Star Wars GOUT in HD using super resolution algorithm (* unfinished project *) — Page 16

We have an excellent-quality 77 stereo mix sourced primarily from the Japanese P&S Laserdisc (digital audio), and patched over with audio from analogue Laserdisc sources when needed, already synced to the video we're talking about.  We also have a lesser-quality 1977 mono mix and a fine 1977 6-channel reconstruction.  If home video release and top-notch quality are requirements, then 1977 stereo is the best option IMO.

VHS... *spits* ...we absolutely positively do not ever have to deal with that crap.  Heck, even if we want the 93 mix, I'd recommend at least using a Laserdisc-derived copy for the improved quality over DVD.  We've already got one of those synced too.

Is there still interest in using these methods to create faux-HD upscales of the prequel trilogy deleted scenes? If there's need to obtain them first, PM me and I'd be happy to provide them.

DrDre said:

@ Laserdisc Master

Very impressive cleanup! In the end (after some discussion about a cleanup I did) I decided to go for a faithful representation of the GOUT, without any cleanup. However, your cleanup version certainly looks pretty good :-). 

Thanks!

We could always release two version, the "dirty" and the "clean"! (^^,)

What's your preferred encoding/bitrate for audio?  AC3 is lossy, but pretty universally supported.  I typically do 224k AC3 for lossy encodings (112k for mono, 448k for 5.1), but I can also do DTS-MA or WAV for lossless (or to let you handle the encoding yourself).

Last question, I swear.  NTSC and PAL discs of the GOUT have slightly different frame counts.  This causes a noticeable sync difference in ROTJ.  Which source are you using for ROTJ?

DrDre said:

Hahaha, I'm using the NTSC versions for all three films. 

 Why aren't you using the PAL version? Wouldn't you want the extra resolution from the DVD? If you need the PAL version, I can send you a copy.

Even if PAL has more vertical resolution as standard, NTSC GOUT EP IV and V are better, while EP VI PAL is better...

Argh.  Yes, for ROTJ, PAL is slightly better visually.  But all preservations seem to be gravitating toward NTSC framecount, even if the ROTJ source was PAL, by deleting and inserting the extra frames.  Man, all I want is for Han's lips to move at the same time he's talking...

DrDre said:

Here's a screenshot for the super resolution upscale of one of the prequel deleted scenes:

http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/124536

The video will take a couple of hours to process, and will be available tomorrow to anyone who sends me a PM.

 I'd like to see it; it's hard to get a sense of how it will look based on a screencap. Thanks for dedicating the resources to trying this out.

CatBus said:

Man, all I want is for Han's lips to move at the same time he's talking...

Having done audio sync on a number of film captures (not just SW), I always wrestle with this.  Many scenes are overdubbed after the fact ... that is commonly done, and not just in movies but in other productions. [I did some color commentary on a sporting event once, and they decided they didn't like the sound of our mics and so we had to go into the studio afterwards and overdub ourselves]

Point being, it is harder to sync audio and video captures if the voices have been overdubbed.  They just never seem to line up quite right.  And because of that, I often wonder if I should be trying to align the voice with the video, or if I should be trying to align the audio with where it fell in the original film (rightly or wrongly).

Yeah, I've worked with a Hong Kong film, so I know all about misaligned dub-overs ;)  Heck, in Star Wars, there's even lines where people's lips say an entirely different line (i.e. Leia's lips say a 70mm line in Empire, but the 35mm audio says something else).  In this case, I'm just talking about the problems introduced by mix-and-matching the PAL and NTSC audio and video, that's all.

As for interlacing artifacts, I think it was stated early on that digging out bad IVTC frames wasn't in the scope of this project, but that may have changed.

Mike, the HDTV is... well, HDTV broadcast! (^^,)

It's the same master used for 2004 SE DVD, and I used it to have an HD version of the same shot (well, sort of) to compare, in particular to check small details placement and position; here you are another comparison

SuperResolution7 Vs MagicUpSR5 + MagiClean2:
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/124557

SuperResolution7 Vs HDTV:
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/124558

MagicUpSR5 + MagiClean2 Vs HDTV:
http://screenshotcomparison.com/comparison/124561

I refined further my script - from now, simply MagicSR (that uses SuperResolution upscale + denoise/sharpen filters + grain plate); here you are a brief comparison clip (Vs Bicubic) - 1280x720, 34.50MB, 27s, no audio: https://www.sendspace.com/file/u3k865

Image is greatly enhanced, I can't believe how great the power of Avisynth is... and, I know, I know, stars are disappearing here and there... this is the worst problem so far, I'm thinking about how to solve it!

Going to sleep now, hope to read some feedbacks next time I'll come back!

_,,,^..^,,,_ said:

Even if PAL has more vertical resolution as standard, NTSC GOUT EP IV and V are better, while EP VI PAL is better...

 Whoops, I had meant the PAL version of ROTJ. I have the PAL copies of ANH & ESB and they don't look anywhere near ROTJ. 

Either way, looking forward to this!