Bulk/Batch Processing Pain Points: Need CLI Starlight + Queue Management

Topaz Video Ideas
1

Hi All,

I have a large library of small, low-resolution clips that I’m trying to improve. Doing this through the Topaz Video App UI is difficult at scale. Loading each file, setting parameters, and exporting one by one is slow/tedious and error-prone.

The export queue helps, but I don’t see a way to pause processing, resume later, or safely close the app and continue where I left off. If these features exist and I’ve missed them, I’d appreciate clarification.

My preferred approach would be proper command line support. I’ve been experimenting with calling via ffmpeg, and most models work well. However, Starlight does not. Calling slm-1 hangs, even though it is clearly the best model available and the one I want to use for bulk work. I don’t want to switch to weaker models just so I can automate.

My requests are:

  1. Please allow Starlight to be used via command line like the other models.

  2. If that isn’t possible, please add reliable pause / resume support in the export queue.

  3. Ideally, also add import / export queue functionality so users can build structured conversion queues externally and run them over time.

Starlight is great today, but better models will come. When they do, I’d like to easily reprocess my library without manually rebuilding project after project.

Thanks to the team if any of this is already possible and I’m missing the right workflow. I’m happy to adjust if there is a proper solution.

3

My proceedure for large batch processing:

  1. Create a preset of the settings you want. (There is a bug that ignores the PAR when using presets)
  2. Set this preset as the default in preferences.
  3. Import all the clips.
  4. Triple dot menu one of the clips. Select All.
  5. Ctrl-E to send them all to the export queue.

Be patient as it takes forever and you will think it has crashed. Give it a generous amount of time to work, and eventually everything will be in the export queue and rendering.

After the renders are complete, project management will be painfull and tedious with many source clips, so I recommend you simply delete the Projects Folder entirely before relaunching the software or you will be waiting a very long time for the previous project to open. And no, the CANCEL button doesn’t work when loading the previous project.

4

I have not tried it myself, but this user seems to have it working.
Example 1
Batch script example