laserdisc (47min shows) -> svcd/dvd, best methods?

[goreal]

..am converting episodes of a 1hr (ok 46min) TV show from laserdisc. Have read that capturing to 560x480max is fine, given the source quality. Have successfully burned an SVCD.

However, in the future, DVD burners will (hopefully) be much cheaper. Given that each AVI capture is ~20Gig:

1. can you recommend the best way to "archive" the AVI so to future burn onto a DVD? It seems using TMPGENC to turn into MPEG2 is best (14hours later on a P3800EB)..??

**2. would it be better to attempt to capture at 720x480, in order to not have to expand(?) at a later date from a 560x480 AVI? Or can I put a 560x460 mpeg2 onto a DVD, without converting to 720x480?

I just don't want to sell the laserdiscs and then regret that I didn't capture what I needed in the best method.. so

Thanks!

JD

[therick]

Alright goreal- I am having the same delimma as you right now...how best to get my Star Wars LDs onto something that I can use in my DVD player. Oh much have I toiled over this...and here is what my plan is:

1. Capture at 560x480 NOW and convert down to 480x480 for an excellent looking SVCD (using Decomb and *little noise reduction).
2. Keep my LD player in box until I can get the equipment to do a good DVD copy.

And also to answer a few of your questions:

capture at 720x480 if you can...do NOT upconvert video, it will not look good.
no you will not be able to get 560x480 on a DVD...here is what you can get on a DVD (I think)

352x240 mpeg1
352x480 mpeg2 (so called 1/2 DVD)
720x480 mpeg2

Although I plan to wait, if I had a card that would do 720x480 now here is what I would do (this might sound a little crazy, but I REALLY want these movies)...

1. capture at 720x480 and 29.97 fps
2. use AVISynth and Decomb to take the video to 23.987 fps (film)
3. Use a multipass (4) CCE encode (***not TMEGEnc, it's SVCDs are bad enough, and I have heard it is awful at making DVD compliant streams)
and get a DVD stream...and now for the crazy part...
4. split the stream up over 7 cds and archive until I get either:
a. a dvd burner
b. a friend with a dvd burner

a bit wacko I know, but Star Wars fans have never claimed to be sane....