Improving Video/Picture Quality

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Kopkiwi

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#141159 3-Mar-2014 10:37

I have all my blu-rays stored on a couple external HDD for playback through XBMC.

I notice that skin tones are a little off and there is black crush in dark scenes and color banding on blue sky shots. This is all compared to the playback from the disc on a PS3. Where non of these issues are present.

Is there way of improving this?

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#998001 3-Mar-2014 10:39

How did you store you blurays? Have they been compressed to a single file / new format, or are they genuine rips of the whole file system?

What are you playing the copies back on? The PS3 or a computer.
Is the computer monitor/display or TV calibrated the same for the different inputs?

Many potential variables at play here without knowing more...

Kopkiwi

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#998035 3-Mar-2014 11:23

Jaxson: How did you store you blurays? Have they been compressed to a single file / new format, or are they genuine rips of the whole file system?

What are you playing the copies back on? The PS3 or a computer.
Is the computer monitor/display or TV calibrated the same for the different inputs?

Many potential variables at play here without knowing more...

Sorry I wasn't really sure what information was needed

Genuine rips, no compression
Back through XBMC on the computer
65" Panasonic Plasma calibrated the same

davidcole

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#998042 3-Mar-2014 11:30

XBMC live or via windows/mac?

Have you looked at the video colour calibration as part of the host OS?

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Kopkiwi

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#998057 3-Mar-2014 11:48

davidcole: XBMC live or via windows/mac?

Have you looked at the video colour calibration as part of the host OS?

Via Windows.

You mean the color calibration through XBMC? No I haven't. Or do you mean through Windows? I have selected xvycc color, but aside from that there isn't a heck of a lot calibration options.

davidcole

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#998061 3-Mar-2014 11:50

Kopkiwi:
davidcole: XBMC live or via windows/mac?

Have you looked at the video colour calibration as part of the host OS?

Via Windows.

You mean the color calibration through XBMC? No I haven't. Or do you mean through Windows? I have selected xvycc color, but aside from that there isn't a heck of a lot calibration options.

Depending on your video driver (catalyst control center frpom AMD), it should have a config that allows you so set some colour information. And if it's set up for gaming or movies.

Kopkiwi

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#998078 3-Mar-2014 12:19

davidcole:
Kopkiwi:
davidcole: XBMC live or via windows/mac?

Have you looked at the video colour calibration as part of the host OS?

Via Windows.

You mean the color calibration through XBMC? No I haven't. Or do you mean through Windows? I have selected xvycc color, but aside from that there isn't a heck of a lot calibration options.

Depending on your video driver (catalyst control center frpom AMD), it should have a config that allows you so set some colour information. And if it's set up for gaming or movies.

Cool, so how best to find that out?

rlevis

347 posts

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#998254 3-Mar-2014 16:31

You may need to adjust the Pixel Format in CCC to match your TV settings. For my TV I have it set to RGB FULL (0-255). Without this the blacks are only dark grey and other issues.

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Kopkiwi

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#998289 3-Mar-2014 17:15

rlevis: You may need to adjust the Pixel Format in CCC to match your TV settings. For my TV I have it set to RGB FULL (0-255). Without this the blacks are only dark grey and other issues.

CCC?

rlevis

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#998294 3-Mar-2014 17:22

CCC?

Sorry. Catalyst Control Center, assuming AMD/ATI graphics.

Kopkiwi

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#998311 3-Mar-2014 18:04

How do I find it?

rlevis

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#998477 3-Mar-2014 22:04

http://support.amd.com/en-us/download

richms

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#998484 3-Mar-2014 22:21

Even with that set right I have seen worse banding on PC playback than on a proper hardware player because you are outputting RGB, not component which is what MPEG uses internally, and the TV will be processing stuff in. Conversion to RGB and back has errors which makes for horrid rainbow tinted banding in dark areas.

Stick to a real player and no issues like that.

Richard rich.ms

rlevis

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#998491 3-Mar-2014 22:40

Well, you can select YcbCr 4:4:4 Pixel format but I've never seen black blacks using that format. I've not seen any visual issues using RGB. It could also be related to the decoders being used. In my mediaPortal using LAV, I have RGB selected there also.

richms

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#998494 3-Mar-2014 22:48

If the decoder is internally changing it to RGB and then doing some BS enhancement on it like many of the graphics cards claim to do, then it will not fix the problem.

Richard rich.ms

Masterpiece

247 posts

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#1004900 13-Mar-2014 13:32

You shouldn't really use 4:4:4 as it can cause artifacts due to over processing.

BD/DVD are encoded with 4:2:0, typically players should be set to 4:2:2 output.
Your TV, takes this input and processes it, typically it will do any processing at 4:2:2, even if you input 4:4:4. Then the TV transforms into RGB for the display output.

Some displays can make features which except RGB or 4:4:4, but many have issues.
Don't bother with xvycc color.

The main difficulty with PC inputs, and media centres is setting the correct output levels with regards video legal 16~235 or PC 0~255. Some TV's have inputs which allow you to select full range 0~255, but this can then cause issues with software which automatically limits the range to video legal levels.

The main problem is due to too many cooks in the kitchen, you have the OS, software and video drivers all fighting for control. Nvidia and ATi do things differently, with their own creative terms, then they will get one video card right and screw up the next. This is why you will get thrown all sorts of suggestions from other users to find it doesn't work for you with no real reason why.

The only way to get the TV and PC working correctly is try each setting one at a time untill you find one or more that work then see if artifacts occur as a result.

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