While I suppose this post is about raws (as we know them), it is more of a technical inquisition. See, while all this raw viewing goes around on infamous sites, there is something I question in the quest for quality.
I have wondered this aloud on #ab, but there was never a response; it was a while ago. Why do we not see un-subtitled releases, that are not raw. Do any viewers filter their own raws? Because even though they can arrive in 720p, there is usually room for improvement via a simple de-noise, smooth, sharpen, and color-balance.
As we see here, from last week’s Kannagi episode 01; the filtered source on top, and the raw on bottom. The source was 720p, though a likely upscale from the look, but which is the preferable watch?
Some may not give a hoot, but personally, I’d like to see less raw releases, and more un-subbed releases that have a nice filtered appeal. And as a note, this little filter mix I managed is very simple using Avidemux; specifically: a hq denoise (default values), d.graft msmooth (hq,12,1), d.graft msharpen (hq,14,64), and an 1.16 increase in color saturation.
How would this be taken in the otakusphere? Would viewers sacrifice a few hours of filtering for higher quality? I think it’s interesting…. speed vs quality of the viewing experience. To me, mine as well watch the stuff at 2x if speed’s the case, then again, I’m a savory snail ^_^
