from DVD to youtube = too dark due to colorspace

[Danic]

So I'm trying to upload a 2 minute video from DVD to youtube, but youtube makes the video way too dark, as it doesn't handle the colorspace of my DVD (BT601 + BT470) correctly.

How to properly encode the video with:
a) convert colorspace so that youtube keeps the brightness the same
b) crop the borders
c) upscale to 4K, otherwise youtube uses too low bitrate and the quality suffers a lot
d) deinterlace (bob)

with a single ffmpeg command if possible.
Should be easier to do steps b+c with avisynth though.

1 second clip (remuxed to mkv) for testing: https://file.kiwi/be4011dc#xFN_FfS3qeU-0MhilMSv3g

If I convert to BT709 or BT601 with Handbrake the video brightness is much better after uploaded to youtube, but still a bit darker than the original (e.g. if BT.601 EBU (=PAL) is selected in Handbrake, mediainfo reports: Color primaries : BT.601 PAL Transfer characteristics : BT.709 Matrix coefficients : BT.601).

I also tried with Handbrake colorspace custom format with the following valuers, which gets the correct brightness in youtube:
primaries="bt601-6-525":transfer="bt709":matrix="bt601-6-525"
For the resulting file Mediainfo only reports: Transfer characteristics : BT.709" and omits color primaries and matrix coefficients.
The problem with this custom colorspace is that it doesn't work when upscaling is enabled. For some reason it also shifts the image a few pixels rightwards.

Mediainfo for the original clip (remux from DVD):
Mediainfo:

General
Unique ID                   : 223809982403398840198480831573644245518 (0xA8603C150F55CC35DF691D67C2337A0E)
Complete name               : clip.mkv
Format                      : Matroska
Format version              : Version 4
File size                   : 934 KiB
Duration                    : 1 s 344 ms
Overall bit rate mode       : Constant
Overall bit rate            : 5 693 kb/s
Frame rate                  : 51 119.792 FPS
Writing application         : Lavf62.13.102
Writing library             : Lavf62.13.102
ErrorDetectionType          : Per level 1

Video
ID                          : 1
ID in the original source m : 224 (0xE0)
Format                      : MPEG Video
Format version              : Version 2
Format profile              : Main@Main
Format settings             : BVOP
Format settings, BVOP       : Yes
Format settings, Matrix     : Default
Format settings, picture st : Frame
Codec ID                    : V_MPEG2
Codec ID/Info               : MPEG 1 or 2 Video
Duration                    : 1 s 344 ms
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 5 600 kb/s
Width                       : 720 pixels
Height                      : 576 pixels
Display aspect ratio        : 4:3
Frame rate mode             : Variable
Frame rate                  : 51 119.792 FPS
Original frame rate         : 25.000 FPS
Standard                    : PAL
Color space                 : YUV
Chroma subsampling          : 4:2:0
Bit depth                   : 8 bits
Scan type                   : Interlaced
Scan type, store method     : Separated fields (2 fields per block)
Scan order                  : Top Field First
Compression mode            : Lossy
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)          : 0.000
Time code of first frame    : 00:38:38:01
Time code source            : Group of pictures header
Stream size                 : 1.79 GiB
Language                    : English
Default                     : No
Forced                      : No
Color range                 : Limited
Color primaries             : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics    : BT.470 System B/G
Matrix coefficients         : BT.470 System B/G
Original source medium      : DVD-Video

Audio
ID                          : 2
ID in the original source m : 189 (0xBD)128 (0x80)
Format                      : AC-3
Format/Info                 : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                    : A_AC3
Duration                    : 1 s 248 ms
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 192 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 2 channels
Channel layout              : L R
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Bit depth                   : 32 bits
Compression mode            : Lossy
Delay relative to video     : -24 ms
Stream size                 : 62.9 MiB
Title                       : Stereo
Language                    : Finnish
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : Yes
Forced                      : No
Original source medium      : DVD-Video
Dialog Normalization        : -27 dB
compr                       : 1.02 dB
dynrng                      : 0.78 dB
dialnorm_Average            : -27 dB
dialnorm_Minimum            : -27 dB
dialnorm_Maximum            : -27 dB

Menu
00:00:00.000                : Chapter 16
00:01:53.940                : Chapter 17
00:08:10.940                : Chapter 18

[Danic]

OK I solved this by:

first encode the original file with Handbrake with:
deinterlace (yadif, bob)
colourspace custom: primaries="bt601-6-525":transfer="bt709":matrix="bt601-6-525"
x264 50fps RF 16, encoder profile high
cropping and upscaling disabled

then a second run with:
autocropping and upscaling to 4K enabled, original framerate, x264 RF16, encoder profile high, encoder level 5.2


-> no visible quality loss when uploaded to youtube compared to the original file and has the original gamma/brightness

Any suggestions welcome if this isn't the best way to upload to youtube

Mediainfo of the final file which was uploaded to youtube:

General
Complete name               : final.mp4
Format                      : MPEG-4
Format profile              : Base Media / Version 2
Codec ID                    : mp42 (mp42/dby1/iso2/avc1/mp41)
File size                   : 631 MiB
Duration                    : 2 min 1 s
Overall bit rate            : 43.4 Mb/s
Frame rate                  : 48.947 FPS
Encoded date                : 2026-05-02 10:41:17 UTC
Tagged date                 : 2026-05-02 10:41:17 UTC
Writing application         : HandBrake 1.11.1 2026032200

Video
ID                          : 1
Format                      : AVC
Format/Info                 : Advanced Video Codec
Format profile              : High@L5.2
Format settings             : CABAC / 5 Ref Frames
Format settings, CABAC      : Yes
Format settings, Reference  : 5 frames
Codec ID                    : avc1
Codec ID/Info               : Advanced Video Coding
Duration                    : 2 min 1 s
Source duration             : 2 min 1 s
Bit rate                    : 43.2 Mb/s
Width                       : 3 840 pixels
Height                      : 2 160 pixels
Display aspect ratio        : 4:3
Original display aspect rat : 4:3
Frame rate mode             : Variable
Frame rate                  : 48.947 FPS
Minimum frame rate          : 23.395 FPS
Maximum frame rate          : 50.000 FPS
Color space                 : YUV
Chroma subsampling          : 4:2:0
Bit depth                   : 8 bits
Scan type                   : Progressive
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)          : 0.106
Stream size                 : 628 MiB (100%)
Source stream size          : 628 MiB (100%)
Writing library             : x264 core 165 r3222 b35605ac
Encoding settings           : cabac=1 / ref=5 / deblock=1:0:0 / analyse=0x3:0x133 / me=umh / subme=10 / psy=1 / psy_rd=1.00:0.00 / mixed_ref=1 / me_range=24 / chroma_me=1 / trellis=2 / 8x8dct=1 / cqm=0 / deadzone=21,11 / fast_pskip=1 / chroma_qp_offset=-2 / threads=24 / lookahead_threads=4 / sliced_threads=0 / nr=0 / decimate=1 / interlaced=0 / bluray_compat=0 / constrained_intra=0 / bframes=8 / b_pyramid=2 / b_adapt=2 / b_bias=0 / direct=3 / weightb=1 / open_gop=0 / weightp=2 / keyint=490 / keyint_min=49 / scenecut=40 / intra_refresh=0 / rc_lookahead=60 / rc=crf / mbtree=1 / crf=16.0 / qcomp=0.60 / qpmin=0 / qpmax=69 / qpstep=4 / vbv_maxrate=300000 / vbv_bufsize=300000 / crf_max=0.0 / nal_hrd=none / filler=0 / ip_ratio=1.40 / aq=1:1.00
Encoded date                : 2026-05-02 10:41:17 UTC
Tagged date                 : 2026-05-02 10:41:17 UTC
Color range                 : Limited
Color primaries             : BT.601 NTSC
Transfer characteristics    : BT.709
Matrix coefficients         : BT.601
mdhd_Duration               : 121860
Codec configuration box     : avcC

Audio
ID                          : 2
Format                      : AC-3
Format/Info                 : Audio Coding 3
Commercial name             : Dolby Digital
Codec ID                    : ac-3
Duration                    : 2 min 1 s
Bit rate mode               : Constant
Bit rate                    : 192 kb/s
Channel(s)                  : 2 channels
Channel layout              : L R
Sampling rate               : 48.0 kHz
Frame rate                  : 31.250 FPS (1536 SPF)
Compression mode            : Lossy
Stream size                 : 2.79 MiB (0%)
Language                    : Finnish
Service kind                : Complete Main
Default                     : Yes
Alternate group             : 1
Encoded date                : 2026-05-02 10:41:17 UTC
Tagged date                 : 2026-05-02 10:41:17 UTC
Dialog Normalization        : -27 dB
compr                       : -2.14 dB
dynrng                      : 0.78 dB
dialnorm_Average            : -27 dB
dialnorm_Minimum            : -27 dB
dialnorm_Maximum            : -27 dB

[Alwyn]

This what I tried:
AVS
QTGMC
SplineResize 3840x2880

That AVS Into VDub2
CamcorderColorDenoise for stamps
Crop in 4:3 ratio
Resize 3840x2880
X264 8 bit Pixel format Colour Space 709
and it came out like this (A tad brighter than the original):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ggZRb-RAI

[Danic]

This what I tried:
AVS
QTGMC
SplineResize 3840x2880

That AVS Into VDub2
CamcorderColorDenoise for stamps
Crop in 4:3 ratio
Resize 3840x2880
X264 8 bit Pixel format Colour Space 709
and it came out like this (A tad brighter than the original):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3ggZRb-RAI

Thank you, that's great, it's sharper than my encode with Handbrake:
https://twinlens.app/compare?share=69359ab24615

You crop a little bit too much though.

Can you share the avs script and settings for vdub2? I don't see CamcorderColorDenoise in vdub2.

[Alwyn]

Here you go:

v=LWLibavVideoSource("H:\Videohelp\Danic\clip.mpg")
a=LWLibavAudioSource("H:\Videohelp\Danic\clip.mpg")
AudioDub(v,a)
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
AssumeTFF()
QTGMC(preset="Fast", EdiThreads=8)
Spline64Resize(3840, 2880)
Prefetch(24)

EdiThreads = 1/2 the number of cores shown in Task manager>Performance tab
PreFetch=Number of logical processors you have (may need to be reduced if you have issues)

In VDub2:
Open the AVS

Video filters:
-I add CamcorderColorDenoise at maximum
-Crop as desired (I am a renowned cropaholic )
(-Resize if desired after cropping)

-Audio Menu: Full Processing mode (for AAC encoding)

"Save Video..."

Save as type MP4 Faststart

Video Compression x264 8bit
Configure: Rate control as desired
Pixel Format Color Space Rec 709

Audio Compression FFMpeg AAC
Configure as desired

Save.

[Danic]

Thank you, got it working !
Looks good now

[Alwyn]

Good oh!

[rgr]

SplineResize 3840x2880

Definitely too much for 4k - it should be 2880x2160.

[Danic]

SplineResize 3840x2880

Definitely too much for 4k - it should be 2880x2160.

That's what I used for the final resize in vdub2.

Tested reducing splineresize too, but didn't notice picture quality difference.

[rgr]

SplineResize 3840x2880

Definitely too much for 4k - it should be 2880x2160.

That's what I used for the final resize in vdub2.

Tested reducing splineresize too, but didn't notice picture quality difference.

Still, I think resize from 480p/576p to 2160p is a bridge too far. For something like that, it's better to use more advanced upscaling tools.

And you can do all this in one pass in VDub+AviSynth, without the need to use other tools.

[rgr]

Here you go:

v=LWLibavVideoSource("H:\Videohelp\Danic\clip.mpg")
a=LWLibavAudioSource("H:\Videohelp\Danic\clip.mpg")
AudioDub(v,a)
ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)
AssumeTFF()
QTGMC(preset="Fast", EdiThreads=8)
Spline64Resize(3840, 2880)
Prefetch(24)

LWLibavVideoSource with MPG files and Prefetch is unstable and often returns frames in the wrong order. BSSource too. In this case, it's better to skip Prefetch.

[Danic]

SplineResize 3840x2880

Definitely too much for 4k - it should be 2880x2160.

That's what I used for the final resize in vdub2.

Tested reducing splineresize too, but didn't notice picture quality difference.

Still, I think resize from 480p/576p to 2160p is a bridge too far. For something like that, it's better to use more advanced upscaling tools.

And you can do all this in one pass in VDub+AviSynth, without the need to use other tools.

OK, suggestions are welcome which upscaling tools to use.

I did use single pass, it included splineresize in avisynth + resize filter in vdub2.

[rgr]

OK, suggestions are welcome which upscaling tools to use.

I did use single pass, it included splineresize in avisynth + resize filter in vdub2.

nnedi3_rpow2, https://github.com/Alexkral/AviSynthAiUpscale

[Alwyn]

Definitely too much for 4k - it should be 2880x2160.

Fair enough. I can't see how I can use nnedi3 to achieve a frame size of that. An rfactor of 4 gives a frame 2304 high, not 2160.

[rgr]

Definitely too much for 4k - it should be 2880x2160.

Fair enough. I can't see how I can use nnedi3 to achieve a frame size of that. An rfactor of 4 gives a frame 2304 high, not 2160.

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/353535-How-to-upscale-with-Nnedi3

[Alwyn]

Thanks.