they are.

Here is what I used in my setup: JVC SVHS HR-S2913U > DMR-ES15 > Pinnacle 710 USB > Windows 10 > Virtual Dub 1.9.11 .

NTSC VHS newbie overall summary: Capturing
NTSC VHS newbie overall summary: Processing & Conversion

**** NTSC VHS newbie summary #6: Hybrid for Conversions, Deinterlacing + Upscaling to MP4 ****

Hybrid: https://www.selur.de
Hybrid options by Selur, which also details the processing order of operations: https://forum.selur.net/thread-10.html
Hybrid guide: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=109259

Note that these steps are based on Hybrid 2021.12.10.1.

Converting NTSC VHS avi to mp4 with Hybrid

These are the steps I followed to convert a deinterlaced NTSC VHS avi (captured with VirtualDub) to an mp4 (x264).

- Base > Audio > 'Auto add (all)'
- Audio > Main > Audio Encoding Options. Leave defaults or set audio format (aac) & bitrate appropriately.
- Base > Select file (top right)
- Base > Video: x264
- x264 Tab:
-- Encoding Mode: Constant Rate Factor (17-22)
-- Set AVC Profile/Level based on resolution (3.1 for 480p @ 60 FPS) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Video_Coding#Levels
- Crop/Resize Tab:
-- 1. Picture Crop: 8 off each side (704x480)
-- 2. Convert output to PAR: MP4 NTSC 4:3 (10/11). http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-restore/12401-upscaling-ntsc-vhs.html#post81730
-- 3. Resize: 704 x 480 (May need to uncheck auto adjust)
- Filtering > (De-)interlace/telecine Tab:
-- auto deinterlacing handling > none (this assumes your footage does not need to be de-interlaced)
- Base > Set output
- Base > Click the man with the shovel to convert.


Upscaling NTSC VHS with Hybrid to 1080p

Each piece of footage is unique and the best upscaling results require unique conversion settings.
I didn't have time to test different settings, so I followed the steps from this YouTube video.
How to Upscale Video Resolution in Hybrid CORRECTLY | Upscale Resolution Without Loss of Quality (by DaGoose)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9CaRx-Qk2o

Note that Selur says this guide is "stupid": https://forum.selur.net/thread-2204.html
Note that this still uses AviSynth, which is slower than VapourSynth.
Hopefully some day, I have time to go back and try different settings to achieve the best results.

- Base > Audio > 'Auto add (all)'
- Audio > Main > Audio Encoding Options. Set audio format (aac) & bitrate appropriately.
- Base > Select file (top right)
- Base > Video: x264
- x264 Tab:
-- Encoding Mode: Constant Rate Factor (17-22)
-- Set AVC Profile/Level based on resolution (4.2 for 1080p @ 60 FPS) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Video_Coding#Levels
- Filtering > (De-)interlace/telecine Tab:
-- auto deinterlacing handling > none (this assumes your footage does not need to be de-interlaced)
-- Support dropdown (bottom right corner) > AviSynth
- AviSynth > Frame > Resize Tab:
-- Check: Resizer
-- NNEDI3Resize
-- Quality: 2
-- Neurons: 4
-- Resizer: LanczosResize
- AviSynth > Line > Misc > EdgeCleaner Tab:
-- Smoothing: 2 or 3
- AviSynth > DeRing Tab:
-- Check: DeRinging
-- MosquiteNR
-- Strength: 23 to 28
- FFmpeg > Filtering > (Un-)sharpen Tab:
-- Strength: 1.50
- Crop/Resize Tab:
-- 1. Picture Crop: 8 off each side (704x480)
-- 2. Check: Resize
--- 2a. Uncheck "auto adjust"
--- 2b. Set resolution. 1440x1080 for VHS 1080p as per http://www.digitalfaq.com/forum/video-restore/12401-upscaling-ntsc-vhs.html#post81662
- Base > Set output
- Base > Click the man with the shovel to convert.


Deinterlacing (QTGMC) with Hybrid Simple Guide
Hybrid + QTGMC: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/401770-Quick-simple-guide-to-QTGMC-deinterlacing-(...s)#post2635360

- Base > Audio > 'Auto add (all)'
-- Alternatively, you can select "passthrough", but this may result in errors like ""Error in audio job creation Format adpcm is not allowed for mp4 output." (https://forum.selur.net/thread-27.html)
- Audio > Main > Audio Encoding Options. Set audio format (aac) & bitrate appropriately.
- Base > Select file (top right)
- Insert your video into the program (by dragging it to the first textbox or selecting it with the icon next to it)
- x264 Tab:
-- Encoding Mode: Constant Rate Factor. Suggestions include CRF 18-22 (18 for 480p, 20 for 720p). For more discussion see: this thread.
--- If you have size constraints, then consider choosing "specific filesize/bitrate (2-pass)". Use google to determine bitrate for your resolution.
-- for AVC Profile/Level, set the version appropriately. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Video_Coding#Levels
- Filtering > (De-)interlace/telecine Tab:
-- in bottom right hand corner ensure support is set to either VapourSynth or AviSynth. (Selur recommends using VapourSynth over AviSynth because it is faster).
--- Note that for me, my encodes would crash with VapourSynth, so I used AviSynth.
-- Click the checkbox next to "Overwrite input scan type to". Set it appropriately. Selur wrote "Hybrid won't apply deinterlacing/ivtc-filters if the input scan type is progressive." For VHS footage, it is usually "Top Field First" (TFF).
--- If you are unsure of what to use, Hybrid can perform interlace detection on the video and recommend a setting for scan type. Press the "?" in the magnifying glass that is to the right of "Input scan type: progress".
-- change the preset to something between "slower" and "faster" (inclusive).
-- if you want the double framerate (50fps as opposed to 25fps, for example) also check "bob"
- Base > Set output
- Base > Click the man with the shovel to convert.

[macramore]

Does anyone know what the equivalent upscale settings would be for VapourSynth? Avisynth crashes on my setup. I’ve been searching the forums for a similar guide that uses VapourSynth.

[Selur]

Note that Selur says this guide is "stupid"

I still stand by this. Sure, it has some valid options, but the combination and the wording make it 'stupid'.

@macramore: If your content is properly flagged. Simply telling Hybrid to convert to 'square pixel (1:1)' PAR, resizing to the target width and using NNEDI3 as Frame->Resizer probably is the way to go. If you are not sure whether your content is properly flagged, share a short sample of it.

[rrats]

Unless you need to have it in 1080p sequence I don't see a point in upscaling 480p

[macramore]

Note that Selur says this guide is "stupid"

I still stand by this. Sure, it has some valid options, but the combination and the wording make it 'stupid'.

@macramore: If your content is properly flagged. Simply telling Hybrid to convert to 'square pixel (1:1)' PAR, resizing to the target width and using NNEDI3 as Frame->Resizer probably is the way to go. If you are not sure whether your content is properly flagged, share a short sample of it.

Do you recommend just the defaults of NNEDI3 in the Vapoursynth settings as a general guideline to follow? Obviously you’d have to see the footage to know for sure, but I have a lot of vhs home videos of ranging quality thanks to my parents using different formats on their VHS recording. Currently my videos are cropped at a 704x480 and deinterlaced. I am trying to upscale them with the least loss of quality to 1440x1080 so that YouTube will accept it as an HD resolution.

[Selur]

I would not blindly resize to 1440x1080. Whether that's a meaningful resolution, depends on the input PAR.
If the input par is properly flagged in your content and not 1:1 telling Hybrid to adjust for output par 'square pixel (1:1)' is the way to go.
If the input is not properly flagged and thus the Vapoursynth Preview is distorted (= displayed stretched or compressed in width or height), input PAR should be corrected/overwritten and then the Hybrid should be told to adjust for output par 'square pixel (1:1)'.
If the output par is 1:1 and the Vapoursynth Preview is properly displayed, adjust either the height or width and let Hybrid adjust the other to not distort the image again.


Personally, I would not use the NNEDI3 settings suggested blindly, but adjust them or stick with the defaults.

Cu Selur

[dellsam34]

Resizing should be done before flagging to any aspect ratio, The whole point of resizing to a square pixel resolution is to avoid AR flagging. If 1920x1080 is a must it should be done from 704x480 raw to 1920x1080 with 1:1 flag or without it, both should give a proper frame proportions. Unless I'm missing the point here.

[Selur]

Unless I'm missing the point here.

Yes, you do kind of miss the point that this is in Hybrid.

There are the following scenarios when aiming for square pixel output:

• Source is not flagged and square pixel, then simply telling Hybrid the desired resize width or height is enough, since Hybrid will adjust the other automatically.
• Source is not flagged and anamorphic, then one should correct the input par in Hybird, then tell Hybrid that it should convert to square pixel and then telling Hybrid the desired resize width or height is enough, since Hybrid will adjust the other automatically.
• Source is flagged, but wrongly. In this case, one should do the same as in the case when it was not flagged and anamorphic.
• Source is properly flagged, then you only need to telling Hybrid the desired resize width or height is enough, since Hybrid will adjust the other automatically.

If 1920x1080 is a must it should be done from 704x480 raw to 1920x1080 with 1:1 flag or without it, both should give a proper frame proportions

If you got an anamorphic source with 704x480 and then simply resize to 1920x1080 with 1:1 your output might be stretched/compressed depending on the input PAR.
=> Knowing the characteristics of the source that is produced during the capturing is important and need to be considered.

Cu Selur

[dellsam34]

Oh okay, I don't use hybrid so I did miss the point, As to anamorphic contents, I have never come across an anamorphic VHS tape, letter boxed yes. But I use to record onto S-VHS in anamorphic 16/9.