Here's my dilemma -- I'm trying to use TMPGEnc to edit the color on a VCD that's originally cut from a VHS screener (examples: harry potter / jason x / zoolander).

Things I've tried:
I've used TMPGEnc's preinstalled, pinoy2201's VideoCD, and VCD templates, and TIbrO VideoCD templates, which yield somewhere around the same quality output as far as the picture goes.
But, the processing of color leads to a severe amount of block noise in the final mpg...

I'm using two advanced filters - Sharpen edge (40h/v) and Custom Color Correction (contrast / saturation - custom settings)

The color is just about where I'd like it to be, although the output remains 'soft' and blocky --

My questions are as follows:
Is it possible to process the color and 'bump up' the clarity *without* processing the bitrate/stream settings? ((ghost reduction doesn't seem to do anything))

(or) Do I need to know the original bitrate/stream settings used and match those so the output remains the same with the new color settings -and- is there software to find more detailed information about an mpg file than MPeg Properties?

Or is there an *easier/reliable* alternative? (nandub? virtualdub?)

Thanks for reading...