H.264 or MPEG-2 for Youtube

[seven_deuce offsuit]

I know most people would say H.264 since it compresses better at lower bitrates, but I'm planning on re-uploading some of my videos as close to the 1 GB range as possible so file size doesn't matter. Yeah, 1 GB might be too much, but it doesn't take me long to upload a 1 GB file (I've tried it before with a 4 minute DV clip). I would also like to upload with uncompressed audio. I know MPEG-2 can do it, but there is a bitrate limitation and, as far as I know, only authoring programs can do it. A 8 Mbps video with 1536 PCM would work, but I can't figure out a way to join a 15-20 Mbps clip with 1536 PCM. And what about H.264, is there a way to encode to H.264 with lossless audio? Here are a couple examples of what I want to do:

• HD Video
  
  MPEG-2
  
  Resolution: 1920x1080 or 1280x720 (whichever is better for youtube)
  Bitrate: 15 Mbps
  Audio: 1536 PCM
  
  or
  
  MPEG-4/AVC
  
  Resolution: 1920x1080 or 1280x720 (whichever is better for youtube)
  Bitrate: 15 Mbps
  Audio: Lossless if possible
  
  SD Video
  
  MPEG-2
  
  Resolution: 720x480
  Bitrate: 25 Mbps
  Audio: 1536 PCM
  
  or
  
  MPEG-4/AVC
  
  Resolution: 720x480
  Bitrate: 25 Mbps
  Audio: Lossless if possible

At those settings, what format is better for youtube? I'd go with Lagarith/MSI AVI if I could but unfortunately I can't get them to upload properly so I'll have to work with either MPEG-2 or H.264.

[minidv2dvd]

if you go with mpeg-4 you can use aac at up to 640kbps, about as loss free as it gets. do some demo tests as for the best video bitrate to suit your videos, anything over 4-5 mbps will convert well and get a watch in HD link, if it's 720p or better. the sd isn't going to get watch in HD or HQ no matter how high you make the bitrate. you will have to convert to 480p for HQ or 720p for HD links, if that is what you are after.

lagarith and other lossless video types are not accepted at youtube.

[Midzuki]

I would also like to upload with uncompressed audio. I know MPEG-2 can do it, but there is a bitrate limitation and, as far as I know, only authoring programs can do it. A 8 Mbps video with 1536 PCM would work, but I can't figure out a way to join a 15-20 Mbps clip with 1536 PCM.

Already tried TMPGEnc Plus
ffmpeg or MEncoder should do it too, in theory at least.

[seven_deuce offsuit]

Already tried TMPGEnc Plus question.gif
ffmpeg or MEncoder should do it too, in theory at least.

How would I be able to do it with ffmpeg, 25 mbps MPEG-2 + 1536 PCM?

[Midzuki]

mencoder video.m2v -audiofile audio.wav -oac copy -ovc copy -o output.mpg

[seven_deuce offsuit]

I appreciate your help but perhaps you can give me a step by step solution? I'm a complete newb when it comes to scripts, or just ffmpeg for that matter.