WINTV 2000 recording quality settings

[dzachau]

In the Hauppage WinTV 2000 program, would DVD Standard Play provide the highest quality recording of video tape to hard drive? There are MPEG1 and 2 settings, along with SVCD settings for quality level, but I am not sure what those settings actually are. I would like to be sure I am recording video tapes and TV shows to my hard drive at the highest quality setting.

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Abond]

Rule of a thumb: More bitrate = more quality

[jagabo]

DVD Standard Play is 6400 kbps variable bitrate. To Max out the quality for DVD create a new template with 8500 to 9500 kbps constant bitrate for the video, then use that template. It won't be all that much better though. And you'll only be able to put about 1 hour on a DVD.

Creating templates in WinTV2000 is a little confusing. You should start with the DVD Standard Play template, change the settings you want, type in a new name, then save the template. Then go back to the previous dialog and select the new template.

[yoda313]

I used to have a hauppauge card. If you want the absolute highest recording quality you have to use the 15000 bitrate mode. Its not under dvd - I think its under mpeg 2 mode and select the highest setting at 15000.

Keep in mind though you'll have to shrink the authored folder afterwards to fit a single layer disc since it will be larger than the disc.

[karelj]

The problem with the 15k bitrate is that you may encounter playback issues. The 15k is just for the video alone, there is also the audio bitrate. Some DVD creation programs will inform you of possible errors.
Chances are you wont gain any quality benefits from a video bitrate over 9500.

[jagabo]

Obviously you can't play 15 kbps from a DVD. The max for DVD is 10 kbps total for both audio and video.

15K capture is good if you want to IVTC back to film frames and reencode for DVD. Or if you are going to convert to another format like MPEG4.