HDC setting question, 2 pass + manual bit rate

[jsbenson]

On the video tab in HDConvertToX I'm using a manually set bit rate of 4000. Is setting the Encoding Mode to "2 Pass" just a waste of time since it's a constant bit rate? I'm assuming that manually setting the bit rate is the same as CBR?

[jagabo]

I don't know HDConvertToX, but generally, just because you set a bitrate doesn't mean it's not VBR. Most encoders let you set the average bitrate for VBR. Some also let you specify the minimum and maximum bitrates. The average determines the file size.

[jsbenson]

Hey thanks, that's pretty much what I was needing to know.