Recording times and capture modes

[NineCount]

Hey all.

Ok, ok, I'm a lurker so sue me.

I scanned the forum here and other places and haven't found the answer to my question.

First I deal with 6hr VHS tapes. I bought a Panasonic-e30 so I can copy them to DVD-R using the 6hr EP recording mode. It works ok, but I hate the damn menu it creates.

So here I am seeing if I can use my DVD Drive on my computer. It's a Pioneer A03 Ext. Firewire DVD Burner.

I used to think I could get 6hr recordings on a DVD until I started reading these forums. From what I've read, the length of the recording is based on the Bit-Rate and quality settings.

So my question is:

What settings should I use to encode the raw DV .avi file into a format that will fit on a DVD and play for 6 hrs.

I know the quality is not good, but that is ok. the originals are poor anyway, and they are even VHS conversions from PAL to NTSC.

Can I use software to burn these DVD's and get a 6hr recording?

You are all GREAT by the way. I love reading these posts.

Thanks in advance.

-NineCount

[ian follow]

Maybe slightly off topic, but anyway...

I have Panasonic DVD recorder too and don't understand those "the damn menu it creates". Which menues? Panasonic works great so I'm just curious about those menues. Which menues?

[NineCount]

I'm talking about the silly menu it makes for each track, or recording on the dvd. It's a horrible text menu. With a computer DVD burner I can create thumbnail menus. I understand Philips DVD Recorders make thumbnail menus also. Keep in mind I'm talking about my Panasonic-E30 which is a standalone unit that burns right to DVD-R/Ram media.

I'm looking for ways to burn 6hr videos to DVD on my computer, and I can't find the answers.

[snowmoon]

Nine count.... let's do some math...

4400 mb ( 4.7gb disk with some headroom ) / 6hrr = what total bitrate....

1668kbps total. Let's subtract a CBR 192 audio track = 1476kbps

So to get 6 Hrs on a DVD-R the average bitrate should be 1460 + 192 audio.

To really get that to work without serious artifacting you have 2 options.

1) 352x240 mpeg-2

2) 352x480 using multi-pass encoding with a program like CCE on your PC.

The difference between 240 and 480 will be an increace in perceived motion smoothness and sharpness.

Cheers