[C-Side] This Monster Wants to Eat Me (2025) - S01E03 (WEBRip 1080p AV1 E-AC-3) | WataTabe | Watashi wo Tabetai, Hitodenashi (Weekly)

Credits

Specs

Mediainfo - Comparison

This is a smaller and lower quality version of [Heartside] This Monster Wants to Eat Me (2025) - S01E03 (WEBRip 1080p HEVC E-AC-3).

Weak lineart retention is the single most difficult part in this mini encode. Given the target filesize, we tried our best to retain the lineart as much as we can. Thanks to everyone for giving me suggestions and helping me find out the best approach to retain weak lineart. Thank sgt, comet, and everyone from the community.

Filtering for this mini encode is largely the same as the main encode.
In regular scenes, we use a stronger denoise to control filesize and avoid ringing in the encoding process. We then use a rather safe contrasharpening to recover some weak linearts.
In scenes with dynamic details including most part of OP and ED, in addition to using a weaker temporal denoise than regular scenes, we also apply a LimitFilter to protect details like light particals.
In flashback scenes, we use no denoise.

We use Progression Boost Preset-Character-Boost-Butteraugli-Mean as a base for bitrate allocation optimisation.

For regular scenes, first, we limit the effect of metric-based Progression Boost module to save space, with metric_min_crf set to as extreme as 25.00. Based on this, we hyperboost the characters, with character_crf_boost_max set to 10.10 and a modified character_crf_boost_alt_curve enabled.
For regular scenes, we use 5fish/SVT-AV1-PSY v2.3.0-C --tune 0 for the encode. We perform the encode in the slowest speed we can accept, using a mix of --preset -1 and --preset 0.
To retain character lineart, we choose to leave --enable-cdef 1 and --filtering-noise-detection 1 set, and use --psy-rd 2.4 for retention. It has been a recent discovery that boosting chroma helps preserve character lineart. In this encode, we use --key-frame-chroma-qindex-offset -25 --chroma-qindex-offsets [-19,-14,-13,-11,-10,-10] to boost chroma. In addition, we add in the typical methods for better lineart retention, including --max-32-tx-size 1 and --low-q-taper 1 in scenes that are boosted to better --crf, as well as a universal --noise-norm-strength 4, --qp-scale-compress-strength 3.4, and --qm-min 9 --chroma-qm-min 10.

For flashback scenes, we use a different encoder, svt-av1-psyex v3.0.2-B --tune 0, with Alternative SVT-AV1.
Parameterwise, we use --film-grain 28 --adaptive-film-grain 0 for grain synthesis, with the addition of --noise-adaptive-filtering 1, and a chroma boost of --key-frame-chroma-qindex-offset -18 --chroma-qindex-offsets [-16,-14,-13,-13,-11,-11].

We only support mpv! Please try out a recent mpv build if you run into any playback issues.

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Until next time! ~The Heartside Crew