Is Topaz Video AI Still the Best Video Enhancer? - I Believe it is.

VideoTutors
25 Apr 202413:21

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

00:00

📚 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.

05:03

🔍 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.

10:09

🎞️ 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

Topaz Video AI is a video enhancement software that is believed to be one of the most effective and efficient tools for improving the quality of videos. In the video, it is discussed how the software has been updated to version five, which includes new features and robust enhancing capabilities. It is used to upscale old footage and enhance HD footage up to 8K resolution, showcasing its strengths in video quality improvement.

Video Enhancer

A video enhancer is a type of software or technology that improves the visual quality of video content. In the context of the video, the term is used to describe the function of Topaz Video AI, which aims to make videos sharper and clearer. It is central to the video's theme as the host compares different video enhancers and their effectiveness.

Upscaling

Upscaling refers to the process of increasing the spatial resolution of a video or image. In the video script, upscaling is a key feature of Topaz Video AI, where the software is used to enhance standard definition footage to high-definition resolutions, and even up to 8K. It is an important concept as it demonstrates the software's ability to improve the quality of older, lower resolution videos.

AI Model

Within the context of the video, an AI model in Topaz Video AI refers to a specific algorithm or set of instructions that the software uses to enhance videos. Different AI models are designed for different enhancement tasks, such as denoising, sharpening, or upscaling. The choice of AI model is crucial for achieving the desired outcome in video enhancement, as it directly affects the type and quality of the improvements made to the video.

Halos

Halos, in the context of video enhancement, refer to a visual artifact that appears as a bright fringe around the edges of objects in the video. The script mentions that older SD footage may have halos, and Topaz Video AI provides options to address this issue. The ability to reduce or eliminate halos is an important feature for improving the visual quality of older video footage.

Soft Focus

Soft focus is a term used to describe an out-of-sharpness effect in videos, where the details appear blurred or not well-defined. In the video, the host mentions the option to fix soft focus within Topaz Video AI, which is relevant for enhancing videos that suffer from this issue. It is part of the enhancement process to make the video clearer and more detailed.

Motion Deblur

Motion Deblur is a feature in Topaz Video AI designed to reduce or eliminate blur caused by motion in the video footage. This is particularly useful for videos with fast action or where the camera was moving during filming. In the script, the host experiments with this feature to improve the quality of low-quality footage, demonstrating its utility in enhancing video clarity.

Export Settings

Export settings in video editing refer to the parameters and options chosen when the edited video is saved or rendered for final use. The script discusses how Topaz Video AI allows users to customize their export settings, including the format and quality of the output video. These settings are important as they determine the final appearance and usability of the enhanced video.

ProRes

ProRes is a high-quality video compression format developed by Apple. It is often used as a default export format in video editing software due to its balance of quality and performance. In the video, ProRes is mentioned as the default export setting in Topaz Video AI, indicating the software's focus on providing high-quality output for professional use.

HD to 8K

The term 'HD to 8K' refers to the process of upscaling video content from high-definition (HD) to 8K resolution, which is a significantly higher and more detailed resolution. The video script mentions a future demonstration of Topaz Video AI's capability to upscale 720p HD footage to 8K, showcasing the software's advanced upscaling features.

Cartoon Look

A 'cartoon look' in the context of video enhancement refers to an over-enhanced, unrealistic appearance that can make faces or objects in the video resemble a cartoon. The script mentions that some other enhancers may produce this effect, which is undesirable for a natural and realistic look. Topaz Video AI is praised for avoiding this cartoon look, making it a preferred choice for more realistic enhancements.

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.