Thanks guys, just wanted to let you know my workflow is solid an can be adapted to multiple sources (including later seasons). I am really trying to find the time to watch the full eps I have already re-done, but at the moment it’s difficult. These little snippets I put up were done several weeks ago when I was doing trial and error on specific settings.

Since then I finished the pilots of DS9 and VOY as well as the first episode of season 1 of Babylon 5. But the stuff is just “sitting there” since I haven’t had time to watch and do final corrections. But I will get around to it. My real-life job requires a 6-day-week at the moment with a lot of hours (trying to get in as much cash as possible in case Covid shuts us down again). So little time for other things. Still, I will get to it.

Perhaps the most interesting things/changes that happened to the workflow are:

in StaxRip: increased sharpness (slightly), more grain retention (to avoid artificial surface look)
in Topaz Video Enhance AI: Doing double model work (I am using two models to upscale now)
in DaVinci Resolve: Doing layer-based work with both Topaz models, working with clearly defined color spaces, added Dehazing to reduce greyish tint, added contrast pop (slightly, to draw out highlights), modified grain settings in both models, adjusted render settings

Also, I have found a way to replace the stuttering CGI scenes from the PAL-version with those from the NTSC-version - I started experimenting with that because Voyager suffered a lot from this, but sometimes later seasons of DS9 do as well - combined with optical flow from DaVinci the stuttering can be reduced a lot and just looks nicer on the screen. Perhaps that technique could be adapted to Babylon 5, which also suffers from motion stutter a lot. I will have to take a look.

All in all things are looking up.