With the rapid developing of AI technology in recent years, we can now say goodbye to our grainy, low-resolution quality but treasure trove of old home videos, and transform them a true HD videos with a new life! And, this is what is called AI video upscaling. While Topaz Video AI does a great job in this kind of work and is the top choice, it really costs much. If you are looking for an affordable and easy to use AI solution for video upscaling, Nero AI Video Upscaler is the new competitor.
This Nero AI Video Upscaler review delves into everything you need to know about Nero AI Video Upscaler. We’ll explore its key features, uncover the magic behind its AI technology, and guide you through the user interface like a seasoned pro. Let’s go.
Before the Review: Who is Nero and its AI Video Upscaler?
Nero AG was founded in 1995 in Germany. It is a digital multimedia technology software company known for its reliable and easy-to-use CD/DVD burning software Nero Burning ROM. During the past 30 years, Nero developed programs covers video editing, burning, recording, motion tracking, downing, and system tools like recovering, backup, pc-tuning, and many others.
In recent years, with the help of AI, Nero also focuses on AI tools like AI photo colorizing, upscaling, denosing, background removing, image generating, as well as AI video upscaling, aka Nero AI Video Upscaler.
Nero AI Video Upscaler, as the name suggests, is a video enhancement tool that leverages AI and machine learning to upgrade low-resolution footage to up to 8k. It develops its own neural networks trained on massive datasets to reconstruct fine visual details that were previously invisible, bringing your videos a new life.
And, here’s how it works:
Nero AI Video Upscaler Review-The Key Features
Nero AI Video Upscaler has a straightforward UI but is packed with powerful features from enhancing resolution to reducing noise and enabling precise clip selection. During this Nero AI Video Upscaler review, let’s check in details about the key features that make Nero a top choice for anyone seeking professional-grade video quality or Topaz Video AI alternative.
Super Resolution: Bringing Clarity to Your Videos
Through advanced neural network processing, Nero AI is capable of super resolution upscaling that multiplies resolution while retaining sharp details. Whether you need to double or quadruple the pixels, contents of videos are enlarged without losing quality. Faces, textures, and fine prints stay crisp instead of becoming muddy or pixelated as with traditional stretch-and-magnify techniques. This feature makes even low-quality videos look stunningly HD. And you can upscale your video directly to 8k. However, my suggestion is always don’t go over 400%(4x), simply because higher resolution may be too much for the original video and may cause blurring.
Noise Reduction: Clean Up Your Visuals
Older recordings often come with visual noise like grain, artifacts, or compression errors that accumulate over time and transfers. Nero AI’s denoising engine cleans up videos thoroughly. It removes artifacts intelligently without sacrificing genuine details so faces and sceneries appear clean and smooth rather than ragged. The effect is like putting on a fresh pair of HD glasses!
Preview and Batch Processing
In the new version of Nero AI Video Upscaler in May 2024, it now features enhanced previewing and batch processing capabilities.
The updated preview function offers users three viewing options for evaluating upscaled video quality side-by-side: comparison, single, and split views. These views allow scrutinizing the differences between original and processed videos. Previews can also be magnified for a closer inspection of fine details using the mouse wheel or zoom control.
For batch jobs, multiple upscaling tasks can be added to a processing queue sequentially by “Add to the job list”.
During batch processing, pausing allows interrupting the current task for parameter tweaks without cancelling previously finished work. The queue also supports task editing through double-clicks or a dedicated editor for adjusting settings non-destructively before committing changes. Unwanted edits can be quickly discarded through the cancel or home buttons as well.
Clip Selection: Focus on What Matters
Rather than processing whole videos at once, users can now select specific segments or clips for enhancement. This allows customizing the upscaling to target key moments that need revitalizing most urgently. Do you want just the wedding vows or the birthday toast to be pristine? No problem – clip selection in Nero AI makes the workflow super flexible.
Recording(Exe version Only)
Unlike the Store version, the exe version comes with a recorder feature. With Nero AI Upscaler, you can record your webcam and then upscale it.
Before you start recording, you may need to configure your webcam settings. This includes selecting the correct camera(Video Recording Device) if you have multiple cameras connected to your computer, adjusting the encoder(H.264 & H.265), resolution, frame rate, bitrate, sample format, audio codec, and even the Timer as per your preferences.
Nero AI Models
To cater to diverse user needs, Nero AI Video Upscaler offers three AI models: Fast, Animation, and Realistic.
Fast: When time is of the essence, the Fast model lets you upscale your videos in a jiffy, making it an ideal choice for rush projects or last-minute edits.
Animation: Crafted specifically for animated and AI-generated visuals, this model ensures that your animated clips and computer-rendered sequences retain their vibrant colors and sharp details after upscaling.
Realistic: For those seeking to elevate the quality of real-world footage, the Realistic model works its magic by meticulously analyzing and enhancing every frame, delivering a true-to-life viewing experience that feels like you’re witnessing the scene unfold right before your eyes.
Using Nero AI Upscaler
Nero AI Video Upscaler supports a wide range of video formats, including popular options like MP4, AVI, MOV, and MKV. Whether you’re working with 720p, 1080p, or even lower resolutions, this software can handle them all. The output is correctly is only MP4 (H.264 or H.265), ensuring compatibility with your existing video library.
It comes along a lite and simple UI and is easy to use. Here’s how easy it is.
Installation
Installing Nero’s AI video upscaling software is not hard. If you prefer the Store version, go for the below link and click Download.
For Exe version, it’s an online installer. After you run the installer, it will ask you to set the installation path, agree the user agreement, and click Start. The installer will download and install the upscaler all automatically for you.
Register
Reistering Nero AI Video Upscaler is a bit different from what I usually do. If you are a paid user, you will get a redemption code that contains 32 letters or numbers. And, you will have to redeem the code in Nero Start.
For the first time you run Nero Start, it asks you to log in, however, you can only login with your email, and third-party login is not supported for the time being. If you have ever used your Google, Apple, PayPal or Facebook account to log in the Nero’s official website, you will need to click Forget Password and then set a new password for the email associated with your Google, Apple, PayPal or Facebook account.
And, here’s how to register and unlock the full version. Click My products from the person icon in the upper right corner -> Activate more products-> Enter the redemption code -> Activate Now.
How to Upscale Your Video to 8K
I think you have already downloaded and install the program, right? Let’s go forward to see how easy it makes upscaling.
Step 1. Load Video
Click Import a new Video to add your video for upscaling. Or you can record your WebCam for upscaling too. As of now, you can only add one video upscaling. As far as I can see, batching upscaling is coming very soon in the next release.
Step 2. Select AI Model
According to your own video and needs, pick up one from Fast, Animation, and Realistic.
Step 3. Set Resolution
In the drop-down menu of Upscale to, pick up the resolution you prefer. You’d better NOT go beyond 4x.
Step 4. Start Processing
You can trim your video before upscaling, but usually, I don’t need to. I will just go forward and click Start Processing.
Store Version vs Exe Version
Nero AI Video Upscaler comes with a Microsoft Store version and an exe version. The Microsoft Store Version is integrated with the Microsoft Store for easy installation and updates on Windows 10/11. Due to the Store policies and limitations, the exe version always gets updates faster. As you can see, the exe version can record your webcam while the Store version cannot. However, please note the core upscaling functionality is the SAME across both versions. The exe version is likely the “full” desktop program.
In my Nero AI Video Upscaler review, the EXE version is more recommended.
Pricing
You can purchase Nero AI Video Upscaler from the Nero website or from the Microsoft Store. It offers two pricing options: a one-year subscription and a permanent license. Credit Card, PayPal and Skrill are available for puchase.
You can see the detailed pricing from the table below:
| Plan | Price | Renewal | Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
|
One-Year Subscription |
$64.95 |
Automatic |
Via e-mail |
|
Permanent License |
$139.42 |
NA |
Via e-mail |
Troubleshooting-The Missing H.265 Encoder
Do you have the HEVC Video Extension installed on your computer? If NOT, you will have H.264 as the only option in Encoder settings in Nero.
Fixing this problem is simple: you only need to download and install HEVC Video Extension from Microsoft Store.
However, it asks for 1 dollar. Do you want a free option? Here we go.
First of all, enable Developer Mode on your computer.
- Windows 10: Settings-Updates & Security-For Developers
- Windows 11: Settings-System-For Developers
Go Adguard Store and search ProductIDs 9N4WGH0Z6VHQ for HEVC Media Foundation codec:
9N4WGH0Z6VHQ
Download the .appxbundle file, allow Chrome or your other browser to keep the file.
Click it to Install:
Done. H265 is back.
Pros & Cons
While Nero AI Video Upscaler offers a powerful solution for enhancing video quality, it’s essential to understand its strengths and limitations. Here are some key pros and cons to consider:
PROs
- Advanced AI Models with good results
- User-Friendly Interface
- GPU acceleration
- Video Noise Reduction
CONs
- Activating is a bit cumbersome.
Summary
Leveraging deep learning algorithms and neural networks, Nero AI Video Upscaler intelligently analyzes and reconstructs missing details, sharpening edges and reducing noise to deliver a visually captivating experience. Whether you’re a content creator looking to revitalize older footage, a marketer seeking to create impactful promotional materials, or a filmmaker striving to future-proof your projects, this software has something to offer.
Thank you very much for your product review. We are already working on the preview update and agree that your suggestions for activating need to be better.