Converting SD avi to HD avi

[bellfam1]

Hi there,
Newbie here

I want to experiment with converting SD avi clips to HD avi. I am using a Samsung video with Mini DV tapes. Has anyone used HD Video Converter from 4Media Software studio? if so would you recommend it. What is the best output - HD AVI Video-1 (*.avi) or HD H.264/MPEG-4 AVC Video (*.MP4)? I have made some holiday DVDs using Mediachance EditStudio 6 (the original file can be rendered to avi) and DVDLab Pro2 with the original file rendered for DVD production Each project runs for between 60 to 75 minutes. How long would a 75 min avi take to convert?

The output is PAL

Or is their a relatively inexpensive or free software that will do the job?

I have heard of a program called Handbrake. Does this do the same job?

Thanks

[jagabo]

Nothing turns SD video into true HD video -- especially interlaced camcorder video. The best you can hope for is to enlarge the frame and sharpen edges a little without creating too many artifacts. Your HDTV will probably do just as good a job as most software.

[guns1inger]

If you want to play, look at Video Enhancer. It uses Super Resolution techniques to upscale. On your system you could be looking at 4 - 6 hours conversion time per hour of footage.

The question is, what will you be playing it back on ? Do you have a HD capable player ? A standard DVD player cannot play HD material.

[PuzZLeR]

As far as today is concerned you are wasting your time IMO. You will only increase encoding times tremendously and create much bigger file sizes and limit your playback options for zero to very little gain. Ok, unless you know a thing, or three, about AviSynth (and/or other enhancer tools) then you may achieve very little gain instead of zero gain.

Nevertheless, you will not reveal dimples on a face in HD if they weren't there in the SD source.

Personally, I've deferred any SD->HD projects for the future. Why bother? My SD content plays just fine on all my wares currently (which includes upscaling) with great quality. An HD conversion wouldn't benefit it any either.

And why would I spend such valuable resources today to go SD->HD when I know I'm going to be redoing it again in the future anyway when, along with better playback options and improved storage, encoding methods will improve, such as when (much) better processors and better algorithms (like fractals) become more available and more realistic - yes, like those dimples being revealed.

I am keeping the source for later however. But for today, unless the source is HD, it's simply not worth it IMO. I can wait.

If you want to play, look at Video Enhancer. It uses Super Resolution techniques to upscale. On your system you could be looking at 4 - 6 hours conversion time per hour of footage.

Only? Gee on a 2-core it felt like forever when I was testing it a couple of years ago - probably would have still been encoding even now if I didn't stop it last year ... :P