Every month or so, I feel like I learn new things that I have been doing wrong. Suddenly, I need to go back and process the movies that drove me to buy VEAI in the first place, again.
Here is my list of all the steps I usually have to take and why:
·ffmpeg to convert 29.970 FPS to the original FPS. Usually 23.976, but I have a bunch that seem to be random. If I don’t, the output from VEAI comes out jerky in mp4.
·ffmpeg to deinterlace. That way I can use any model I want in VEAI.
·ffmpeg to cut original source into clips. If I use VEAI to do this, the audio get seriously degraded.
Those three can be done in one pass.
·VEAI to upscale or interpolate. Output must be image files. If not the dark scenes get lots of gray blocks no matter the CRF value for mp4. I cannot speak for ProRes because I have nothing else that uses it so I have never tried it. This might get rid of the jerkyness mentioned in step one, but I keep it just in case.
·ffmpeg to convert the image files back into a movie file. MKV containers work best. Usually H265 format, since everything I own can handle it.
·MKVToolNix to take the audio, subtitles and chapters form the first ffmpeg pass and put them in the final video.
When I look at all these steps, they could all be automated into one script. Too bad someone removed the command line version of VEAI… But I hear that’s coming back!
I’m curious what steps other people have to do to get use out of VEAI.
