8K at 240 FPS? Yup! Topaz Labs Video AI Review

The speaker introduces Topaz Labs Video Enhance AI, a program designed to improve video quality. The program can upscale videos to higher resolutions, increase frame rates from 30/60 to 120/240 frames per second, and enhance details and sharpness to make videos more lifelike. The focus of the video is on these three impressive features. The speaker begins by discussing how the program can increase detail in videos without upscaling or slowing down footage, using their experience with a Canon 100-400mm lens to illustrate how the program can improve detail resolution, similar to upgrading from a lower-end to a high-quality lens.

The speaker demonstrates how to use Video Enhance AI to enhance the details of a video clip of a curlew filmed in Monterey Bay. They explain the process of selecting the 'Proteus Fine Tune' AI model and adjusting the output size to 4K without upscaling. The speaker sets denoise and deblock to zero, as the footage is already in good condition. They then discuss the importance of choosing the best frame for auto detection and manually tweaking the model parameters to enhance details and sharpen the video. The speaker previews the enhanced video, noting the improved feather detail and dimensionality of the subject, and compares it to the quality of footage from a more expensive lens.

The speaker discusses the process of upscaling video from 1080p to 4k using Video Enhance AI. They use an example of an American mink filmed in 1080p with a Sony FS5 and show how to change the output size to 4k within the program. The speaker talks about the auto settings for noise reduction and anti-aliasing, and how to adjust the recovery details and sharpening to enhance the upscaled video. They preview the upscaled footage, highlighting the improved clarity and detail, especially in the snow and fur, and note that the program maintains a natural look without over-sharpening motion blur.

The speaker continues by explaining how to upscale a video to 8k and then slow it down to 240 frames per second, resulting in an 8k 240fps video. They demonstrate the process of selecting an example frame, adjusting noise reduction, and enhancing details before previewing the upscaled footage. The speaker emphasizes the program's ability to maintain lifelike quality and fine details even at higher resolutions. They also discuss the intention to slow down the footage further using the program's capabilities to add frames and increase the frame rate, which is particularly useful for cameras that offer higher frame rates only at lower resolutions.

The speaker talks about the ability of Video Enhance AI to slow down footage by adding more frames, allowing for doubling or quadrupling the frame rate. They demonstrate how to input 120fps footage and output it at 240fps, resulting in an 8k 240fps video. The speaker discusses the importance of setting realistic slow-motion levels depending on the action's speed, with slower actions allowing for higher slow-motion effects. They process the footage and compare the original and outputted videos, highlighting the program's effectiveness in creating smooth slow-motion effects without compromising the motion blur's natural appearance.

The speaker concludes by discussing the downsides of using Video Enhance AI. They mention the rendering time, which depends on the computer's hardware, and how they only started using the program after getting a Mac Studio for faster processing. The speaker also talks about the round trip experience when working on individual clips, which can be time-consuming. Lastly, they acknowledge that the AI is not perfect and may sometimes misapply textures or fail to accurately slow down fast-action footage. Despite these limitations, the speaker highly recommends Video Enhance AI, especially for trying out with one's own footage, and provides a link for a 30-day free trial and a coupon code for 15% off in the video description.