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Project DEVO [WIP] — Page 4

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WXM said:

A lot of it looks great, but the “chorus shots” of our boys, their faces, sometimes look over-processed…

https://youtu.be/yfBIsug4XOw?t=37

But I don’t know the source so perhaps that’s to be expected with those shots? (Is this an artifact of de-noising…?)

Mango said:

I finally found a good blend of denoise that retains the detail.

Is noise really that much of a problem in the source?

I’m not out to poo poo on your results. They do look good! 😃 Just throwing out thoughts from looking closely at things as you seemed to say you wanted.

The noise in the source is absolutely atrocious. I’ve come to the conclusion that no amount of work will ever make these look “perfect”. I’m happy enough with the result, and I forgot to mention that these are being regrained to reduce banding. The version I posted had not been regrained yet.

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Ah. Then I’ll say your results look great then! 😃

LightWave = fun times with gfx for me 😃

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WXM said:

Ah. Then I’ll say your results look great then! 😃

Thanks!

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 (Edited)

This project has proven to be a continuous struggle. Work has never stopped, but barely any progress has been made. Therefore, I’m trying to take my time with each individual aspect of it. I’ve also spent a lot of time experimenting with techniques to get to a point where I can truly say that I’ve got something that works. One thing I’ve noticed since day one is how absolutely horrible the color is on the home video releases of Devo’s work. From what I know, most of their stuff was shot on 16mm, then transferred to video for editing. Time has not been kind to the transfers, as the official HD restoration of Truth About De-Evolution has shown that the original film elements are of a much crisper, cooler color grading.

Each video for this project is now getting the full color correction treatment, and we’re not just talking about adjusting contrast and saturation. Using what few HQ clips and on set photos exist, I’m now attempting to get every video to look as close to the original 16mm film as possible, however without grain. Regraining is tricky, and it’s never worked in my favor, so that will not be utilized for this project.

I’d like to give a very sincere thanks to everyone who has supported this or any of my other projects. The feedback I get is what keeps me going. I’d like to give a extra shout out to RayAfraid. Without his enthusiasm, I would’ve abandoned this project long ago. BTW, I notice he hasn’t been online since August of last year. I certainly hope nothing bad has happened, so if anyone has any information on his whereabouts, please let me know.

Thank you all so much for sticking with me. This project means so much to me on a personal level, as my mom showing me Devo for the first time is one of my most cherished memories. I’ve been a fan for life ever since.

~ Mango

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Great update, thanks for the details.

I have a suggestion that I think would solve a lot of these issues: Just get the original 16mm negatives of all that material and have Peter Jackson’s company scan it all in 4k for you, and let them know what you do want done and not left alone on the scans. Yay! So simple, bet you’re kicking yourself for not thinking of it 😉

LightWave = fun times with gfx for me 😃

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Still image from current progress. This is about as good as it’ll ever get.

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At last, Topaz Labs have released a completely new version of their Video Enhance AI software. Now that upscaling technology has progressed, it seems that I can finally create the look I was going for with this project.

Expect a release later this month or early next month. My laserdisc Player is out for repairs, so it’ll take longer to get the commentary tracks done then I’d hoped, but everything else for the project will be ready very soon. Over the next few days, I’ll upload a couple of restorations to youtube, (the ones I can get away with anyway).

Duty now, spuds!
~ mango

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Since official restorations seem to be on the way, I decided I should dial back the project a bit. I still want to release something, so I’ve decided to just do what I was going to do in the first place. Preserve the three classic compilation films without the use of AI upscaling.

The original 1993 cut of The Complete Truth About De-Evolution is exporting now, transferred and enhanced in HD from a recording of the original laserdisc (sans bonus features for the initial release, though they may be done some other time). Audio is from the 2003 DVD, except for R U Experienced which is take from the LD. Extensive work has been done to color correct and denoise while retaining original detail. No AI was used. Next I’ll finish up We’re All DEVO from a recording of the 1984 LD with audio taken from a VHS recording found on Internet Archive since my disc is a little rotted, and Devovision from a recording of the 1989 VHS re-release.

I’m kinda sad this is ending not only abruptly, but not as extravagant as I had hoped, but I am very optimistic that official remasters are on the way. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Devo after all, and theres been several hints about them dropped. Everything will be up later today as both raw MOV files and blu-ray ISOs with artwork.

~ Mango

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The Museum Of Modern Art is going to screen new restorations of numerous Devo videos in January, along with sneak peaks at upcoming restorations. It’s happening. My project might finally be put to rest.

https://www.moma.org/calendar/events/9300