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Convert any 1080p screen recording or video to 4K for FREE ? (Video2X)

Howto & Style

Introduction

If you've ever wanted to upscale your screen captures or video game recordings to 4K to highlight specific details or simply enhance the visual quality, there's an open-source tool that can help you achieve this. It's called Video2X, and you can get it for free from GitHub. This article will guide you through the process of using Video2X to upscale your videos and screen recordings.

Understanding Video2X

What is Video2X?

Video2X is an open-source software available on GitHub. It allows you to upscale your videos and screen recordings from 1080p to 4K with minimal loss in quality. While it might introduce some choppiness in motion, it significantly improves the clarity of text and other details in your recordings. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use it.

Step-by-Step Guide

Initial Comparison

To start, let's compare the original 1080p recording with the upscaled 4K version. On the left, you have the original 1080p T-Rex recording from Camtasia, which is clean and crisp. On the right, you see the upscaled 4K version through Video2X. As you zoom in, you can notice the difference in clarity. For example, at 125%, the 1080p version starts losing resolution, while the 4K version remains clear. This trend continues as you zoom further, highlighting the effectiveness of Video2X.

Downsides

While Video2X excels in increasing clarity, there are some downsides, particularly in motion smoothness. The original 1080p file scrolls smoothly, while the upscaled 4K version shows some choppiness. This difference is noticeable, especially in screen recordings focusing on text. Additionally, video files might show artifacting after conversion.

Getting Video2X from GitHub

You can download both the GUI version and the command-line version for PC from GitHub. Here's how:

  1. Visit GitHub: Head to the GitHub repository at the provided link.
  2. Download the Package: Look for the version 4.8.1 package, a 1-gigabyte zip file.
  3. Extract the Folder: After downloading, extract the folder. You'll find several files, including gui.exe for the GUI version and a command-line option.

Using the GUI

  1. Launch the GUI: Open gui.exe to start the upscaler.
  2. Select Files: You can select individual files or multiple files for batch processing.
  3. Process the Files: The upscaled files will be saved in the "output" folder.

How It Works

Video2X converts videos by extracting each frame as a PNG file, upscaling it, and then recompiling them back into a video. This process can be time-consuming, especially for high FPS videos, but the result is a significantly clearer 4K video.

Example

For a 1080p recording, Video2X converts each frame to a 4K image, then stitches them back together. This method retains text clarity but might introduce some choppiness in scrolling motion. On a sample video, the upscaling took about an hour and a half.

Conclusion

Video2X offers a free way to enhance your recordings' quality from 1080p to 4K. While there are some trade-offs, especially regarding motion smoothness, the increase in clarity is beneficial for text-heavy recordings.

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FAQ

What is Video2X?

Video2X is an open-source software that upscales 1080p video recordings to 4K. It can be downloaded for free from GitHub.

Where can I download Video2X?

You can download both the GUI version and the command-line version of Video2X from its GitHub repository.

Does Video2X support batch processing?

Yes, Video2X supports batch processing, allowing you to upscale multiple files simultaneously. The output files will be saved in a designated "output" folder.

How long does it take to upscale a video?

The time it takes to upscale a video with Video2X depends on the video's length and FPS. On a sample recording, the process took about an hour and a half.

Are there any downsides to using Video2X?

One of the main downsides is that the upscaled 4K video might show some choppiness in motion, and there may be occasional artifacting. However, the overall clarity, especially for text, is significantly improved.