Need help with remastering
 

Hi guys...

I just traded for a hard to find set of DVDs, but, as expected, the set is pretty rough (6 - 7/10).

What can I do to improve them? My equipment includes a Prime Image TBC/Freeze 2 and a JVC MH30S DVD recorder.

Any help would be appreciated.

Tks...Tom

Well, what's wrong with them?

If it's already digital, you'd probably have to use software methods. That's the downside to digital, once you screw it up, it's usually permanent. Analog had a lot more leeway, you could salvage flaws generations after they were made.

The devil's in the details on fixing flaws.

Well...they look like they were made from 3rd generation LP recordings. That about sums them up.

That still doesn't help me.
I could take a 3rd generation LP tape and make it look great.

Tracking errors, chroma noise, grain, ghosting, blurry, color bleeding ... ?
Those sorts of details.

Hmmm...don't know the terms that are associated with what the picture looks like. If I mailed you a disc could you look at it and give me some pointers? No need to return it.

Yes.

Great...tks LS...I'll get it out this week.

Cheers...Tom

Gack! It's not really bad quality, but it's just enough to piss you off real good. Maybe slap around whoever made it for not using better equipment.

We need to extract the video/audio using IFO mode in DVD Decrypter. Sadly, not all episodes have the same errors. But close.

The biggest issue that can be fixed is the audio. Hissy and low. Running it through SoundForge will fix it up alright. Just experiment with filters. Maybe even a series of filters. I'd try the SF6 filter "Hiss and Whine Removal 3" from the expanded filter pack (para EQ settings) you can download off digitalFAQ.com. If that doesn't do enough, start to look at running others next.

The other is grain translated from the original source, which can clean up decent, and macroblocks on the disc, which we can lessen. This mostly needs to be dropped into TMPGEnc or into VirtualDub and have a fairly strong de-noise filter run. In TMPGEnc, the easiest and fastest option, you'd do the noise reduction, with a setting of about 60-2-60 or so. It may get a little "plastic" looking, but it'll be effective. Not to mention the VHS loss already gives it plastic look anyway.

The other video noise removal option is to open it in the MPEG-2/MOD version of VirtualDub and run a careful set of NR filters.
- Static Noise Reduction: set @ 6, interlace on
- Dynamic Noise Reduction (MMX): set @ 10
- Denoise: use sparingly

Are you with me?