disappearing pixelation

[AlecWest]

Recently, I bought a smaller 14" TV (an RCA) and gave away my older but still working 27" Curtis Mathes ... primarily because I wanted the TV much closer to my viewing area. And, a 27" is just too big.

Anyhow, I've noticed (since upgrading to digital cable) that there appears to be a lot more pixelation on movies ... both standard and premium digital channels. However, the weird part is that when I capture these programs on my Hauppauge card (analog cables out of my cable box) that when I burn them to DVD, the pixelation "disappears" - leaving a very clear picture. Still, before I got the digital box ... and while still using my 27" TV ... some pixelation was apparent there, too ... but NOT on Hauppauge captures.

Since my captures end up looking great, I've got no problem with this. But I'm curious why a pixelated appearance shows up on a cable program/movie, with or without a digital box, and on both TVs, when it doesn't show up on captures. Any clues?

[thecoalman]

I've noticed this myself, you'll see it especially in scenes where you have large areas of near same colors such as the sky. Almost as if they have a reduced color pallette. I'd have to guess that during the encoding the process these edges are being softened and/or your card applying a very light softening filter.

Here's a image comparison which would be simialr to what I'm suggesting:

Original:


Original saved as 64 color Gif, notice the halo affect on the right side:


64 color Gif saved as JPG with 1 px gaussian blur which brings us back fairly close to the original.


Or even more to the point the 64 color gif saved as a highly compressed JPG which produces the equvalent of macroblocks but which removes much of the halo affect.

[lordsmurf]

New tv sets have more resolution. You see more noise.

The Hauppauge cards soften video, especially at Half D1. It's not the resolutions, it's the card. Your noise is being lost. You might not notice for several reasons (between your and the viewing devices).

Thecoalman does not seem to be addressing your issue, but he does show example of posterization. Some equipment does this, such as Panasonic DVD recorders, some DVD players, and some tv sets.

[thecoalman]

Thecoalman does not seem to be addressing your issue, but he does show example of posterization.

Depends on what he means by pixelazation, if it's the posterization then images 2 nad 3 address that specifically.

[BJ_M]

New tv sets have more resolution. You see more noise.

The Hauppauge cards soften video, especially at Half D1. It's not the resolutions, it's the card. Your noise is being lost. You might not notice for several reasons (between your and the viewing devices).

Thecoalman does not seem to be addressing your issue, but he does show example of posterization. Some equipment does this, such as Panasonic DVD recorders, some DVD players, and some tv sets.

a LOT of tv sets

[lordsmurf]

a LOT of tv sets

I'll have to remember this when I go LCD shopping later this year or next year.