smoothing filter for Xvid to DVD???...for Avisynth/CCE

[aussiemac]

Is there a smoothing filter that can be used within Avisynth when doing encoding of Xvid video to DVD???

I am talking about an effect similar to the smoothing that Instantcopy or
DVD Shrink use when they compress Dual layer DVDs down to DVD 5.

It would smooth the transitions from light areas to dark areas ...so there isnt the "banding" or " layers" ...in other words make the transition from light areas to dark areas look smoother

If there is ...where does one put in a typical script for say CCE
after ConvertToYUY2()
or after resize command like LanczosResize(704,352)???

Appreciate any help!!

[BSR]

Here is a guide to convolution3D filter
https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=225951

this can help smooth your XVIDS. Your script can look like this.

LoadPlugin("Convolution3d.dll")
avisource("D:\CAPTURE\capture.avi")
crop(8,4,-8,-4)
ConverttoYUY2()
Convolution3D (0, 6, 10, 6, 8, 2.8, 0)
AddBorders(8,4,8,4)
LanczosResize(704,352)

Place convolution3D after ConverttoYuY2() if needed and before resizing.

What are you resizing from to go to 704x352? Can you just crop to get to this size?
To also help smooth your XVID, use Bicubic resize instead of Lanczosresize. Lanczos tries to keep details as sharp as possible. Bilinear smooths more, but heard of issues with it.

EDIT - is 704x352 even DVD compliant, 352x480 might be better depending on the original size of your XVID. Can help smooth thing on the TV.
Or maybe your looking for more of a blur filter. http://www.avisynth.org/Blur

[aussiemac]

I have addborders in script to resize to 720 x 480 ...
The Xvids are usually 640 x 368 or similar

This convolution3d.dll is it available from the Avisynth area?

Do I have to add it somewhere within Windows Xp ??..that is the .dll
or is there a little exe or something similar that will
load it automatically to where it should go...
thus allowing me to use it in the Avisynth script

From what you say the Convolution3d filter has to work after
conversion to YUY2
but before resize and addborders takes place?? Correct??

If this is so I will give it a go on a small sample using the
"Trim" command.
Just need to find the Convolution3d filter first...

Thanks for this advice...apppreciate any pointers
on these other questions

[aussiemac]

Sorry the link you mention does provide most of the answers to my previous questions on the filter....silly me!

Thanks again...

[aussiemac]

I looked at the scripts in that link ...they mention interlaced
sources...eg captured from TV

Mine is an Xvid ..23.79 fps ..so I am assuming its not interlaced
but progressive

So do I just add the Convolution3d filter without the odd and even fields
just as you mentioned??? ...

"ConverttoYUY2()
Convolution3D (0, 6, 10, 6, 8, 2.8, 0)
AddBorders(8,4,8,4)
LanczosResize(704,352) "

I am not cropping ...because of the original Xvid sizes

eg 640 x 368 ...just addborders and resizing

[BSR]

You are correct, leave out the even, odd and seperate fields stuff because your source is progressive.

Is this video widescreen.?
Remember, in order for it to be a standard DVD and work on most dvd players, it has to one of these resolutions. Check out this link here:
https://www.videohelp.com/dvd

[BSR]

Now that I think about it, I've used convolution3D for going from DVD to XVID, but never from XVID to DVD.
I'm not sure this method is going to gain you anything except compressability.

Here is a guide over at www.doom9.org that talks about going from AVI to DVD and the issues with it.
http://www.doom9.org/index.html?/mpg/avi2dvdr.htm

[aussiemac]

Thanks for the tips ...BSR...mucho apprecido!

[celtic_druid]

Would be faster to run Convolution3D before you convert to YUY2.

If you simply want to smooth, you could try blur or unfilter.

[junkmalle]

Start -> All Programs -> Xvid -> Configure Decoder.

Try turning on the Deblocking features and Film Effect.

[BSR]

Would be faster to run Convolution3D before you convert to YUY2.

My bad...I use converttoYUY2() because my source is RGB.

Convolution3D requires YUY2 or YV12 (depending on which Convolution3d your using, there are 2 versions), if your video is already in one of these formats, you can delete the converttoYUY2() line in your scipt and just use the correct conv3D version, yuy2 or yv12.
But I do not think conv3d will solve this problem.
Blur or XVID decoder deblocking are probably better ideas.

[BSR]

EDIT DOUBLE POST DELETED

[MrMoody]

I think the OP is referring to BANDING. He wants to know what filter can eliminate the banding.

[jimmalenko]

Convolution3D is for noise removal, isn't it ???

[aussiemac]

I tried convolution3d....on some trial encodes...it didnt really achieve the aim I was looking for.

When I use CCE to encode the video from Xvid to DVD there are scenes
...particulalry darker scenes where you can see banding or striping in the
transition from dark to lighter areas...

Most of the time in normally lit scenes I am very happy with the quality
I get from CCE...just thought there may be a filter which could improve the above situation.

I knew adding a filter into the Avisynth script would slow down the encoding ...it ends up being almost halved in speed ..so for the improvement which is slight...it isnt really worthwhile

I am going to fiddle with some of the adjustments that CCE has and see if they can provide any solution..probably lose to much encoding speed again...

Again thanks for the feedback ...to everyone ...it is appreciated!!!

[aussiemac]

I assume the comment from junkmalle:

"Try turning on the Deblocking features and Film Effect."

refers to payback alone...??? or does it have an effect when re-encoding from Xvid to DVDmpg??

[celtic_druid]

To convert it still has to decode, in other words playback. You might also want to check out ffdshow's avisynth plugin though.

[junkmalle]

Film Effect adds noise (like film grain) when the Xvid is decoded (playback or conversion). That might reduce the banding. I don't really expect the deblocking functions to help but they're worth a try.