No problem, you can handle other tasks while the CPU is busy encoding video.
No problem, you can handle other tasks while the CPU is busy encoding video.
Which application are you employing? Have you considered starting with a lower resolution and then applying a specialized encoder such as Handbrake for upscaling? Unless Handbrake proves inadequate for upscaling, which is uncertain, this approach might be worth exploring.
Generally this wouldn’t save time because you’d still need to encode later, and editing programs often struggle with upscaling. Usually, the challenge lies more in choosing convenient frames rather than rendering quality. The editing problem isn’t just about rendering—it’s also about how user-friendly the tool is. Many find it hard to pick the exact frame, which affects quality. That said, I’m not sure why DaVinci Resolve performs so poorly here despite being marketed as top-tier. It might still be the best option, but it isn’t the most accessible or practical for most users. I’m currently using CapCut—it offers solid quality and fast editing, and AI upscaling is a standout feature. Free alternatives are rare, so it’s a good choice if you need speed and ease. https://www.capcut.com/
the preview in the editor is typically already at a low resolution. I understand your point, but starting with a low quality video isn't ideal since you prefer high quality and bitrates whenever possible. The videos I'm currently working on are already of poor quality, and that's fine. Many programs make it difficult to select frames by frame or they're too cumbersome, imprecise, and slow—even at low bitrates. But now I found a tool (CapCut) that handles this correctly. The real challenge is upscaling, which isn't handled well by any free software. You'd have to edit, then render the new version, and then use an encoder to upscale, but each step reduces quality because encoding is usually lossy. Ideally, you'd want a single solution: edit, render, upscale if needed. HandBrake can upscale, but it's very slow and produces poor results, especially when editing from low-quality sources like old VHS tapes. It's frustrating when you need to upgrade something that was already compromised.
Well, whatever happens, Capcut really performs well—even without true upscaling. It’s already my second most viewed video ever! It turns out viewers prefer EDM over gameplay clips without commentary or overlays. I’m aiming to become a superstar soon at this pace! Spoiler: it’s happening!
Have you looked at high-bitrate encoding versus the original source? You might be surprised by what you get from upscaling videos—it doesn’t quite match the quality of DLSS. While DLSS adds more details, it can’t capture low-res textures or model information properly. Video upscaling tends to result in pixelated results.