Some of you may remember me, when I upscaled episode one of Log Horizon. I’ve gone ahead and taken another series that I enjoy, and decided to process that while learning a bit more about working with video files.
This was a 2 month long project. Run though Topaz AI 1.6.1 to enhance/refine lines and edges, especially effective in scenes of the accelerated world. Makes it look like it was mastered in 1080p, instead of upscaled 720p as was the case at that time. Visuals look crisp, clear, and really enhances the viewing experience.
I tried to make this torrent as complete as possible. Sources are as follows:
Source files
Episode 1-24
[FFF] - BD 1080p Dual audio FLAC, [UTW] Subs (Karaoke + Full)
Mini specials
[FFF] - BD 1080p Japanese FLAC, [FFF] Subs (Full)
OVA 1 + 2
[UTW] - BD 1080p Japanese FLAC, Subs (Full)
Accel World Infinite Burst Movie
[Moozzi2] BD 1080p Japanese FLAC, [SallySubs] Subs, (Full)
*-Additional subs from Rokey, AniPush!-Neko, and AManWithoutLife (Couldn’t find a stylized version to mux in, unfortunately.)
Targeted output 50Mbps, so each raw processed episode ~8-10GB w/o audio
Re-encoded in Handbrake, CRF=16, tune=animation, preset=slow, more settings=bframes=8:ao-amp:no-sao:aq-mode=3:ref=4:frame-threads=4:no-strong-intra-smoothing:psy-rd=2:aq-strength=0.9:deblock=1,1 (Staxrip is the next step in my workflow change)
Muxed in original FLAC audio from source video files, as well as subtitles and chapter markers.
Episodes with Japanese Commentary (AAC)
1, 5, 9, 12, 13, 16, 19, 24
Before and after comparisons
Sample directory - ~400mb, OP, ED, and first 60 seconds, all from S01E02 cut using LosslessCut
Things not yet done - adjust color space/gamma to match original source colors more closely. Still researching on how to do this effectively. Note - playing original and processed videos on Plex, I can detect little to no color variations, between the two versions (at least not as extreme as in the thumbnail comparisons), but would still like to correct this.
If anyone is interested, I can post a torrent for the raw output from Topaz Video Enhance AI, if they want to fix the colorspace or encode it in a manner better than me. It will be in the ballpark of 250ish GB.
Please let me know your thoughts, and ways I can improve what I’m doing.
Note: on my Mac, watching videos on IINA results in a peculiar stair-stepping effect on some visuals (the red/black of Haruhime’s avatar’s wings, and Red Rider’s face in the OP). This visual artifact does not show up in VLC.
Mediainfo
https://pastebin.com/4f2Ec2Kw
Comments - 8
Ingenioussubs
It’s re-encoded. This should be marked as red since it’s a remake. Why boost the chroma unnecessarily, and sharpen the video.
Sounds like Moozzi2
NullZeroNobody (uploader)
https://nyaa.si/view/1280221#com-2
Hi again.
D3NPA
BT.709 to BT.601?
NullZeroNobody (uploader)
That’s something that Topaz does, I’m trying to figure out how to correct. Unfortunately, I updated MacOS to Catalina, so I can’t use Adobe Media Encode, and haven’t found a better way to convert colorspace that works.
https://guide.encode.moe/archived-websites/bt601-vs-bt709.html
herkz
holy fuck this is some next level shit
iThinkiWin
Make whatever meme you want, but go look at your comparison shot.
The whole process “to better something” is wasted if your settings for the encode itself are causing banding.
Glordit
PlusOne
Homie, you know what? Props for trying to make something better. I know next to nothing about encoding so the fact that you’re spending this time trying to improve a method for touching up series like this is admirable. Keep doing what you’re doing, keep seeking ways to improve the method further, keep striving for the quality you’re after.