Avisynth filters, colorspace

[45tripp]

Hi,

I'm not understanding how to use noise filters correctly to improve my avi to dvd conversions. (Noisy source)

I've used the following once or twice i believe:
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\AVISYN~1.5PL\Mpeg2dec\MPEG2D~1.DLL")
AVISource("C:\vcd\Nobility.avi",audio=false)
undot().Deen()
ConvertToYUY2()
LanczosResize(720,480)

Now it won't work.
If I take away undot, deen won't work before or after colorspace conversion. Says it needs yv12 to work.
Aren't all avi files yv12? I thought so...

Leaving in undot it will only work in yuv2.

If they work in diff colorspace formats how come you can use the undot().Deen() line in dvdrebuilder, which i've done succesfully.

I believe:
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\AVISYN~1.5PL\Mpeg 2dec\MPEG2D~1.DLL")
AVISource("C:\vcd\Nobility.avi",audio=false)
ConvertToYV12()
Deen()
ConvertToYUY2()
Undot()
LanczosResize(720,480)

works, but aren't you supposed to undot before you deen?
Isn't changing colorspace many times a bad thing?

Anyway the point is I don't get it.

Can anybody help.
Perhaps even provide an alternative script with other filters to
reduce noise, sharpen a noisy avi from tv source.

Thanks

p.s how does one check the colorspace format a video clip is in?

Also had another problem with converting the avis.
Using other scripts that worked (?) with cce and using tmpg's own filters i got jittery mpeg2 files for almost all the clips i had.

[Paul_G]

This was posted on another site

AVISource("D:\.avi",audio=false)
BlindPP(cpu=4)
Blockbuster(method="noise",detail_min=1,detail_max =3,variance=0.1,seed=1)
GripCrop(352, 576+0+0, overscan=2, source_anamorphic=false, dest_anamorphic=false)
GripSize(resizer="LanczosResize")
RemoveGrain()
Deen()
GripBorders()
Addaudio()
ConverttoYUY2()

and

AVISource("D:\.avi",audio=false)
BlindPP(cpu=4)
Blockbuster(method="noise",detail_min=1,detail_max =3,variance=0.1,seed=1)
Convolution3D(1, 6, 12, 6, 8, 2.8, 0)
GripCrop(352, 416+80+80, overscan=2, source_anamorphic=false, dest_anamorphic=false)
GripSize(resizer="LanczosResize")
Undot()
TemporalSoften(2,7,7,3,2)
DCTFilter(1,1,1,1,1,1,0.5,0)
GripBorders()
AddAudio()
ConvertToYUY2()

[celtic_druid]

AVI's can use a variety of codecs with various colourspaces. XviD, DivX and other MPEG4 codecs are YV12 though.

Also why convert to YUY2 before resizing and undot? Both work fine under YV12 and should be faster (12bits vs. 16) and you seem to be loading mpeg2dec for no reason.

[45tripp]

Thanks Paul,

I'll give them a try when I find the time.

Indeed Celtic, although I've never personally had any other codecs than divx/xvid in my avis. The specific ones are DIV3.

I used VirtualDubMod to trim of a few seconds from the begining and used direct stream copy. That wouldn't change the colourspace to rbg would it?
I tried the first script without trimming the video clips though and it still didn't work.

As you'll notice the undot().Deen() is actually before the conversion to YUV2, a conversion used so I can encode with CCE.
Although I tried putting it after the conversion as well.
It just wouldn't take deen without a YV12 conversion and it wouldn't accept undot if it wasn't in YUY2...(In Virtualdub: Avisynth open failure: UnDot supports YUY2 format only)
I used mpeg2dec because it's how DVD2SVCD does it. A mistake? Could it be causing the problem?
Could it just be faulty video clips? Although I have run divxrepair with all of them.

(Thanks for the resize before colorspace conversion tip, Can't remember why I did that..)

Problem now is that I encoded several clips with altered scripts similar to the one I posted using CCE and all but two ended up being jittery, semi-pausing every second or so.
Tried encoding the same clips with tmpg express using the programs own filters (no avisynth script) and had the same result...
Encoded some of the problem clips with xilisoft converter and didn't have any jittery videos...

So I'm having a tough time

[45tripp]

Playing about, tried following three:

AVISource("C:\vcd\B.avi",audio=false)
LanczosResize(720,480)
Undot().Deen()
ConvertToYUY2()

-UnDot, supports YUY2 format only

AVISource("C:\vcd\B.avi",audio=false)
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConvertToYV12()
Undot().Deen()

-Works!

AVISource("C:\vcd\B.avi",audio=false)
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConvertToYUY2()
Undot().Deen()

-Deen supports YV12 Format only

buggered avi files?

[45tripp]

Tried a script of Paul's to open a clip in virtualdubmod and got a:
Script error: There is no function named 'BlindPP'

erased line and got same for Blockbuster.

Needed plugins?
Something wrong with my avisynth? Should I re-install?
Something wrong with my pc? Time to format?

[Paul_G]

Go to http://www.avisynth.org/warpenterprises/ for filters.

Also i recommend you scrap all the divx/xvid codecs currently on your machine and just download one Xvid codec and a Divx 5.x one, those YV12 errors should disapear.

[Wilbert]

Indeed Celtic, although I've never personally had any other codecs than divx/xvid in my avis. The specific ones are DIV3.

DivX3 outputs RGB by default. You could have checked that with

AviSource(...)
Info()

I guess that

AviSource(..., pixel_type="YV12")

will force it to output YV12 (though I'm not sure whether it works in this case).

btw, BlindPP is an internal function of mpeg2dec3, so you should load that plugin (guess celtic_druid didn't notice that).

[45tripp]

Thanks Wilbert.
Especially for the info() line.
The pixel type would still be a conversion wouldn't it?

As the clips are rbg32 which would be the best way to denoise with the fewest colorspace conversions?
I tried converting using tmpg express and it's built in filters.
Tmpg works in RGB right?
The result was the jittery videos I mentioned. I suspect maybe a framerate setting error i may have made.
Could the fault be due to encoding with an overloaded pc (low on ram or what not)?

I don't think it could be due to codecs installed. I have one xvid, one divx5 and divx3.2, which I recently installed to replace divx3.11alpha. The exchange may have helped me solve an upside down error with another encoder.
Divx3.2 doesn't have any uninstall options. Would deleting the codecs with codecsniper be a complete removal?

As the clips are in RGB I'd be willing to try filtering with Virtualdub (works in rgb right?) but I have no idea how.

As for the scripts Paul posted:
Already aware of the webpage, guess I was lazy to check and see what required plugins and what not at first, or assumed none were required as there was no mention of plugins being required.
Anyway got around to seeking the plugins.
Couldn't immediately find gripfit (found now) and saw no reason to substitute the simple 'lancosresize' line with all the grip lines.
Couldn't and can't find 'RemoveGrain' (just removedirt), substituted with undot and got:
LoadPlugin("C:\PROGRA~1\DVD2SVCD\AVISYN~1.5PL\Mpeg2dec\MPEG2D~1.DLL")
AVISource("C:\vcd\Black.avi",audio=false)
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConverttoYV12()
BlindPP(cpu=4)
Blockbuster(method="noise",detail_min=1,detail_max =3,variance=0.1,seed=1)
Undot().Deen()
Addaudio()
ConverttoYUY2()

which was crap(too much smoothing), and not far from:
AVISource("C:\vcd\Black.avi",audio=false)
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConverttoYV12()
Undot().Deen()
ConverttoYUY2()

Which is what I was originally looking to do.

Found peachsmoother and grapesmoother filters, tried peach (don't have to go to yv12, can use just a single conversion to yuy2 and use cce) and was quite happy.
What are anybody's thoughts on those filters?

[State Of Mind]

Wow, an AviSynth section. I just want to let you guys know that I am the pickiest guy in the world when it comes to optimal DV quality. I work only with DV and even though I go to school, I have a lot of time on my hands, especially on weekends seeing how I don't have a job. I am currently in the midst of having my motherboard replaced and afterwards, I will be downloading filters and testing them and making screenshots and comparisons like CRAZY. Happy times to come!

Cheers,
Jeremy

[45tripp]

Like I said I was happy with peachsmoother.
I think it's an effective filter. Didn't play with variables.
Just plain peachsmoother().

Was also happy with tmpg express internal filters. Especially liked the ability to immediately see the effect of colour correction. Used simple settings to slighlty change luminance, chroma, contrast and gamma.

The thing is tmpg forces 2 pass vbr which takes 2h for a 1/2 clip.
And cce does a one (2) pass in under an hour.

Is there a nice simple line I could add to the avisynth script to get simple colour correction?

[State Of Mind]

Why don't you go over to the AviSynth forum to ask?

[Wilbert]

Is there a nice simple line I could add to the avisynth script to get simple colour correction?

The analog capture guide (@doom9) contains several sections about color correction. You might want to have a look at that.

Of course we can't help if we don't know what is wrong with the colors of your clip. So you might want to upload a short (representative) clip.

[45tripp]

Which forum would that be?

Thanks for pointing out the guide, I'll have a look.

I don't think much is wrong with the color. It did seem quite faded but that might just be my pc avi player.
In tmpg i changed luminance +2, contrast +5, gamma -2, chroma +9
not big changes.
Maybe it's just preference.

[45tripp]

Thanks Wilbert it's a great guide.

I adjusted chroma shift and colour saturation, with nice results.
Also used parameters found for peachsmoother in the guide as I was already using it.

Ended up with:

AVISource("C:\vcd\Black.avi",audio=false)
LanczosResize(720,480)
ConverttoYUY2
Chromashift(c=-4,L=2)
sat_v = 0.8
cv = - (1-sat_v)*256
ColorYUV(off_y=-28, gain_y=64, cont_u=0, cont_v = cv, opt="coring")
Cnr2("xxx",4,5,255)
PeachSmoother(noiselevel=4.286, baseline=3.141, NoiseReduction = 60, Stability = 30, Spatial = 50)

Nice. Perhaps in need of a bit more luminance.
Not sure about the order of the filters but I guess it's ok