Best Cap Modes from various Sources

[reilly]

Hi,
I'm trying to figure out what is the best configuration for capturing from various inputs. I am very interested in everyone's input as I can't change it once it's done. My objective is to digitaly archive all videos that I have, wedding, birthdays, etc, and later move them to DVD's for storage. I'm looking to get the best quality that I can without sacrificing unecessary space.

Cable TV - Mpeg-2, 352x240,NTSC (525), 1 meg/s,Audio 44.100 Khz, 16 Bit, Stereo
VHS - Mpeg-2, 352x240,NTSC (525), 2 meg/s,Audio 44.100 Khz, 16 Bit, Stereo
Hi8 - Mpeg-2, 480x480,NTSC (525), 4 meg/s,Audio 44.100 Khz, 16 Bit, Stereo
DV - Mpeg-2, 720x480,NTSC (525), 4 meg/s,Audio 44.100 Khz, 16 Bit, Stereo
DVD - Mpeg-2, 720x480,NTSC (525), 8 meg/s,Audio 48.000 Khz, 16 Bit, Stereo

If I used these settings and then converted everything to a DVD would they be good? Am I losing any quality in the capturing settings? In the 480x480 setting it seems that it isn't the correct aspect, however, that's what the suggestion was. Is this correct?

Also, I would like to convert the mpeg-2's to smaller sizes, etc for transfer to other people over the net. What tool would be good for this? Thanks

[Bondiablo]

For going to DVD only use 48khz sound.

[reilly]

But if the source is VHS or other "less than DVD" quality, why would I want to do 48hz or for that matter 720x480?

[Bondiablo]

48khz audio is required for DVD authoring.

If the video is interlaced you can still benefit from the higher resolutions, though I think that only applies to the vertical resolution not the horizontal.

[reilly]

So you are telling me that I need to record everything at 720x480 and 48khz in order to port appropriately to DVD (mpeg-2)? I guess the only difference between what the source is would be the rate at which I cap it at. i.e. vhs @ 2 meg/s, hi8 @ 4 meg/s and dvd @ 8 meg/s

[Bondiablo]

No, I'm just saying you need to record everything at 48khz audio.

[lpn1160]

Doesn't it just make good sense to capture at the highest rates and res that your card and system support, whether you go vcd,svcd or dvd??
720x480 with 48kh @ 8mbps should go about 4 gigs an hour give or take
(mpeg2). a 7 or 8 gig partition is probably plenty of space for an hour capture with room for intermediate files for processing