Should I deinterlace Vhs to DV-AVI to MP4 via Handbrake? When and how?

[zeek543]

Please advise on this situation. Thank you for any help!

I had several vhs tapes (home videos) that were transferred to my computer via firewire and are stored as DV-AVI files (NTSC).
I would like to convert those to MP4 files so that I can have these movies in a much more portable file size and format. I will be keeping a copy of the DV-AVI files forever and the tapes for as long as they last as master copies. The purpose of the MP4 video copy is to put those on my ipad, andriod phone (SGS3), and playback over my network using Windows Media Center.

So, should I deinterlace the videos when converting from DV-AVI to MP4?

Using Handbrake, I have tested some a few different presets. I like the android-high preset, but I am unsure of whether it is best to go ahead and use the "slower" setting on the deinterlace video filter. Also, the deinterlaced video is usually somewhat smaller in file size than the interlaced video (some where around 15% smaller file size). Finally, to be honest, on my computer screen, the deinterlaced video looks better, as there are no "lines" (the interlacing) showing during playback or pausing.

I have read some forum posts stating that you should leave interlaced content interlaced and just let the TV/display device do the deinterlacing. However, I read some other forum posts stating the opposite.

Would someone please guide me here. Should I deinterlace the video? use other filters? use different settings? use a different encode program? etc...

Again, thanks for any suggestions or helpful information!

[DB83]

The answers are usually here if you care to look for them.

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/326318-Shouldnt-i-deinterlace-(encoding-with-handbrake)

[zeek543]

DB83, thank you for the suggestion. I did search quite a bit before posting on this topic. Nothing I could find spoke directly to my situation. However, there are many different terms and spellings of those terms, so it is likely I have not been able to find some threads that discuss this issue.

Well, the material is not from a dvd or a dvdrip. However, that thread had a good tip about using decomb instead of deinterlace, as decomb will only be applied when needed to improve 'visual' quality. I will give that option a try.

I would still like to hear any specific suggestions regarding DV-AVI to MP4 for home movies (vhs). Again, these mp4s will only be for a 'portable' copy of the videos, and not the 'final' format.

Thanks again for any help.

[DB83]

Well I gave you that link since the answers in that topic did not actually address the question that the OP set.

The answers were in relation to DV and not dvd.

But,personally, I do not de-interlace and let the player do it if the need arises.

You may, however, wish to consider different options as you have various playback devices. E.G. Progressive may be better for the android whereas interlaced may be better for the media centre

[sanlyn]

All interlacers are not of the same quality (and neither are de-interlacers). If you don't want to see interlace effects on your computer displays, use a player than deinterlaces well (the best of such players wouldn't be in Media Center), or deinterlace the video for those players. Among the best are QTGMC and Yadif. For TV playback, de-interlacing and inverse telecine are done by the playback hardware. Some products are better at those operations and at upsampling, etc., than others.

I think you're correct: save your archives in their original form.

[jagabo]

Encoding interlaced video (leaving it interlaced) in Handbrake requires a manual command line option:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/344902-Detelecine-decomb-issues?p=2151515&viewfull=1#post2151515

Leaving the video interlaced will give you smoother motion at playback (assuming the player deinterlaces properly). DV should be bottom field first (BFF).

[_Al_]

Question is if your andriod phone (SGS3) - play SD 60p video some easy profile, if yes, just deinterlace with QTGMC, resize to 640x480 and then encode with some x264 encoder, you will have a compromise for tablet, phone and media center.

I tested 60p on Windows cellphone , 1GHz and 60p was ok, to my surprise, so what about that android?
http://files.videohelp.com/u/198160/sample%202000kbps%20level%20Main%20profile%203.1.mp4 (4.1MB)
http://files.videohelp.com/u/198160/sample%20CRF18%20level%20Main%20profile%203.1.mp4 (5.5MB)

I forgot to resize it to 640x480 but anyway