VirtualDub resolution grainy RetroArch recording?

Jeelock · #1 03-08-2023, 12:57 PM

Good day all! New to the forum here, I've searched around but can't seem to find my specific issue, I record RetroArch games and when I view them in VirtualDub to edit them they are extremely grainy when I apply the resize filter. I'm not sure if it's a resolution issue, I've seen some really crisp ones come out and have no idea what I'm doing wrong. Any help sould be greatly appreciated, thanks for your time!

Hushpower · #2 03-08-2023, 10:19 PM

A sample would be good. Save a short sample (max 99mb) and upload it here using the Manage Attachments feature.

Jeelock · #3 03-08-2023, 11:15 PM

Thanks! Here's a sample, I can make more if need be. This was exported to GIF but even the preview panes in VDub looked the same.

Hushpower · #4 03-08-2023, 11:56 PM

I meant a video sample: in VDub, set the start and stop points with the black arrows on the timeline and use Video>Direct Stream Copy.

Jeelock · #5 03-09-2023, 07:29 AM

I get an error saying "The source video stream uses a compression algorithm which is not compatible with AVI files. Direct stream copy cannot be used with this video stream." when I try to save it as an AVI after trimming the video.

Hushpower · #6 03-09-2023, 07:33 AM

No worries, it sounds like you're recording with another program. Just upload any one of your captures that is less than 99mb.

Jeelock · #7 03-09-2023, 07:45 AM

Hope this works, dunno why the GIF format saved as a JPG haha.

Hushpower · #8 03-09-2023, 08:40 AM

That's great. You're right, it is very "grainy", although I would call it low-resolution, because the edges of the objects are very pixellated. There's no video noise (ie grain), as far as I can see. Any upscaling is just going to expand those blocky edges.

Can you increase the resolution of your capture? That frame is currently 320x224; something bigger, say 640 x, would make upscaling more effective. However, bear in mind that upscaling will generally only "upscale" the edges anyway. You can test what I mean by upscaling it to 1440x1008 and then viewing that against the original file in VLC Player at about the same size. There's no real improvement.

The secret, I think, to a better image is higher capture resolution.

What is your capture workflow? The members here may have some suggestions if you tell us what gear and capture software you're using.

I've attached a combo: the top is your original video, and the bottom is upscaled to 1440x1008 at moderate quality. The original looks sharper.

With a handle like that, you're not a knucklehead by any chance?

Jeelock · #9 03-09-2023, 09:16 AM

OH ok gotcha! I haven't dabbled too much with the resolution yet, my capture setup is quite lierally just the in-program Record feature from RetroArch, an emulation program for mostly "retro" games. It saves to "recordings" file and then I plop the MKV into VDub. As low tech as it can get

I'll investigate with resolution in a bit, the fam's up now so Dad Mode for a bit, just wanted to acknowledge receipt of your reply.
I'm not sure what the term "knucklehead" refers to in this context, but I'm not always the brightest

My handle's just a phonetic spelling of an aviation term haha.

Xhumeka · #10 03-09-2023, 09:37 AM

What are your recording settings (see attached pic).

Which game is that? NHL '97 for the SNES?

Jeelock · #11 03-09-2023, 10:16 AM

I just checked the Output resolution and it says 1920x1080, and other video settings seem to say the same, so I'm not sure where the super low res is coming from.

It's actually a heavily modded NHL 95 for Genesis, a bunch of us nerds have a league going haha.

Xhumeka · #12 03-09-2023, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeelock

I just checked the Output resolution and it says 1920x1080, and other video settings seem to say the same, so I'm not sure where the super low res is coming from.

My screenshot shows quality as "lossless" and yours shows "high". Perhaps trying capturing using lossless quality and see how that changes things.

Jeelock · #13 03-09-2023, 10:35 AM

I tried that, but it's more of the same. It also recorded to a file I can't open in WMP, but can still open in VDub then save to a regular AVI

Hushpower · #14 03-09-2023, 08:18 PM

Quote:

My screenshot shows quality as "lossless" and yours shows "high". Perhaps trying capturing using lossless quality and see how that changes things.

I know nothing about that program but could the "streaming quality" be improved from "low" or "medium"? Also, what's in the "custom Streaming" settings?

Lossless is probably a good thing, especially if WMP can't open it. Means it is probably a non-mainstream codec more-suited to this sort of thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeelok

I'm not sure what the term "knucklehead" refers to in this context, but I'm not always the brightest
My handle's just a phonetic spelling of an aviation term haha.

Using G-LOC I thought you may be a fighter pilot. We call them knuckleheads here!

Xhumeka · #15 03-09-2023, 09:10 PM

I had to enable "Use GPU recording" to get the recorded resolution larger than 320x224, here's a sample clip for you to compare:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...mm?usp=sharing

Hushpower · #16 03-09-2023, 09:30 PM

That's much better, Xhumeka.

Jeelock · #17 03-09-2023, 09:46 PM

Xhumeka, that is exactly the kind of clarity I see in the really nice clips. I'll do that tomorrow and report back but I'm almost sure that'd be it then! Thanks!!
Hushpower, it's definitely a fighter pilot term

I was a wannabe here in Canada but to say I'm an aviation enthusiast is an understatement

Thank you guys so much! I'm hoping tomorrow to offer my closing statements!

Xhumeka · #18 03-10-2023, 11:26 AM

Depending on the power of your hardware, you might have to change the quality from LOSSLESS to HIGH if you are experiencing lagging/jitter when gaming while recording.

I should have recorded a game of Super Mario Bros instead of NHL in honor of "Mario Day" (MAR10 - March 10) today

Jeelock · #19 03-10-2023, 12:01 PM

Yeah I figured I'd tweak that if need be, I just built my computer less than two years ago so hopefully it won't be bad.
Didn't even know about Mar10 day! Thanks!

Jeelock · #20 03-10-2023, 05:20 PM

I dunno why this video slowed to 48 seconds, I converted from GIF on my phone but this is the quality now. Looks MUCH better but still off... What resolution do record in, or how do you change the resolution in RetroArch? I feel like I'm close. That's a full 1920x1080 resolution I believe. Thanks again!