2021 - Star Trek Deep Space 9 S01 Ai Upscale 1080p 2020
In 2020 and 2021, the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine fan community experienced a surge of independent AI-upscaling projects aimed at filling the gap left by Paramount's decision not to officially remaster the series in HD. Because DS9 (and Voyager) was mastered on standard-definition videotape despite being shot on 35mm film, a true remaster would require rescanning original negatives and recreating thousands of low-resolution CGI shots—an effort estimated at approximately $20 million per series. The AI Upscale Boom (2020–2021)
During this period, the release of consumer-grade AI tools like Topaz Video Enhance AI (now Topaz Video AI) allowed enthusiasts to attempt high-definition upscaling from DVD source material.
Project Defiant (September 2020): One of the most prominent groups, often associated with user "CptJay216," released a full "1080p+" version of the series. Their process involved upscaling DVD rips to 4K to maximize detail recovery before compressing the final files back to 1080p for better compatibility and storage.
Deep Space Nine Upscale Project (DS9UP): This project by Joel Hruska at ExtremeTech extensively documented the technical hurdles of the task. He focused on addressing "variable frame rate" issues inherent in the original DVDs to improve motion clarity.
QueerWorm's 960p Project (June 2020): This creator released a 960p version, arguing that 1080p or 4K offered "diminishing returns" because the AI is essentially "guessing" details that aren't in the source; a lower target resolution helped prevent the AI from "guessing wrong" in a noticeable way.
JoyBell/UTRCorp (Late 2020): Released a streamlined 1080p version that balanced file size (approx. 12 GB per season) with improved visual fidelity compared to the official SD streams. Technical Achievements & Limitations
While these projects significantly improved sharpness and reduced "fuzziness" on modern screens, they faced inherent technical walls:
Processing Time: Even on high-end hardware like the RTX 2080 or GTX 1080 Ti, a single 45-minute episode could take 10 to 15 hours to process.
Season 1 Difficulties: Creators noted that the earlier seasons (S01–S02) did not take to the upscaling process as well as later seasons, likely due to the quality of the original film transfers used for the DVD masters.
CGI Artifacts: Because ship battles and phaser fire were rendered at 480p, the AI often struggled to interpret these shots, sometimes creating "waxy" textures or "halos" around objects.
Project Defiant: DS9 1080p Upscale of Season 2 Now Available star trek deep space 9 s01 ai upscale 1080p 2020 2021
During the 2020–2021 period, fan-led AI upscaling projects for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
(DS9) gained significant momentum due to the accessibility of tools like Topaz Video Enhance AI. While Paramount has not officially remastered the series, these community efforts aimed to bridge the gap between 480i DVD quality and modern 1080p displays. Notable 2020–2021 Project Reports
Project Defiant (CptJay216): One of the most prominent releases, this project achieved a "1080p+" result by upscaling the original source to 4K before compressing it back to 1080p using x265. Season 1 and 2 were released in early 2020, with the full series completed and seeded by late 2020.
JoyBell and UTRCorp: Released in September and November 2020, this version offered a 1080p upscale with a focus on smaller file sizes (approx. 12 GB per season) compared to other high-bitrate projects. Some users preferred this version for its cleaner, crisper image and better color balance.
QueerWorm: This project released a 960p Variable Bit Rate (VBR) version in June 2020. The creator opted for 960p to avoid "overcooking" the detail, which can occur at higher resolutions, maintaining a more natural look for early seasons.
ExtremeTech (Joel Hruska): A series of technical developer diaries published in 2020 documented the process of using Topaz Video Enhance AI. These reports highlighted the difficulty of dealing with Season 1's variable frame rates and composite video artifacts. Technical Challenges of Season 1
Season 1 is widely considered the most difficult to upscale because the early seasons were produced with lower-quality composite-to-component conversions than later seasons. Common issues reported in 2020–2021 upscales included:
Project Defiant (also known as the DS9 Upscale Project) and JoyBell/UTRCorp releases were the primary fan-driven efforts to upscale Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 1 to 1080p during the 2020–2021 timeframe. These projects used Topaz Video Enhance AI
to transform original 480p DVD sources into high-definition versions, aiming to bridge the gap left by the lack of an official CBS remaster. Key Season 1 AI Upscale Projects (2020-2021) Project Defiant (CptJay216): In 2020 and 2021, the Star Trek: Deep
Released in September 2020, this version was upscaled to 4K before being compressed back to 1080p+ in x265 to preserve detail. It is known for its larger file sizes (roughly 26 GB per season) and inclusion of 5.1 audio. JoyBell & UTRCorp:
Released in late 2020, this was a more storage-friendly 1080p option, averaging about 12 GB per season. QueerWorm: A notable 2020 project that opted for
instead of 1080p, arguing that 960p provided the "sweet spot" for visual improvement without excessive "guessing" or artifacts from the AI. Technical Insights and Challenges
Bringing DS9 into the HD Era: The AI Upscale Boom of 2020–2021 For years, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
fans have dreamed of a high-definition remaster similar to the one The Next Generation received. While official efforts remain stalled due to the high cost of recreating 90s-era CGI, the years 2020 and 2021 saw a massive surge in community-led AI upscaling projects that brought S01 and beyond into 1080p and even 4K. The Community Pioneers
Several major fan projects emerged during this period, each using slightly different methods to combat the "softness" of the original DVD sources:
Project Defiant (2020): One of the most prominent groups, they released 1080p+ versions by first upscaling to 4K to capture maximum detail and then downsampling to a crisp 1080p.
QueerWorm (June 2020): This project focused on a 960p VBR release, arguing that pushing to 1080p created "diminishing returns" where the AI began to "guess" too much, leading to artifacts.
ExtremeTech’s DS9UP (May 2020): Joel Hruska detailed a rigorous workflow using Topaz Video Enhance AI, highlighting the massive processing power required—roughly 10 to 20 hours per episode. How the Tech Works
Most of these projects centered around Topaz Video Enhance AI (now Topaz Video AI). Unlike traditional upscaling, which simply stretches pixels and sharpens edges, AI models like Gaia or Artemis use neural networks to predict what missing details should look like—interpreting fuzzy shapes as textures like skin, fabric, or hull plating. DVD Source (Original) AI Upscale (2020-21) Resolution 480p (NTSC) / 576p (PAL) 1080p (HD) / 4K Visuals Soft, some interlacing artifacts Sharper faces, clearer starship hulls Processing 6–20 hours per episode The Challenges of Season 1 Audio Quality: Although not directly related to AI
Upscaling the early seasons, especially Season 1, proved harder than later years. Star Trek - Deep Space Nine (DVD to 1080pHD Upscale)
6. Audio Enhancements
- Audio Quality: Although not directly related to AI upscaling, some projects might include enhanced audio, such as 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound mixes, or at least ensure the original audio is presented in the best quality possible.
The Context: The "Remaster" Gap
To understand the significance of the 2020/2021 upscales, one must understand the unique predicament regarding DS9’s physical media status.
Unlike Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG), which received a full, expensive restoration from original film negatives for its Blu-ray release, Deep Space Nine was never officially remastered in High Definition. Paramount cited the high cost and low sales of the TNG Blu-rays as the reason for halting the project.
Consequently, for years, the only way to watch DS9 in decent quality was via the 480p Standard Definition DVDs. On modern 1080p or 4K screens, these DVDs looked blurry, interlaced, and artifact-heavy. While streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime offered "HD" versions, these were largely just upscaled versions of the SD masters with minimal processing, often suffering from "ringing" artifacts and muted colors.
How to Spot the 2020-2021 Version
If you are looking for this specific version, here are its signatures:
- Resolution: 1920x1080 (Constant Bitrate ~8-12 Mbps)
- Audio: Usually downmixed from the original Dolby Digital 2.0 or 5.1 (no AI upscale touches audio).
- File Names: Often labeled
DS9.S01E01.Emissary.Part1.AI.1080p.2021.x265orJoybell_Upscale_v2. - Color Timing: Slightly cooler (bluer) than the warm, orange-leaning DVD release.
Conclusion: A Victory for the Hobbyist
The Star Trek: Deep Space 9 S01 AI Upscale 1080p (2020-2021) is not perfect. It has algorithmic hallucinations, occasional wax faces, and a file size that will choke an old hard drive. But it is a labor of love.
In 1993, DS9 first aired in a world of 4:3 CRT televisions. Today, on a 16:9 OLED, the show looks old. But thanks to a handful of dedicated fans with a GPU and a dream, Season One of Sisko’s journey now looks alive again. It is a testament to the Star Trek ethos: When the establishment won’t fix the problem, you replicate the parts and do it yourself.
Verdict: If you love DS9, seek out the 2020-2021 AI upscale of Season 1. It won't replace a phantom CBS remaster, but it will let you finally read the labels on the bottles behind Quark’s bar. And sometimes, that’s enough.
Have you watched the AI upscale of DS9’s first season? Does it hold up against the original SD broadcast? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
