Is it perfect? No. AI upscaling is not a true remaster. Because the AI is "guessing" the details, it can sometimes make mistakes. This is often referred to as "artifacts" or "wobble."
Sometimes, background faces can look a little smoothed over, or fast-moving objects might leave a strange ghosting trail. However, the "Top" 2020 releases managed to minimize these errors significantly. The creators understood that the goal wasn't just to make it sharp, but to make it look like film. They preserved the grain structure rather than scrubbing it all away, which prevents the show from looking like a cheap soap opera.
This upscale wasn't just about pixel counting. It was a preservation act. When CBS finally released DS9 in "HD" on streaming in 2023, they simply ran the same AI upscale but at a lower bitrate. Many critics noted that the fan-driven 2020 "Project Defiant" release was actually superior to the official version, retaining more grain and offering higher bitrates.
The Bottom Line: If you want to watch Deep Space Nine Season 1 today, the 2020 AI upscale remains the "Top" choice for archivists. It captures the grit of the Bajoran conflict and the slickness of the Cardassian design better than any official release. It proves that while Paramount owns the license, the fans own the legacy.
Availability: Due to copyright, this project exists in the "data restoration" grey market. Search for "Project Defiant DS9 S01 2160p" in the usual digital archives.
"It's not a crime to upscale what they abandoned." – A Project Defiant engineer, 2020
Review: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season 1 (AI Upscale 4K 2020)
The AI-upscaled version of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's first season, released in 2020, offers a visually stunning experience for fans of the series. The use of artificial intelligence to enhance the original footage has resulted in a noticeable improvement in picture quality, making it a great option for those who want to revisit the series in 4K.
Video Quality: 4.5/5
The AI-upscaled 4K version of DS9's first season boasts crisp and clear visuals, with improved details and textures. The upscaling process has successfully reduced noise and grain, making the image look more cinematic. However, some fans might notice minor inconsistencies in the upscaling process, particularly in scenes with complex backgrounds or special effects.
Color Accuracy: 4.5/5
The color palette has been accurately preserved in the AI-upscaled version, with vibrant and rich colors that bring the series to life. The enhancements have also helped to restore some of the original color intent that may have been lost in previous SD and HD releases.
Audio: 4/5
The audio quality remains largely unchanged from previous releases, which might be a disappointment for some fans expecting a full audio overhaul. However, the existing audio tracks still hold up well, with clear and balanced sound effects, music, and dialogue. star trek deep space 9 s01 ai upscale 4k 2020 top
Value: 4.5/5
For fans of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the AI-upscaled 4K version of the first season is a worthwhile upgrade, especially for those who have previously owned the series on older formats. The enhancements breathe new life into the classic series, making it an attractive option for both nostalgic viewers and new fans.
Overall: 4.4/5
The AI-upscaled version of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's first season is a visually stunning release that offers a great viewing experience. While minor inconsistencies in the upscaling process and unchanged audio might prevent it from being perfect, it's an excellent option for fans and a great way to experience one of the best Star Trek series in 4K.
Recommendation:
If you're a fan of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine or a sci-fi enthusiast, the AI-upscaled 4K version of the first season is definitely worth checking out. Even if you're new to the series, this release is an excellent starting point, offering a great balance of story, characters, and visuals.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9) to 4K became a popular hobbyist project, primarily using Topaz Video Enhance AI
. These projects aimed to overcome the limitations of the original standard-definition (SD) DVD source material, which CBS has not officially remastered in HD. Recommended Software and Workflow (2020 Era) The leading choice for these restorations was Topaz Video Enhance AI
. A typical technical workflow from 2020-2021 involved the following steps: Source Preparation
: Ripping the original DVDs to uncompressed ISO files or MKV format. De-interlacing
: Removing interlacing artifacts using specialized tools like VirtualDub before upscaling. Upscaling Settings : In 2020, the Artemis High-Quality models were frequently used. Resolution
: Many projects upscaled to 4K but ultimately distributed in
(upscaled to 4K first, then compressed back to 1080p) to balance file size and visual fidelity. Is it perfect
: Adding 35mm film grain (around 2.4–2.7) helped mask the "plasticky" look of AI-processed skin. Post-Processing
: Reassembling the upscaled image sequences into video files using DaVinci Resolve Notable Community Projects
Several independent groups gained recognition for their Season 1 upscales in 2020:
Project Defiant: DS9 1080p+ Upscale Now Available : r/startrek
Star Trek: Deep Space 9 S01 AI Upscale 4K (2020) project, widely known as Project Defiant
, remains one of the most significant fan-led attempts to bring the series into the modern era. Released in May 2020 by the DS9 Upscale Project, this version aimed to overcome the limitations of the original 480p DVD sources using AI machine learning. Key Project Details Resolution:
While marketed as a 4K project, the creators noted that Season 1 was directly upscaled to 4K from MKV sources to provide a "huge step up" from the originals. Framerate Challenges:
Season 1 and 2 often suffer from slight audio synchronization issues due to the original show's variable framerate, which had to be converted to a constant framerate (CFR) for the AI to process it. Visual Fidelity:
The upscale significantly improves clarity on faces and station details, though it cannot match a professional studio remaster like the clips seen in the documentary What We Left Behind Top 2020 Alternatives for Season 1
If you are looking for the "best" version from that 2020 wave, community consensus often points to three main projects: Project Name Output Resolution Release Date Project Defiant (CptJay216) 1080p+ / 4K Sturdy, large file sizes (~26GB/season).
Often cited as the most "natural" looking with fewer artifacts. JoyBell (UTRCorp)
Economical file sizes (~12GB/season) using x265 compression. Viewer's Warning
Early seasons (1 and 2) are notoriously difficult to upscale due to lower original production quality. Users often report a "waxy" or "plasticy" look on skin textures if the AI settings were too aggressive. For the best results today, many recommend the QueerWorm 960p While 2020 was the breakthrough year, it set the standard
version, as it avoids "overcooking" the detail compared to higher 4K outputs. software settings
(like Topaz Video AI) were used to achieve these specific 2020 results?
While 2020 was the breakthrough year, it set the standard. Modern upscales (2024-2025) use newer models that handle faces even better, but many fans argue that the 2020 Top had a "filmic" organic look that later, more aggressive algorithms lost. It remains the gold standard reference point for DS9 restoration discussions.
If you have abandoned Deep Space 9 because of its antique visuals, you have an excuse no longer. Track down the S01 AI Upscale 4K 2020 Top. Pour a glass of Kanar, stand on the Promenade, and watch Commander Sisko take his first, glorious step toward the wormhole. For the first time, Chateau Picard looks better... but Deep Space Nine looks like it was filmed yesterday.
Final Rating: 🖖 9/10 (Docked one point for occasional Ferengi ear-rub artifacts.)
Have you watched the AI upscale of DS9? Share your experience in the comments below. Live long and prosper.
The 2020 "Top" release (so named because it was considered the best available version of Season 1 at the time) utilized a pipeline centered around Topaz Video Enhance AI. Unlike earlier attempts that simply sharpened noise, this workflow used machine learning models trained on high-resolution film scans of similar era shows.
The team used a multi-pass system:
| Pros ✅ | Cons ❌ | |--------|--------| | Sharper character faces & ship exteriors | No official studio involvement | | Better for large 4K screens | Some fine details may be hallucinated by AI | | Restores some detail lost in compression | Motion artifacts possible in fast action | | Free (fan project) | Inconsistent quality across episodes |
Install a good media player like VLC or Plex on an NVIDIA Shield. Sit about 6 feet from a 55-inch screen. Start with Episode 19: "Duet"—the masterpiece where Harris Yulin plays the fake war criminal Marritza.
In the original SD, this episode feels like a stage play shot through a dirty window. In the S01 AI Upscale 4K, the interrogation room lighting is crisp. Yulin’s tears are distinct. The claustrophobia of the Cardassian holding cell is palpable. That episode alone justifies the entire project.
In 2024, Paramount announced a "remastered" DS9 for streaming, but it was merely a subpar AI upscale done by a third party—soft, waxy, and inferior to the 2020 fan projects. The 2020 top fan releases remain superior because they were per-episode, per-shot tuned, whereas streaming services use one-size-fits-all automation.
Given the cost (estimates exceed $20M for a true film-scan rebuild), a native 4K DS9 will likely never happen. The AI upscales are the definitive versions for collectors.
