How I Improved My Old Videos with Open-Source AI Upscalers (and Why I Switched to HitPaw VikPea)

General Discussion
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Hi everyone! :waving_hand:
I’ve always loved collecting old videos, especially vintage clips and anime scenes. But most of them were in low resolution and looked blurry on modern screens. Recently, I decided to explore open-source AI video upscalers to bring those memories back to life — and here’s what I found.

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My Journey with Open-Source AI Upscalers

I started testing different open-source tools to understand how AI upscaling works and how far it can go without losing original details.

1. HandBrake

HandBrake is a great open-source encoder. It’s not an AI upscaler, but I used it to compress and re-encode my test clips. It’s simple and reliable for preparing videos before enhancement.

2. Video2X

Then I tried Video2X, which extracts frames, runs them through an AI engine, and rebuilds the video. It gave me excellent quality results, but the process took a lot of time and disk space.

3. Waifu2x Extension GUI

Next came Waifu2x Extension GUI, which worked amazingly well for my anime clips. It’s fast, GPU-accelerated, and supports multiple AI models like Real-ESRGAN.

4. Real-ESRGAN

For live-action videos, Real-ESRGAN impressed me the most. It restores lost texture and lighting detail really well — but it requires command-line setup, which isn’t beginner-friendly.

5. Anime4K

Lastly, I tried Anime4K for real-time playback upscaling. It’s great for quick visual improvement but doesn’t actually re-render higher-resolution files.

Why I Switched to HitPaw VikPea Video Enhancer

After testing those open-source options, I wanted something simpler and faster — without complex installation or manual settings. That’s when I discovered HitPaw VikPea Video Enhancer.

Here’s what made the difference for me:

  • :brain: AI-powered enhancement: Automatically detects faces, objects, and motion.

  • :film_frames: Multiple AI models: Choose based on video type (general, animation, portrait).

  • :high_voltage: Fast upscaling: Converts low-res videos to 4K or 8K efficiently.

  • :artist_palette: Artifact repair: Fixes noise, color distortion, and blurriness.

  • :magic_wand: User-friendly interface: No coding or command line needed.

  • :laptop: Cross-platform: Works perfectly on Windows and macOS.

I uploaded an old 480p anime clip, and in just a few minutes, it turned into a clean, detailed 4K video with smoother motion and balanced colors.

Final Thoughts

Open-source AI upscalers are powerful and customizable, but they require patience and technical know-how.
If you prefer a simple, professional, and time-saving solution, HitPaw VikPea Video Enhancer is absolutely worth trying.

It’s now my go-to tool whenever I need to upscale footage quickly — from anime to family videos. :clapper_board::sparkles: