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FREE AI Video Upscaling for Windows Mac and Linux

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Introduction

Upscaling videos using artificial intelligence (AI) can elevate the quality of your content significantly. In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the process of free AI video upscaling which is cross-platform compatible for Windows, Mac, and Linux. You’ll need to ensure your computer can run the Vulkan graphics system. This step-by-step tutorial will help you leverage the power of Waifu2x, an open-source project, to upscale your videos. All the website links mentioned are provided below.

Introduction to Waifu2x

First off, navigate to the official Waifu2x project page. Familiarise yourself with the project details and functionalities. For this guide, we will use the Waifu2x-ncnn Vulkan project from GitHub. This specific project offers cross-platform compatibility.

Download Required Software

Waifu2x-ncnn Vulkan

  1. Visit the Waifu2x-ncnn Vulkan GitHub page.
  2. Navigate to the releases section.
  3. Download the appropriate zip file for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Ubuntu).

ffmpeg

For Windows:

  1. Visit the official ffmpeg download page.
  2. Choose a non-shared version for an easier integration.
  3. Download and extract the files.

For Linux:

sudo apt install ffmpeg

Windows users should download, extract, and copy the ffmpeg and ffprobe executables to the Waifu2x directory.

Directory Setup

Create the following three directories within your main Waifu2x directory:

  • video: to store your input and output videos.
  • frames: for storing extracted video frames.
  • scaled: for storing upscaled video frames.

You can use this command to navigate within your terminal:

cd path/to/waifu2x_folder

Extract Video Frames

Before diving into the AI processing, we must extract frames from your video file. Use this command in the terminal:

ffmpeg -i video/video.mp4 frames/frame%06d.png

This command will extract all frames and save them in the frames directory as PNG files.

Extract Audio from the Video

To keep the audio from the original video:

ffmpeg -i video/video.mp4 -q:a 0 -map a video/audio.mp3

AI Upscaling with Waifu2x

Apply the Waifu2x upscaling to the extracted frames:

waifu2x-ncnn-vulkan.exe -i frames -o scaled -n 3 -s 2

In this command:

  • -i frames: specifies the input directory.
  • -o scaled: specifies the output directory.
  • -n 3: sets the noise level, adjust this value as desired.
  • -s 2: sets the scaling factor. Here, it's set to 2x.

Reassemble the Video

Reassemble the upscaled frames into a video and add the extracted audio back in:

ffmpeg -r 29.97 -i scaled/frame%06d.png -i video/audio.mp3 -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac video/upscaled.mp4

Here:

  • -r 29.97: sets the frame rate, make sure it matches the original video's frame rate.
  • -i scaled/frame%06d.png: specifies the input directory of the upscaled frames.
  • -i video/audio.mp3: adds the extracted audio back into the video.
  • -c:v libx264 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a aac: specifies the video and audio codecs.

Conclusion

You've successfully upscaled your video using AI! This process can be adjusted and optimized to fit various needs. Experiment with different noise levels, scaling factors, and frame rates to get the best results for your projects.

Keywords

  • AI Video Upscaling
  • Windows
  • Mac
  • Linux
  • Waifu2x
  • ffmpeg
  • Vulkan Graphics System
  • Frames Extraction
  • AI Processing

FAQs

Q1: What software do I need for AI video upscaling?

  • You will need Waifu2x-ncnn Vulkan and ffmpeg.

Q2: How do I install ffmpeg on Linux?

  • Use the command sudo apt install ffmpeg.

Q3: Can I change the scaling factor in Waifu2x?

  • Yes, you can change the scaling factor using the -s parameter in the command.

Q4: Is it necessary to extract audio from the video?

  • No, it's optional. Extract audio only if you want audio in the upscaled video.

Q5: What if my frame rate is different from the examples provided?

  • Adjust the frame rate parameter (-r) in the commands to match your original video’s frame rate.

Q6: Can I use a different noise reduction parameter?

  • Yes, you can experiment with different settings for noise reduction (-n 1, -n 2, etc.) to achieve different results.

By following these detailed steps, you can achieve high-quality AI upscaling for your videos on multiple platforms. Happy upscaling!