On 19 May 2003 13:40:05 -0700, kathyspam@weeksfamily.net (Cathy Weeks) wrote:

>I know about "garbage in garbage out" but I'm wondering if there are

>any tools or filters that would clean up old video images?

>

>I am digitizing old VHS videotapes that we took years ago on old,

>poor-quality camcorders. I have a nice new Canon Gl2 that takes

>wonderful footage, and we are using the analog line-in feature to

>record these old, precious tapes (wedding, baby footage, stuff like

>that) onto DV tape, which we'll transfer to DVD.

>

>Here's the problem. The old footage is TERRIBLE quality. Muddy.

>Camcorder motor in the audio track. Colors are bad. Is there

>ANYTHING that can be done to clean up the image? Premiere filters,

>something like that?

You can use the audio filters in Premiere and in

Cool Edit (especially the noise-reduction module,

www.syntrillium.com) to clean up the audio and

make voices more audible - and the many filters

in premiere to improve the picture (color balance

and saturation, brightness (including mid-tone

brightness), blacks, etc. You can sharpen by

copying footage, placing it above itself on V2

or higher, opening the track, applying "sharpen",

and setting transparency at 10-15% or so with

the transparency "rubber bands". It takes a little

practice (and the filters can be changed over

time using keyframes), but wonders can be

achieved...