Topaz Video AI Review 2024: Is It Worth it?
Curious about Topaz Video AI? Want to know its true review? Wondering if Topaz Video AI is the magic pen you need for your videos? This article will evaluate Topaz Video AI from various aspects to explore whether it is worth trying, and provide a best video enhancer alternative to Topaz Video AI.
What is Topaz Video Enhance AI? Or Topaz Video AI?
Topaz Video AI (formerly known as Topaz Video Enhance AI) is a professional video quality enhancement software that utilizes AI power to upscale, improve, and restore video quality. Developed by Topaz Labs, this AI video enhancer is available on Windows and macOS, and offers a variety of AI filters and models designed to provide users with the best output, showcasing the vibrant charm of their videos.
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Is Topaz Video AI Free?
Topaz Video AI is not entirely free of charge. While you can download Topaz Labs for free, unlocking its full functionality requires payment. The software is priced at $299 and is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers. Topaz AI service includes unlimited upgrades for the first year, but thereafter, you may be required to pay up to $99 for each new software update. Additionally, it offers a 30-day free trial for new users.
Topaz Video AI Review: Pros and Cons
Topaz Video AI is the go-to video enhancer tool for professional video editors and creators who need high-quality output and versatile processing tools to work with their videos. However, issues such as high hardware requirements, slow interface response, and high pricing may pose a challenge for some users. Is Topaz Labs actually worth it? You can read through the pros and cons we have gathered from various user feedback to make the decision.
Pros:
1. Upscale or Enhance Video to Higher Resolution
Topaz Video AI uses advanced AI models to increase video resolution to 4K, 8K, and even 16K, so that videos remain sharp and detailed when viewed on a large screen. AI Models like Gaia and Artemis intelligently increase resolution while reducing artifacts and noise, ensuring that each frame is sharp and clear, even during camera movement.
2. Ultra-Smooth Slow-Motion Effects
Under Topaz's "Frame Interpolation" option, there are a number of different slow motion factors and AI models available to achieve smooth slow motion effects.
Chronos AI model enables smooth frame interpolation, allowing videos to be converted to 60FPS or higher frame rates and creating cinematic slow motion effects, while the Apollo AI model further improves frame interpolation technology to create smoother slow-motion videos in more complex motion and camera movement scenarios.
3. Fix Video Jitter
The Stabilization and Motion Deblur features are suitable for those who frequently record travel and outdoor activities to correct video shake and blurring due to hand-held photography or sports situations. However, there are some problems with this feature, as depending on the amount of stabilized camera shake, a larger portion of the original frame may be deleted.
4. Deinterlace Old Footage
The "Deinterlace Footage and Upscale to HD" option in the Topaz Labs presets improves the smoothness and clarity of early video footage. Because they may have been recorded using interlacing technology, these videos may flicker or flutter when played on modern devices. De-interlacing is used to improve the viewing experience.
5. Denoise Video
The noise and artifacts in videos often reduce the clarity and quality of the visuals. By employing noise reduction techniques, visual disturbances in the video can be minimized, making the viewing experience more comfortable and enjoyable. Topaz's Proteus, Iris, and Nyx AI models are all capable of denoising videos, but the emphasis is different.
Proteus AI: It allows multiple parameters to be fine-tuned for optimal results, enabling user to achieve the ideal balance between enhancing detail and reducing noise, often retaining more detail than Iris.
Iris AI: It is used to reduce noise and compression artifacts, focusing on enhancing video resolution. It is much better than Proteus at removing noise, artifacts and edge blur.
Nyx AI: It is more accurate when processing high-resolution video and is able to accurately separate noise and detail.
Cons:
1. Excessive Processing Time
There is a lot of feedback from users on Trustpilot that Topaz Labs is very slow in processing videos. For example, it takes 11 hours to convert a 15-second 24 FPS clip to 60 FPS. Also, the program often crashes when the video is halfway through the conversion process, causing the video export to fail.
However, Topaz AI has now introduced a "Crash Recovery" feature in V5 to help users pick up where they left off after a system reboot, power failure or crash. The exact effect is not yet known.
2. Higher Pricing
Topaz Video AI software costs $299 for a one-time purchase, which includes unlimited updates for the first year. After the first year, the renewal cost is half the price of the application and is sold on an annual basis. While Topaz Video AI claims that the policy is listed large in many places on the site and in user accounts, the prompt is not actually present on the all-important payment screen. And the initial cost may be higher for some users, as it doesn't offer a more flexible monthly or annual subscription. If you are looking for a cheaper and more flexible subscription option, AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI is worth trying.
"After 1 year you have to pay the same amount again. There was no notice on my invoice when I bought it one year ago. I wasn't aware. Maybe they changed their business model from buying the product. You have to rebuy every year or otherwise it wouldn't work anymore as it used to work."
-- a user of Topaz Video AI claimed on trustpilot.com
3. Newbie Unfriendly & Time Consuming
Since Topaz Labs has custom-named many AI models, users may find it challenging to quickly grasp all the knowledge. Consequently, they often need to constantly refer to tutorials and experiment with different AI models to find the most suitable one for their editing needs, which can be very time-consuming. If you are not a professional and only require a simple improvement in video quality, you can try some one-click video enhancement tools like AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI or free online video enhancers.
"Not user-friendly and effects are completely random. I can't find a rhyme or reason for making it actually improve the video with about 99% attempts. So far certainly doesn't "seem" toupscale to 4k. I would think with AI being as far along as it is they would at least include an idiot feature where the simply improves the video picture quality. Guides on how to use the program proved absolutely fruitless."
-- a user of Topaz Video AI claimed on trustpilot.com
4. High System Requirements
Topaz Video AI may present some challenges for those with entry-level desktop and laptop computers. Processing complex visual effects requires powerful hardware to ensure the program runs smoothly and efficiently. Due to the software's reliance on high-performance CPUs and GPUs to execute its advanced AI models and high-resolution processing, lower-end devices may struggle to meet these demanding requirements.
How to Enhance Video Quality with Topaz Video Enhance AI?
Step 1 Launch Topaz Video Enhance AI
After downloading and installing Topaz AI on your computer, run the software.
Step 2 Import the Video
Upload the video file(s) you want to edit.
Step 3 Select the AI Function
Select the appropriate settings in the toolbar on the right to enhance the quality of the video, e.g. Upscale to 4K or Upscale to HD in Preset.
Step 4 Preview and Export the Video
After checking the preview, you can export the video with upgraded resolution.
Best Alternative to Topaz Video AI
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI is the best alternative to Topaz Video AI. It is the optimal choice for enhancing video quality, particularly if you seek a user-friendly alternative to Topaz Labs. Here's why:
- Flexible subscription options: AVCLabs offers monthly, yearly, and lifetime subscription plans, while Topaz Video AI only offers a yearly subscription plan.
- Cost-saving advantage: AVCLabs' lifetime plan provides a one-time purchase for $299.9, eliminating recurring fees. In contrast, Topaz Video AI's yearly subscription plan includes the first year of free upgrades, but subsequent years require additional charges.
- Sharper and clearer visuals: AVCLabs utilizes advanced AI to enhance low-resolution videos to high resolution with minimal pixelation and blurring. Topaz Video AI may produce similar results, but AVCLabs has been praised for its ability to deliver even sharper and clearer visuals.
- User-friendly interface: AVCLabs' interface is designed for users of all skill levels, even those without professional video editing experience. Topaz Video AI's interface may require some technical expertise to fully utilize its features.
You'll find a comprehensive comparison of the pros and cons of Topaz Labs and AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI below.
Topaz Video AI VS AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI
Product | AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI | Topaz Video AI |
---|---|---|
Free Trial | Unlimited Free Use with Watermark | 30-Day Free Trial with Watermark |
Subscription Options | Monthly, Yearly, Lifetime | Yearly |
Price | $39.95/month, $119.95/year, $299.9/lifetime | $299, includes one year of unlimited upgrades |
Long-Term Cost | Lower with Lifetime Plan | Higher with Yearly Upgrades |
Multi-Functional | Yes | Yes |
User-Friendly | Yes | Reqires Technical Knowledge |
Video Quality | High | High |
Video Processing Time | Fast | Medium |
Customer Responsiveness | Fast | Medium |
Trustpilot Rate | 4.6 | 4.3 |
Key Features of AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI
- AI Upscale video to HD, 4K and even 8K
- Recover and enhance facial details with AI
- Colorize B&W videos to bring them to life
- Improves sharpness, detail, and overall visual fidelity
- Compatible with a wide range of video formats
FAQ about Video Enhancer
Is there a way to enhance video quality?
If you are proficient with professional video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro and DaVinci Resolve, you can take advantage of their features to improve the quality of your videos.
You can also consider using video enhancer software, such as like AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI, which provides simpler and easier-to-understand pages to help you easily increase the resolution of videos. Even if you are a first time user, you can easily get started.
How to convert a low resolution video to high resolution?
There are several ways you can enhance video quality:
- 1. Use sharpening tools: Enhance the edges and details in the video.
- 2. Use noise reduction tools: Effectively remove noise and particles from the video, thereby reducing visual interference.
- 3. Using stabilization tools: Reduce jitters and shakes in videos, making the details in the image clearer.
👉️ Learn More : 5 Ways to Convert Any Low Quality Videos to HD 1080p Online for Free
What is the best AI video enhancer?
Product | Free Trial | Price | Compatibility | Best For |
---|---|---|---|---|
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI | Free version with watermark | $299.9/lifetime, $39.95/month, $119.95/year | Windows & Mac | Beginners and editing enthusiasts |
Topaz Video AI | 30-day trial | $299 for unlimited upgrades for the first year and $99 for each new software update after that | Windows & Mac | Users with some experience in video editing |
Adobe Premiere Pro | 7-day trial | $22.99/month (Creative Cloud All Apps: $59.99/month) | Windows & Mac | Professionals who need high-quality video editing and post-processing |
Final Cut Pro | 90-day trial | $299.99/lifetime | Mac | Advanced editors |
DaVinci Resolve | Free version with limitations | $295/lifetime | Windows & Mac | Users who need high quality video editing and color correction |
Based on the above comparison, AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI is undoubtedly the best Video Enhancer. It is exceptionally user-friendly for beginners, requiring no technical skills, and can automatically enhance video resolution without compromising details. Moreover, it offers flexible subscription plans to cater to the needs of different individuals.
👉️ Learn More : 9 Best Video Enhancer Apps for Different Devices in 2024 [Free & Paid]
Conclusion: Is Topaz Video Enhance AI Worth it?
Overall, Topaz Video AI excels in video enhancement and is a powerful video enhancement software, but is more suitable for professional video editors and creators to try. However, its subscription model lacks flexibility and may increase the cost of use later. And compared to other video enhancement tools, Topaz Video AI takes much longer to process videos. Finally, for novice users, Topaz's complex interface and professional terminology may be overwhelming and take time to learn.
AVCLabs Video Enhancer AI is undoubtedly a great alternative to Topaz Video AI, both in terms of price and user-friendliness. If you're still on the fence about whether or not AVCLabs can fulfill your needs, download and try it out now! It offers a free trial so you can experience its features for yourself.