STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE - AI-Upscaling Project (LD to 1080pHD)

*This project started back in 2020 and has been running for a long time as well as being paused and going through several revisions - I am still passionate about this project and now have enough stuff to show!

Be aware: This version is a downsized/compressed version of my 1080pHD-Upscales and intended for everyone who has to be mindful of his/herr HDD-space! The episodes have about 2,5 GB per standard episode (43 minutes).

And now, for the details:

1.) The Person Behind The Project

• I am a SciFi-fan and kid of the 90’s VHS era with amateurish video editing skills

2.) The Reasons & Goals For The Project

• “Enhancing” the quality of the LaserDiscs (LDs) and adapting them to modern HD-screens

3.) Details On The Source Material

• LaserDiscs (provided by another community and already excellently upscaled there)

4.) Technical Specifications Of The Upscaled Episodes (Compressed Version)

• Format: mkv
• Size: about 2,5 GB per 43-minute-episode
• Resolution: 1440x1080pHD (4:3 ratio, without black bars left/right)
• Framerate: 23,976 FPS (PAL-shift corrected)
• Audio: English & German AC3 5.1 @ 640 Kbps (based on LaserDisc audio with no PAL-Shift/Pitch)
• Encoding: HEVC, Main 10, Rec. 709, Gamma 2.4

5.) The Technology Involved In Realizing The Project

• Hardware:
  • Fast PC/Laptop (Intel Core i9 CPU @ 3,6 GHz & 32 GB RAM - best also add means of additional cooling)
  • Good Graphics Card (at least NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080, better 4080)
  • Big SDD/HDD drive (storage space)
• Software:
  • mkvToolnix (Freeware; working/merging elements like video- and/or audio-streams)
  • meGui (Freeware; adjusting audio-streams)
  • Topaz Video Enhance AI (Paid-for; enhancing quality and upscaling resolution)
  • DaVinci Resolve (Paid-for; enhancing/filtering quality, encoding towards 1080pHD)
  • Handbrake (Freeware; compressing video to downsize final file)

6.) Workflow (short)

• a) Use Handbrake: Encoding the basic LD-file to Topaz-conforming format
• b) Use meGui: Adjust audio stream (encode in AC3-format)
• c) Use Topaz Video Enhance AI: Model Iris Medium
• d) Use Handbrake: Encoding the Topaz-file again
• e) Use Topaz Video Enhance AI: Model Gaia High Quality
• f) Use DaVinci Resolve: Apply various filters to enhance video quality and encode to 1080pHD
• g) Use mkvToolnix: Merge video and audio-streams
• h) Use Handbrake: Compress/Downsize videofile

7.) The Benefits Of This Project

• You can see samples of the restoration work
• PM me for more details

8.) Rules Of Conduct Regarding This Project

• PM me before accessing/using any material from this project
• Do not share material from this project
• Ask me for permission before cross-posting/linking this projects anywhere else or discussing it there

9.) How Can I Access Materials From This Project?

• PM me for more details

10.) Questions And Answers Regarding This Project

• Why Not Upscale To 4K?
  • I have found 1080pHD to be the “sweet spot” when it comes to balancing detail quality, filesize etc.
• Why Crop To 4:3 Instead Of 16:9?
  • That way viewers can have the option of “stretching” the image to fill the screen or watch in original format
• Why Upscale The Original VFX/CGI Effects And Not Create Your Own?
  • I am not technically-minded enough for that and don’t have the time
• Why Not Convert From SDR To HDR?
  • I am not technically-minded enough for that
• Why Do The Colors Look Slightly Different?
  • The various encoding software/programs occasionally adjust colors, but not much
• Why Do The Voices Sound Differently (Asked By German Viewers)?
  • The LaserDiscs run at a FPS-Frequency of 23,976 instead of 25 (PAL-DVD), so there is no “PAL-Shift/Pitch”,
    so german voices sound a bit “deeper”)
• How Long Does The Work Take?
  • One standard episode (43 minutes running time) takes about 6-8 hours to complete
• Will There Be Other Shows That You’ll Be Upscaling?
  • Next in line is “Star Trek Voyager”
• Do You Take Requests For Other Shows?
  • Unfortunately NO - I simply don’t have the time or resources to take on additonal projects

11.) Final Thoughts
- This project is now an accumulation of the excellent work of another community (which is working on the LaserDiscs)
and a few touch-ups done by me
- Please keep this “low key” in order to avoid shut-down

So, that’s it - Have fun with the project!

Regards,
Leland

Starting things off with Season 1, episodes 1&2 - Pilot “Emissary”

You can find a complete image gallery with comparison images here:
https://imgur.com/gallery/ds9-1x01-02-ld-up-YEtNj53

Unfortunately, imgsli.com (website which provides image comparison with slider function) apparently has ceased operations - since I haven’t found a suitable alternative, we have to stick to the image gallery above and the samples below.

Sample images below (PAL-DVD):

Sample images below (LD-Upscale):

Have fun and let me know what you think.

Further details: Contact me via PM!

Thanks, I hope to finally finish the whole series this time. Season 1 is done. Season 2 is in the works.

@GigoloJoe:

As for the uncompressed versions: They are about 2,5x times the size - specifically a 43 minute episode comes down to about 2,5 GB in it’s compressed state, while the uncompressed file is about 6,8 GB in size; a double-episode (like the Pilot) is about 5GB in compressed state, while uncompressed it’s about 13,8 GB.

Since the quality difference is marginal (in my opinion) and I must be mindful about my uploading cloud space, I hadn’t planned on releasing the uncompressed files.

I deleted the previous versions of my upscales, since the quality of the current version is better (visually speaking) - the color space is more stable across a variety of devices/displays and the sharpness and grain is more balanced.

Thanks, and yes, the rest will come up soon

Continuing with Season 1, episode 3 “Past Prologue”

You can find a complete image gallery with comparison images here:
https://imgur.com/gallery/ds9-1x03-ld-up-rf3G6XY

Sample images below (PAL-DVD):

Sample images below (LD-Upscale):

Have fun and let me know what you think.

Further details: Contact me via PM!

Continuing with Season 1, episode 4 “A Man Alone”

You can find a complete image gallery with comparison images here:
https://imgur.com/gallery/ds9-1x04-ld-up-GD3yFh2

Sample images below (PAL-DVD):

Sample images below (LD-Upscale):

Have fun and let me know what you think.

Further details: Contact me via PM!

Don’t worry, I will.

I’ve watched the first three episodes of this through and they look impressive; crisp, stable colours, and an actual HD-quality to the whole thing (yet doesn’t actually feel upscaled) - nicely done. 👍

Looking forward to watching the 4th episode over the weekend.
 

@oojason:

Thanks for the feedback, have fun watching!

Keeping up with Season 1, episode 5 “Babel”

You can find a complete image gallery with comparison images here:
https://imgur.com/gallery/ds9-1x05-ld-up-hj9i6y5

Sample images below (PAL-DVD):

Sample images below (LD-Upscale):

Have fun and let me know what you think.

Further details: Contact me via PM!

Thanks, Tosk is already getting ready

Episodes 4 & 5 were quality - just like the previous 3 instalments. As vranir says above, it is definitely ‘looking good’. 👍
 

@vranir:

Let me tell you: It’s still not great, but a true leap from what we can get off the DVDs - almost like someone physically scrubbed and cleaned up the image.

And just to prove I’m not overselling, a little sample below:

Sample image (PAL-DVD):

Sample image (LD-Upscale):

Now honestly: Nice, isn’t it?

Hello guys, massive Update on the way!!!

I have managed to finish encoding and uploading the complete seasons 1 & 2 of DS9 - since I haven’t had time to do a episode-by-episode comparison, I will simply inform each fan/person/community member via PM on how to get access to those seasons.

Once I have time for episode by episode comparisons, I will upload samples here.

Regards,
Leland.

Thanks a lot - also, since I have had the pleasure (I really mean it) to already have worked on episodes 1-3 of season 3, I can say this:

There are again several improvements in source quality, some of which I have noticed include these:

• less image ghosting (fewer halos on edges and lighting/shimmering)
• fewer to almost no motion blur (a few exceptions on fast movements, but that’s ok)
• overall slightly more detailed picture

I have watched the double episode opener of season 3 this weekend on my big oled tv - I was so happy, it was the first time in a long time I actually got popcorn because it was so fun to watch.