When a capture a DVD as a MKV file and play it on Plex, I have Plex set up to play as original. No other higher option is available. If I were to play the DVD on my DVD/Blu-ray player, it automatically enhances it to a higher resolution. Will we ever have this option to increase the resolution to the next higher level?
Never answered
the short answer is no. what you are referring to is “Upscaling”
if it were possible the device you are using as a player or your TV would need to be able to do it. to be clear upscaling can’t add more detail than is already in the file. it just basically attempts to make the low res thing about the same on a better TV. so things don’t look too pixelated.
Actually, that’s not entirely true. Through upscaling you are actually adding more detail that isn’t in the original file.
It typically does this using an interpolation (inferring new data by extracting from known elements) algorithm, and tells pixels what to do based on what those surrounding it are displaying, and then duplicating them.
In addition to this, many manufacturers apply sharpening software to their products, thereby reducing pixelation or softening, often tampering with contrasts to make an image look more vivid. It makes their upscaled videos better than their competitors.
So for example if one pixel in the original is pure black and the pixel next to it was pure white the software can infer a new pixel could be added in the middle which is gray. It obviously can only work based on what’s in the original file. The combination of both interpolation and filtering can often improve a picture quite dramatically on good hardware. These techniques can help to reduce things like “stair stepping” and “blocky” looking pictures.
It’s not going to turn DVD quality into Blu Ray or Blu Ray into 4K of course. Probably best suited to SD or DVD quality original media.
Many TVs have this built in but turned off so maybe try looking through your TV’s menu or finding an online manual for your TV to check on these features. This type of thing is hit of miss depending on the quality of the algorithms.
Since Plex has so many ways to downscale video media, I was hoping that they would also have a way of upscaling too. I see a noticeable difference when I put a DVD in my Blu-ray/DVD/CD player. I don’t plan on buying a new TV or HT Receiver in the near future so I would certainly be best for me for Plex on my Nvidia play to do the upscaling like my Blu-ray/DVD/CD player does. Is this being seen by anyone in PlexLand that could indicate if this can be put in their suggestion box? Does Plex have a suggestion box?
What is your go to Plex player?
The Plex media server is on my Nvidia Shield. This plays directly to my receiver & tv. Is that what you are asking?
The nvidia hw should be deinterlacing and upscaling your DVDs. Are you using refresh rate switching?
Refresh rate switching was off. And it should be?
I leave it off because on my display 29.97hz is an available refresh rate. It ends up switching MKVs remuxed from DVD to 29.97Hz–which is not ideal for various reasons on my display.
Back on point, you are unhappy with the picture quality?
Well, I’d try it out, but for the last few days, my Plex setup will not play music or most videos. I started up another thread on it a couple days ago titled
“Media Player Error, Resetting!”. I’m apparently dead in the water until that is resolved.
