Converting VHS to 4k Using AI

The video discusses the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to upscale and preserve VHS tapes in a modern format. EposVox, the presenter, explores various methods of upscaling, including basic video editor upscaling, bicubic upscaling with the QTGMC deinterlacing algorithm, and the use of DaVinci Resolve's 'Super Scale' tool with a neural network AI deinterlacing algorithm. The video also examines Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI, which uses a neural model called Dione designed for interlaced content. The results show that while AI upscaling cannot recreate lost details, it significantly improves the quality of old tapes, making them viewable on modern 4K TVs. The video concludes that AI is indeed helpful in preserving VHS captures by enhancing detail, sharpness, and performing near-perfect deinterlacing.

Takeaways

• 📼 AI technology can significantly improve the quality of VHS tapes, making them look more like modern recordings.
• 🧩 VHS tapes are a nostalgic medium, but they are fragile and deteriorate over time, necessitating preservation efforts.
• 🎥 The process of upscaling VHS involves not only increasing resolution but also deinterlacing to improve motion quality.
• 📈 Three methods were compared for upscaling VHS: basic video editor upscaling, bicubic upscaling with QTGMC, and AI-based upscaling with DaVinci Resolve and Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI.
• 🚀 Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI, with its Dione neural model, is designed for interlaced content and offers promising results for VHS tapes.
• 📉 DaVinci Resolve’s ‘Super Scale’ tool did not provide significant improvements over native scaling in tests.
• 🏞 StaxRip with QTGMC deinterlacing showed good results for animations, reducing perceived aliasing.
• 📽 Dione AI upscaling and deinterlacing provided cleaner images, especially for animation footage, but was less effective on line artifacts.
• 📹 Live action footage and other clips generally looked better with Dione AI upscaling, offering smoother results and less noise.
• 🤖 Developing AI-based tools requires knowledge of coding and neural networks, which can be learned through interactive platforms like Brilliant.
• 🔍 Video Enhance AI has its quirks, such as issues with MPEG files and lack of aspect ratio control, but it's a powerful tool for upscaling and enhancing video quality.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video discusses the use of AI to upscale and enhance VHS tapes to a 4K resolution.

Why are VHS tapes considered fragile and at risk of expiring?

VHS tapes are made of magnetic material that can degrade over time, leading to a loss of quality or complete data loss.

What is the role of AI in upscaling VHS tapes?

AI can help in enhancing the quality of VHS tapes by upscaling the resolution, reducing noise, and improving sharpness without adding artifacts.

What are the three methods of upscaling VHS captures compared in the video?

The three methods are: basic upscaling in a video editor, normal bicubic upscaling with the QTGMC deinterlacing algorithm, and using DaVinci Resolve’s GPU-accelerated 'Super Scale' tool with the 'Neural Network' AI deinterlacing algorithm.

What is the name of the neural model used by Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI for interlaced content?

The neural model used by Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI for interlaced content is called Dione.

How does the Dione AI model handle different types of tapes?

Dione AI model has two different versions: one for capturing cleaner DV tape sources and another for older analog tapes such as VHS and 8mm.

What are some of the issues faced when using Video Enhance AI?

Issues include problems with MPEG HDV files, lack of control over aspect ratio, and inconsistent framerate detection.

What is the significance of the 'Brilliant' ad within the video?

The 'Brilliant' ad is promoting a website and app for learning computer science, programming, and other STEM topics through problem-solving.

How does the video conclude regarding the effectiveness of AI in preserving VHS captures?

The video concludes that AI can indeed help preserve VHS captures by providing natural-looking noise removal, detail enhancement, and near-perfect deinterlacing.

What is the final recommendation for those interested in upscaling VHS tapes?

The video suggests using AI solutions like Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI for better results, despite the time it takes and the need for a high-end graphics card.

How can viewers engage further with the content discussed in the video?

Viewers can join the Discord server at Discord.gg/eposvox to discuss their experiences with tape upscaling and related topics.

Outlines

00:00

📼 The Resurgence of VHS Tapes with AI Upscaling

The video opens with a discussion on the potential of AI to enhance and preserve VHS tapes. Despite being recorded on cassette tapes years ago, 4K video footage can be improved with AI, making it look almost as good as modern recordings with a little tweaking. VHS tapes are highlighted as a nostalgic medium with variable recording lengths and no ads, used for a wide range of content. The fragility of VHS tapes and the need for archiving them is emphasized. The speaker, EposVox, expresses a personal interest in VHS tapes, particularly those containing game previews and demos. The video promises a future discussion on hardware for capturing VHS tapes, which typically result in a 480i analog-degraded image. The main focus is on comparing three methods of upscaling VHS captures: basic upscaling, bicubic upscaling with the QTGMC deinterlacing algorithm, and using DaVinci Resolve's 'Super Scale' tool with a neural network AI deinterlacing algorithm. Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI, with its Dione neural model for interlaced content, is introduced as a tool for testing interlaced content upscaling. The results of upscaling home videos from the 80s and 90s are discussed, noting that higher-quality tapes yield better results. The video concludes with a surprising outcome for the 'Super Scale' tool, which did not meet expectations, and a brief introduction to an advertisement for learning AI and programming through Brilliant.

05:00

🎓 Learning STEM Through Practical Application with Brilliant

The video features an advertisement for Brilliant, an educational platform designed to teach STEM subjects through hands-on problem-solving. The ad emphasizes the importance of learning by doing, rather than memorization. It offers a range of courses from basic math and science to advanced topics like neural networks. The speaker encourages viewers to join the platform's community of learners and educators, and mentions a special discount for the first 200 subscribers who sign up through the provided link. After the advertisement, the video returns to the topic of VHS upscaling, comparing the effectiveness of the Dione AI upscaling across different types of footage. It is noted that while AI upscaling does not magically add detail that was not originally present, it significantly improves the appearance of degraded tapes when viewed on a 4K TV. Specific results from using Dione AI on various tapes are shared, including impressive outcomes from upscaling miniDV tape and HDV clips. However, the video also discusses several issues encountered when using Video Enhance AI, such as problems with MPEG files, lack of aspect ratio control, and inconsistent frame rate detection. Despite these issues, the speaker acknowledges the potential of Video Enhance AI for creative applications and upscaling old game reveals. The video concludes with a reflection on the effectiveness of AI in preserving VHS captures, noting that while it may not be perfectly accurate to the original recording, the enhanced detail and sharpness can offer a superior viewing experience on modern screens.

Keywords

AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the context of the video, AI is used to upscale and enhance the quality of VHS tapes, making them suitable for modern viewing on high-definition screens. The script mentions AI's role in preserving VHS captures by improving their resolution and quality through advanced algorithms.

VHS

VHS stands for Video Home System, which is an analog video recording technology that was widely used from the late 1970s to the early 2000s. VHS tapes are the subject of the video, as the host discusses the process of converting them to 4K resolution using AI. The script highlights the nostalgia and historical value of VHS tapes, as well as their fragility and the need for preservation.

4K

4K resolution, also known as Ultra High Definition (UHD), is a display resolution that offers approximately 8.3 million pixels, four times the number of pixels as 1080p. The video is centered around the concept of converting old VHS tapes to 4K resolution, which is a significant upgrade in quality. The script emphasizes the impressive results that can be achieved by upscaling VHS content to this high-definition format using AI.

Upscaling

Upscaling is the process of increasing the spatial resolution of a video or image. In the video, upscaling is a crucial technique for enhancing the quality of VHS tapes, which were originally recorded at a much lower resolution. The script discusses different methods of upscaling, including basic upscaling, bicubic upscaling with deinterlacing, and AI-based upscaling.

Deinterlacing

Deinterlacing is a process used to convert interlaced video, which is a method of displaying, storing or transmitting moving images, into a progressive format. The script mentions deinterlacing as an important step in the upscaling process, as it helps to create a smoother motion in the final video without the 'jaggies' or stair-step effect that can occur with interlaced video.

DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a professional video editing software that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for video post-production, including color correction, visual effects, and audio post-production. In the video, DaVinci Resolve's 'Super Scale' tool is compared with other methods for upscaling VHS tapes. The script describes the process and results of using this tool in the context of AI upscaling.

Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI

Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI is a software application that uses AI to upscale and enhance the quality of videos. The script discusses the use of this software for converting VHS tapes to 4K, highlighting its ability to handle interlaced content and improve the quality of the footage. The software is noted for its effectiveness in noise removal and detail enhancement.

Neural Network

A Neural Network is a series of algorithms that an AI uses to recognize patterns. They are inspired by the human brain and are used in the AI upscaling process to learn and make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to perform the task. The video script mentions the use of a neural network algorithm for deinterlacing, which is a part of the AI solution for enhancing VHS tapes.

Interlaced Content

Interlaced content refers to video that is displayed by alternating lines of video data, meaning that even and odd lines of the video signal are drawn on the display separately. The script discusses the challenges and solutions associated with upscaling and deinterlacing VHS tapes, which typically contain interlaced content.

StaxRip

StaxRip is a video encoding software that allows users to convert video files into different formats and resolutions. In the context of the video, StaxRip is used in conjunction with the QTGMC deinterlacing algorithm to upscale and enhance VHS tapes. The script compares the results of using StaxRip with other methods of upscaling.

QTGMC

QTGMC stands for QT + Gaussian Mixture Model and Canny, which is a deinterlacing algorithm used in video processing. The script mentions the use of the QTGMC algorithm in conjunction with bicubic scaling to achieve smooth motion in the upscaled VHS footage.

Highlights

AI can significantly improve the quality of VHS tapes, even making them appear like modern phone recordings with some tweaking.

VHS tapes are a nostalgic medium, storing intimate family memories to commercial releases, but they are fragile and deteriorating.

The quest to upscale and preserve VHS tapes using AI is explored by EposVox, a self-proclaimed VHS hoarder.

Upscaling VHS to a higher resolution and deinterlacing are two key challenges in enhancing the video quality.

Three methods of upscaling VHS captures are compared: basic upscaling, bicubic upscaling with QTGMC, and using DaVinci Resolve's 'Super Scale'.

Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI, with its neural model Dione, is highlighted for its ability to upscale and deinterlace interlaced content.

The Dione model is designed for different tape sources, including cleaner DV tapes and older analog tapes like VHS and 8mm.

Results show that cleaner and higher-quality tapes yield better outcomes with AI upscaling.

DaVinci Resolve's 'Super Scale' was found to be less effective, offering minimal improvements over native scaling.

StaxRip's Bicubic scaling with QTGMC deinterlacing provided compelling results, especially with animations.

Dione AI upscaling and deinterlacing produced cleaner images but was less effective with line artifacts in animations.

Live action footage and other clips generally showed smoother results with Dione AI upscaling.

The 'Robust' version of Dione AI was preferred for 8mm car tape, avoiding ghosting effects.

Using Dione DV AI on widescreen miniDV tape resulted in remarkable noise reduction and improved sharpness.

Video Enhance AI faced issues with MPEG files and lacked control over aspect ratio handling.

Despite the issues, Video Enhance AI has been used for nearly a year for its versatility in upscaling different types of footage.

AI upscaling takes significantly longer than traditional methods due to the intensive processing required.

AI can help preserve VHS captures by enhancing detail and sharpness while maintaining a natural look.

The video concludes that AI is a valuable tool for upscaling and preserving VHS tapes, offering improved viewing experiences on modern screens.