If you upload a sample to a file sharing site I can try some techniques

+ me too!

I created training videos about ten years ago, using Vegas, don't recall the version. They're still useful, but by today's standards are slightly fuzzy, not as sharp as we would like.

Probably because the original footage was shot in interlaced. For better and sharper results just try the following project settings: set to progressive field order, double the frame rate and set deinterlace method to smart adaptive. What further is important to know is the resolution of your footage and it's PixelAspectRatio, because mp4 uses only PAR 1.000.

Thanks for the offers. The original video was 720p, with a handful of other graphics and so forth added to the timeline, then rendered. My hope is that I can add the previously completed video files to the timeline, add an effect or two, then re-render for an improved look. We're not dissatisfied with our current videos, but if we can improve the look, we will. We use Brightcove to display our videos, so file size is not an issue.

Here's an example

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t2cxxbjzg9ynp6k/Top-Ten.mp4?dl=0

Thanks,

Barry Hull

@Barry W. Hull Your upload is already the final render (from which I get the impression that the original footage was not progressive but interlaced):

Do you still have the original video recordings for uploading a (small) sample?

For what reason can the original .veg not be opened in Vegas as stated in your first post?

Just a quick play...

An original extract downsized to 720p

With the following filters: BCC Magic Sharp; BCC Levels Gamma, BCC+ Grade

I'm no 'expert' but whatever you do - SUBTLE is key.

It's a shame you can't open the original file. But if you have the original footage, I imagine it wouldn't be that difficult to reconstruct the project. Perhaps this way you can get a better result with regard to the conversion of the original interlaced video?

The computer used to create the .veg files is long gone, some of the original footage and the various graphics are corrupted, many nested .veg files, and so forth, so opening the .veg files, tweaking settings and re-rendering is unfortunately not going to happen. Yes Selina, it's a shame they can't open, I'm sure a re-render with different settings would yield a better outcome.

Nevertheless, thanks for the suggestions, I'll give them a try.

The computer used to create the .veg files is long gone, some of the original footage and the various graphics are corrupted, many nested .veg files, and so forth, so opening the .veg files, tweaking settings and re-rendering is unfortunately not going to happen.

Strange, your video doesn't look that complicated. I regularly re-edit old Vegasprojects without issues and with much better results than in those days. (better codecs, better stabilization, better deinterlacing, better correction etc).

To polish up your final videos (making them crisper/sharper and reducing block artifacts) give https://www.topazlabs.com/video-enhance-ai?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=brand_search&attribution=true&msclkid=2b0d20c22a3e14c280b642f183aa1d5b&utm_term=%2Btopaz%20%2Bvideo%20%2Benhance&utm_content=06%20TL%20Brand-Video a try. No need to upscale, Topaz can also enhance old video without upscaling. Here's a small example of your video enhanced with Topaz:

@3POINT Looks to do a shockingly bad job with text. I wonder why that is, if it's AI based you would think it could recognize text and not distort it the way it's doing

I use Topaz for photography, but didn't consider their video product. Great idea. Thanks!

@3POINT Looks to do a shockingly bad job with text. I wonder why that is, if it's AI based you would think it could recognize text and not distort it the way it's doing

Actually I hadn't seen the original which is distorted for some reason. Topaz version is clearer

@Former user Yes important to compare with original, which was already bad, I think Topaz did already a quite good job. I used the enhance old progressive video model.

I use Topaz for photography, but didn't consider their video product. Great idea. Thanks!

Just be aware that Topaz needs quite much time to enhance video.

I use Topaz for photography, but didn't consider their video product. Great idea. Thanks!

Just be aware that Topaz needs quite much time to enhance video.

@3POINT Hi, i was considering Topaz Video Enhance AI, can you embellish that comment, how much time, i know it'll depend on the media but ...? Thx.

Time needed to enhance and/or upscale is depending on many factors. Like resolution, used enhance/upscale model and ofcourse available hardware. Even with the hardware in my signature you must be very patient.

Topaz has a trial which can give you an impression how much time is needed on your system and if it's worth the effort.

Topaz just took about 2 hours to process a 13 minute video, similar to my sample. Much improved, and I have not learned the product in depth. Just a few basic clicks and voila. I'm sure with some study the results will be even better.

Topaz just took about 2 hours to process a 13 minute video, similar to my sample. Much improved, and I have not learned the product in depth. Just a few basic clicks and voila. I'm sure with some study the results will be even better.

@Barry W. Hull Hi, can you inc what size media/project that was & go to your icon at the top, click it - My Profile, & fill in your Signature with your system specs, CPU, GPU, RAM etc. so that Topaz process time you mention can be compared , thx

I'm not sure what most of those numbers are, but I copied some information found in Settings, added them to my profile. The processed file was 1.2 GB, 13 minutes. Topaz took 2 hours to process it. Hope that helps.

@Former user have you tried Boris Magic Sharp yet? It's not bad at all.

@Gid I am getting .17 to ..22 seconds per frame for 720p to 1080p with a couple of different models, I could be CPU limited because peak CPU is in the 90's. GPU use is between 150 - 250 watts (full power is 360 watts). GPU  use does not show in Task Manager. The AI models run faster the more GPU ram you have they say, so your 3090 with 24 gig  should work better than my 10gig 3080. Best performance - Intel CPU's combined with AMD GPU's.

todd-b, would you share the settings you used on Topaz AI to get those results you posted? My results are not as sharp. Thanks.

Boris BCC Magic Sharp. There are many adjustments if you choose. You can "soften" the image more. Use noise suppression and other adjustments.

The second image is the Boris interface. I also tried Ignite Highpass Sharpen, and the results were good too.