Topaz Labs

What is Topaz Video AI

Topaz Video AI is an advanced video enhancement software that utilizes artificial intelligence to improve video quality. Developed by Topaz Labs, a company founded in 2005 and based in Dallas, Texas, the tool is designed for creative professionals, filmmakers, and video enthusiasts. Its core purpose is to upscale, denoise, stabilize, and create smooth slow-motion effects from existing footage. The software operates as a standalone application on both Windows and macOS, and can also be used as a plugin within professional video editing software. It leverages a suite of over 24 temporally aware AI models, which can be run locally on the user's hardware or processed in the cloud for faster results.

Topaz Video AI Features

Topaz Video AI offers a comprehensive set of features for video restoration and enhancement:

• AI Video Upscaling: Increase video resolution up to 16K. The software uses advanced AI models, including the diffusion-based Starlight Mini model, to intelligently add detail and clarity, effectively turning low-resolution footage into high-quality video.
• Frame Interpolation: Generate new frames to increase a video's frame rate up to 16x. This is ideal for creating ultra-smooth slow-motion effects or converting footage to higher frame rates (e.g., 24fps to 60fps or 120fps) using models like Apollo and Chronos.
• Video Denoising: The Nyx AI model intelligently distinguishes between noise and detail, removing unwanted grain and compression artifacts from footage, even in low-light or high-ISO shots, while preserving fine details.
• Video Stabilization: The Themis AI model corrects unwanted camera shake and reduces motion blur caused by slow shutter speeds. This allows users to salvage shaky footage and create a stable, professional look in post-production.
• Face Enhancement: The software automatically detects faces in footage and applies targeted corrections. This temporally aware technology ensures that enhancements on people look natural and consistent across multiple frames.
• Local and Cloud Processing: Users have the flexibility to process videos locally on their own Mac or PC for full control and no per-render fees. Alternatively, they can use Topaz Cloud Rendering for significantly faster processing times, which is especially useful for users with older hardware or those on a tight deadline.
• Workflow Integration: Topaz Video AI functions as a standalone application for batch processing multiple files. It also integrates directly into professional workflows as a plugin for Adobe After Effects and DaVinci Resolve.
• Performance Optimization: The software is optimized to take full advantage of modern hardware, including Apple Silicon (M-series) processors and dedicated GPUs from Nvidia and AMD, ensuring efficient processing times.

Topaz Video AI Pricing Plans

Topaz Video AI is offered as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, with plans structured based on the user's revenue.

• Personal Plan: This plan is intended for individual creators, freelancers, and organizations with an annual revenue of less than $1 million. The purchase includes a license for the full software with two seats and provides 12 months of free updates to new versions and AI models.
• Commercial Plan (Video AI Pro): This license is required for organizations with an annual revenue exceeding $1 million. It provides the same powerful software but is licensed for large-scale commercial and enterprise use. This plan also includes a year of updates.

After the initial 12-month update period, users can continue to use their purchased version of the software indefinitely or choose to purchase an upgrade license to receive another year of updates.

Topaz Video AI Free Plan

Topaz Video AI does not offer a traditional free plan. However, it provides a free trial with no time limit. The trial version gives users access to all the features and AI models available in the full product, allowing them to test its capabilities on their own footage. The primary limitation of the trial is that all exported videos will have a visible watermark. This allows potential customers to fully evaluate the software's performance and results before committing to a purchase.

How to use Topaz Video AI

Getting started with Topaz Video AI involves a straightforward workflow:

1. Import Footage: Begin by opening the standalone Topaz Video AI application and dragging your video file(s) into the interface. If using it as a plugin, apply it to a clip on your timeline in DaVinci Resolve or After Effects.
2. Select AI Models: In the control panel, choose the enhancement tasks you want to perform. You can select and stack multiple models, such as Upscaling, Denoising, Stabilization, and Frame Interpolation.
3. Adjust Settings: For each selected model, fine-tune the settings. For example, choose the desired output resolution for upscaling (e.g., 4K) or the factor for slow motion (e.g., 4x).
4. Preview the Result: Use the split-screen or side-by-side preview window to compare the enhanced footage with the original. The software generates an instant preview for the frame your playhead is on, allowing for quick adjustments.
5. Configure Export: Choose your desired output format (e.g., MP4, ProRes), codec, and destination folder.
6. Start Processing: Click the export button to begin rendering. You can choose to process the video locally on your computer or send it to the cloud for faster rendering. The application supports batch processing, allowing you to queue up multiple videos to render sequentially.

Pros and Cons of Topaz Video AI

Pros:

• Exceptional Quality: The AI models produce industry-leading results in upscaling, denoising, and stabilization, often making unusable footage viable.
• Local Processing: The ability to run all processes locally provides data privacy, security, and avoids recurring cloud processing fees.
• Flexible Workflow: Can be used as a powerful standalone batch processor or as a plugin integrated with professional NLEs.
• One-Time Purchase: The licensing model is a single purchase with a year of updates, which is preferable to a recurring subscription for many users.
• Continuous Innovation: Topaz Labs frequently releases new and improved AI models, which are included with an active upgrade license.

Cons:

• Hardware Intensive: Achieving reasonable processing times for local rendering requires a powerful computer with a modern, dedicated GPU and ample RAM.
• Significant Initial Cost: The upfront price can be a substantial investment for hobbyists or those with a limited budget.
• Learning Curve: While the interface is clean, mastering the various AI models and their settings to achieve optimal, natural-looking results can take time and experimentation.
• Large File Sizes: Exporting to high-quality professional codecs can result in very large video files, requiring significant storage space.

Topaz Video AI Alternatives

• DaVinci Resolve Studio: A full-fledged professional video editing suite that includes its own powerful AI-driven tools. Its 'Neural Engine' powers features like video upscaling, noise reduction, scene cut detection, and object removal. It's a great alternative for those who need a complete post-production solution, not just an enhancement utility.
• Neat Video: A highly specialized and respected third-party plugin dedicated solely to video noise reduction. It is renowned for its ability to clean up noisy footage while preserving detail. While it doesn't offer upscaling or stabilization, it is often considered the gold standard for professional denoising.
• Adobe Sensei (in Premiere Pro & After Effects): Adobe's AI and machine learning technology is integrated into its video applications. Features like Auto Reframe, Scene Edit Detection, and Content-Aware Fill for video are powered by Sensei. While not a direct one-to-one competitor for upscaling, it provides a suite of AI-assisted tools within a widely used ecosystem.