Is Topaz Video AI Still the Best Video Enhancer? - I Believe it is.
TLDRThe video review discusses the effectiveness of Topaz Video AI as a leading video enhancement software. The presenter shares their belief in Topaz's superiority and provides a comparison with earlier versions and other enhancers like AVC labs and HITPAW. The video showcases the new features in Topaz version five, such as workspace preservation, export pausing and resuming, and a cleaner user interface. The presenter demonstrates the process of enhancing a standard definition 1990's video and a modern 720p video to 8K resolution. They highlight the importance of selecting the right AI model for the task and tweaking the settings for optimal results. The comparison reveals that Topaz version five outperforms its competitors in clarity and realism, with HITPAW noted for its unique color conversion but a tendency to over-enhance faces. The presenter concludes with a teaser for an upcoming video on enhancing 720p footage to 8K using Topaz Video AI.
Takeaways
- 📈 **Topaz Video AI Version 5**: The latest version of Topaz Video AI has been released with new features and improved video enhancement capabilities.
- 🔄 **Workspace Preservation**: Topaz now saves your workspace and allows you to pick up right where you left off, even after a system reboot.
- ⏸️ **Export Flexibility**: Users can now pause and resume exports, and even prioritize different queue items without losing progress.
- 🖼️ **Interface Improvements**: The user interface has been updated to be cleaner and more user-friendly, with a consistent color scheme across Topaz apps.
- 🔍 **Enhancement Settings**: Topaz offers various settings to fine-tune the enhancement process, including input quality, AI model selection, and enhancement options.
- 📹 **Footage Upscaling**: The script discusses upscaling standard definition footage to 720p and modern 720p footage to 8K, highlighting Topaz's capabilities.
- 🔧 **Model Selection**: Different AI models are available in Topaz for specific enhancement tasks, such as denoising, sharpening, face improvement, and upscaling.
- 🎥 **Comparison with Competitors**: The video includes a comparison of Topaz with other enhancers like AVC labs and HITPAW, showcasing Topaz's superior realism and clarity.
- 🧐 **Avoiding Over-Enhancement**: Topaz is noted for its ability to avoid an overdone cartoon look that is common in other enhancers, providing more realistic results.
- 🔧 **Tweaking for Best Results**: The script emphasizes the importance of experimenting with different settings and models to achieve the best enhancement for specific footage.
- 📺 **Upcoming Content**: The author promises a follow-up video demonstrating Topaz Video AI's ability to enhance 720p footage to 8K resolution.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the video script?
-The main topic of the video script is the effectiveness and efficiency of Topaz Video AI as a video enhancement software, particularly with the release of its version five.
What are the two new features introduced in Topaz Video AI version five?
-The two new features are the ability to save and reload the workspace with active previews and exports exactly where you left off, and the ability to pause and resume exports, even prioritize different queue items on-the-fly without losing any render process.
How does the Topaz Video AI handle unexpected system reboots or power loss during the export process?
-Topaz Video AI can restore export sessions even after a system reboot or power loss, as paused exports are saved to disk, which also helps in freeing up CPU and GPU utilization.
What is the significance of the AI model in Topaz Video AI?
-The AI model in Topaz Video AI is crucial as it determines the type of enhancement applied to the video. Different AI models are suited for different enhancement tasks, such as denoising, sharpening, face improvement, high-quality upscaling, and detail recovery.
What is the recommended approach for upscaling standard definition (SD) footage?
-The recommended approach is to upscale the SD footage to a resolution that is reasonable for its quality, without pushing the limits to unrealistic standards like 8K for very old and low-quality footage.
How does Topaz Video AI differ from other video enhancers in terms of realism?
-Topaz Video AI is considered more realistic than competing enhancers because it offers features that prevent an overdone cartoon look in the enhanced videos, which is a common issue in some other enhancers.
What is the role of the 'Recovery Detail' setting in Topaz Video AI?
-The 'Recovery Detail' setting in Topaz Video AI is used to adjust the level of detail recovery in the enhanced video. It can be carefully increased to improve the sharpness of the video without causing an artificial look.
How does the 'Motion Deblur' feature in Topaz Video AI help with low-quality footage?
-The 'Motion Deblur' feature can help improve the clarity of low-quality footage, particularly in scenes with motion, by reducing the blur effect and enhancing the details in the video.
What is the process of selecting the best AI model and tweaking it in Topaz Video AI?
-The process involves selecting the AI model that best suits the enhancement goal, such as denoising and sharpening with Artemus, and then experimenting with different input conditions and settings like recovery detail and motion deblur to achieve the desired enhancement.
How does the video script compare Topaz Video AI with AVC labs and HITPAW video enhancers?
-The script compares Topaz Video AI with AVC labs and HITPAW by showing the results of enhancing the same footage with each software. It highlights that while HITPAW offers unique color conversion, Topaz Video AI provides more realistic and clearer results.
What is the next step the author plans to showcase in the follow-up video?
-In the follow-up video, the author plans to demonstrate the capabilities of Topaz Video AI in enhancing 720p footage to an 8K resolution.
Outlines
📚 Introduction to Topaz Video Enhancement Software
The video script begins with a discussion on the effectiveness and efficiency of Topaz as a video enhancement software. The speaker believes Topaz remains the top choice and introduces the latest version five, which offers new features such as workspace preservation upon quitting, the ability to pause and resume exports, and a more user-friendly interface. The video aims to compare Topaz's performance with previous versions and other enhancers using both old standard definition footage and modern 720p footage upscaled to 8K.
🔍 Exploring Topaz's New Features and Enhancement Settings
The speaker delves into the new features of Topaz version five, highlighting the convenience of workspace preservation, the flexibility of export management, and the system's resilience to crashes or power loss. The interface improvements are noted for their intuitive design and color coordination with other Topaz apps. The paragraph also explains the various settings available in Topaz, such as Input, resolution, enhancement options, and the choice of AI models like Artemus for denoise and sharpen, Iris for facial improvements, and Gaia for high-quality upscaling. The process of selecting the best AI model and tweaking settings for optimal video enhancement is emphasized.
🎞️ Upscaling and Enhancing Video Footage with Topaz
The script outlines the practical aspects of using Topaz to upscale and enhance video footage. It discusses the limitations when working with standard definition footage and sets realistic expectations for the upscaling process. The importance of choosing the right AI model for the task is highlighted, with a focus on the Artemus model for denoising and sharpening. The paragraph details the experimentation process with different input conditions and settings to achieve the best enhancement results. The speaker also demonstrates how to use the Topaz interface, including how to remove previous previews and exports for a fresh start and how to compare different enhancement settings using the preview function.
Mindmap
Keywords
Topaz Video AI
Video Enhancer
Upscaling
AI Model
Halos
Soft Focus
Motion Deblur
Export Settings
ProRes
HD to 8K
Cartoon Look
Highlights
Topaz Video AI is still considered the most effective and efficient video enhancement software.
Version five of Topaz has been released with new features and more robust enhancing capabilities.
Topaz is particularly strong in enhancing both old footage recovery and HD footage upscaled to 8K.
A comparison of different video enhancers, including earlier versions of Topaz, is presented.
The standard definition 1990's dance band video is used for demonstration, showcasing Topaz's capabilities.
Modern 720p footage is upscaled to 8K to demonstrate Topaz's capabilities with newer video formats.
Topaz's new feature allows the workspace, active previews, and exports to be saved and reloaded upon quitting the app.
Exports can now be paused and resumed, with the ability to prioritize queue items on-the-fly.
The interface of Topaz has been updated to be cleaner and more user-friendly.
The enhancement section offers a choice between Progressive or Interlaced for different types of footage.
AI models in Topaz allow for experimentation to suit various types of footage.
Topaz's realistic enhancement capabilities make it stand out from competitors that may produce a cartoon-like effect.
The new layout of Topaz includes an improved export window for easier navigation.
Topaz's key to enhancement lies in the selection and tweaking of the AI model chosen.
Different AI models such as Artemus, Proteus, Iris, NYX, Gaia, and Theia serve specific enhancement purposes.
Artemus is chosen for the example due to the need for denoise and sharpen features.
Experimentation with input conditions and recovery detail settings is crucial for achieving the best enhancement results.
Motion Deblur is a useful feature for improving low-quality footage with lower frame rates.
Topaz version 5 outperforms AVC and HITPAW in clarity and upscaling, avoiding an overdone cartoon look.
A follow-up video will demonstrate Topaz Video AI enhancing 720p footage to 8K.