VHS Noise

[Micheal81]

I'm capturing some old VHS tapes and have a JVC HR-S3500U and a VC500 capture device. I'm also using a Panansonic ES10 as a pass-thru device. I'm using S-Video cables and capturing at 720x480. I know the VCR isn't one of the top recommended, but so far I'm fine with the results.

This is the script I've been using. I modify some of the settings for different captures.

#Denoiser script for interlaced video using MDegrain2


function MDegrain2i2(clip source, int "blksize", int "overlap", int "dct")
{
Vshift=0 # 2 lines per bobbed-field per tape generation; original=2; copy=4 etc
Hshift=0 # determine experimentally
overlap=default(overlap,0) # overlap value (0 to 4 for blksize=8)
dct=default(dct,0) # use dct=1 for clip with light flicker

fields=source.SeparateFields() # separate by fields

#This line gets rid of vertical chroma halo
#fields=MergeChroma(fields,crop(fields,Hshift,Vshift,0,0).addborders(0,0,Hshift,Vshift))
#This line will shift chroma down and to the right instead of up and to the left
#fields=MergeChroma(fields,Crop(AddBorders(fields,Hshift,Vshift,0,0),0,0,-Hshift,-Vshift))

super = fields.MSuper(pel=2, sharp=1)
backward_vec2 = super.MAnalyse(isb = true, delta = 2, blksize=blksize, overlap=overlap, dct=dct)
forward_vec2 = super.MAnalyse(isb = false, delta = 2, blksize=blksize, overlap=overlap, dct=dct)
backward_vec4 = super.MAnalyse(isb = true, delta = 4, blksize=blksize, overlap=overlap, dct=dct)
forward_vec4 = super.MAnalyse(isb = false, delta = 4, blksize=blksize, overlap=overlap, dct=dct)

#thSAD adjust amount of denoise default=400
MDegrain2(fields,super, backward_vec2,forward_vec2,backward_vec4,forward_vec4,thSAD=700)

#Optional sharpening steps
#unsharpmask(50,3,0)
#sharpen(0.1)

Weave()
}

#--------------------------------------------------


#Modify this line to point to your video file
source=AVISource("Before.avi").AssumeTFF().ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)

#Only use chroma restoration for analog source material. Pick 1 option below.
# Option 1, ccd
LoadVirtualdubPlugin("E:\VHS\Programs\AviSynth\plugins\ccd\ccd_64bit.vdf", "ccd", 1)   #("path","name used in script",preroll always 1)
chroma=source.ConvertToRGB32(interlaced=true).ccd(80,1).ConvertToYV12(interlaced=true)  #(1-100 default 30, Multi-thread off=0 on=1)

#Option 2, Cnr2
#chroma=source.Cnr2("oxx",8,16,191,100,255,32,255,false) #VHS
#chroma=source.Cnr2() #VHS
#chroma=source.Cnr2("xxx",4,5,255) #suggestion to remove rainbows.

#(source,blksize,overlap,dct) Set overlap in line below to 0, 2, 4, 8. Higher number=better, but slower 
#Denoise=MDegrain2i2(chroma,8,0,0)
#Denoise=MDegrain2i2(chroma,8,4,0)  #Retains a little more detail, but slower
Denoise=MDegrain2i2(chroma,4,2,0) #Better for retaining detail on flat surfaces, but slower still

Denoise.QTGMC()

Crop(14,0,-6,-8)
AddBorders(10,4,10,4)

Spline36Resize(640,480)

return Last   #use for final output

I'm deinterlacing and resizing because they are just being stored and played on my PC. They do not have to be DVD compliant and I'm happy with the results.

I have a few captures with some noise and the above script doesn't seem to fix it. I don't know if it is a different kind of noise or what filters I need to use to make it better. I've attached an example. The "Before.avi" was captured with VDUB after using it's histogram to adjust levels. Of course levels can change scene to scene so I just get it adjusted as close as I can after watching different scenes. The "After.avi" is what I get with the above script.

What can be done to make it better? What Avisynth/VDUB filters should I use? It doesn't have to be "perfect", I just want it to be better with what I have to work with.

[davexnet]

Thats' an incredible amount of noise and grain - is that how it is on the tape or something
from the capture process?

[Micheal81]

Thats' an incredible amount of noise and grain - is that how it is on the tape or something
from the capture process?

That is how the tape is. It's that way even if I hook the VCR to a TV and play it. I recorded these tapes around 25 years ago when I was a kid.

[Sharc]

Try

converttoYV12(interlaced=true)
assumeTFF()
separatefields()
dfttest(sigma=500)
weave()

[Micheal81]

Try

converttoYV12(interlaced=true)
assumeTFF()
separatefields()
dfttest(sigma=500)
weave()

Should I add this to the above script or create a new script and use it on the "Before.avi"?

[Sharc]

Try

converttoYV12(interlaced=true)
assumeTFF()
separatefields()
dfttest(sigma=500)
weave()

Should I add this to the above script or create a new script and use it on the "Before.avi"?

Just use this script on your source "Before.avi". Note that it is interlaced video 29.97fps, as per NTSC DVD standard.
Change the value of sigma as you like.

[Micheal81]

Ok. That is better. I'll read more about dfttest and it's options. It may help with some other captures. Thanks for all the help so far.

[themaster1]

Neat video was made for this kind of noise https://www.neatvideo.com/examples#tv1

neat video:https://mega.nz/#!JtQ3nYgZ!Gvbywg9MQnlG2hOKatDomFETSe0YLrV_asnTKRIsLsc


Neat:https://framapic.org/UI9ajvSyfY4b/xLlpJ1HRmZBz.jpg
DFTTEST: https://framapic.org/ZDrbpMiMSfpJ/2aQfm7RAKABL.jpg

[Micheal81]

Neat video was made for this kind of noise https://www.neatvideo.com/examples#tv1

Thanks for the suggestion, but I can't afford to buy anything right now. Also, I rather use free stuff. I've spent all I'm going to spend on this project.

[Micheal81]

Try

converttoYV12(interlaced=true)
assumeTFF()
separatefields()
dfttest(sigma=500)
weave()

Should I add this to the above script or create a new script and use it on the "Before.avi"?

Just use this script on your source "Before.avi". Note that it is interlaced video 29.97fps, as per NTSC DVD standard.
Change the value of sigma as you like.

I was able to use dfttest within QTGMC and get pretty good results.

[themaster1]

alright, try knlmeans at least:

avisource
assumetff()
separatefields()
Merge(Merge(last,KNLMeansCL(d=2,a=5,s=2,h=20),0.7) ,KNLMeansCL(d=1,a=6,s=4,h=10))
weave()

[oln]

The noise looks like what you would get with bad analog TV reception.

With the newest versions of QTGMC you can also use KNLMeansCL as the QTGMC denoiser.

[davexnet]

alright, try knlmeans at least:

avisource
assumetff()
separatefields()
Merge(Merge(last,KNLMeansCL(d=2,a=5,s=2,h=20),0.7) ,KNLMeansCL(d=1,a=6,s=4,h=10))
weave()

I attempted to try KNLMeansCL myself, but got code 126 when it attempted to load (loadplugin in Avisynth+ r2772.)
Avsmeter said opencl.dll was missing. Found a copy of this dll in the latest Xmedia Recode (version 1.2.11.0 dated 11/2013),
copied it into \Windows\Syswow64 but then I got this error.
Could this be hardware related? Using motherboard video only.
Thanks for any info

I tried using temporaldegrain2 earlier; it's not as "clean" as your neat video version,
but it retains more detail than the dfttest version posted earlier

temporaldegrain(degrain=3,ov=4,sigma=40,Blksize=16)

[Nilzzon]

alright, try knlmeans at least:

avisource
assumetff()
separatefields()
Merge(Merge(last,KNLMeansCL(d=2,a=5,s=2,h=20),0.7) ,KNLMeansCL(d=1,a=6,s=4,h=10))
weave()

I attempted to try KNLMeansCL myself, but got code 126 when it attempted to load (loadplugin in Avisynth+ r2772.)
Avsmeter said opencl.dll was missing. Found a copy of this dll in the latest Xmedia Recode (version 1.2.11.0 dated 11/2013),
copied it into \Windows\Syswow64 but then I got this error.
Could this be hardware related? Using motherboard video only.
Thanks for any info

I tried using temporaldegrain2 earlier; it's not as "clean" as your neat video version,
but it retains more detail than the dfttest version posted earlier

temporaldegrain(degrain=3,ov=4,sigma=40,Blksize=16)

You will need a gpu with opencl compability and drivers

[davexnet]

You will need a gpu with opencl compability and drivers

Thanks for confirming this.

[lordsmurf]

All VirtualDub, mostly NeatVideo.

Easy error, easy clip.