SVCD: 2-pass or '4-pass'?

[lalala789]

Hi all,

I'd like to have your opinion on the following:

I encoded a DVD to SVCD VBR 2520 kbps, using tmpg (2-ass encoding). The result is SVCD1.mpg. Size of the mpg: about 2.5 Gb.

Problem was that I didn't have subtitles, so I added permanent subtitles: I created a second SVCD VBR (let's call it svcd2.mpg) by frameserving the first mpg (SVCD1.mpg) from DVD2AVI to TMPG (2-pass encoding) and adding subs with an avisynth-script.
The resulting second mpg (SVCD2.mpg, including permanent subs) is also about 2.6 Gb (also about 2500 kbps).

So now I have 2 mpegs, but both are too big even to fit on 3 CD-R's (after cutting in 3 parts)!

My question is: I have to recode one of the two mpeg's now to re-code it with a smaller video-bitrate (e.g. 2000 kbps instead of 2500 kbps). That way the video will fit on 3 CD-R's after cutting in 3 parts.
Question is which of the two should I recode?? I'm wondering which of the two mpegs I have now has the best quality (theoretically), as svcd1.mpg has been encoded right from the VOB-files using 2-pass encoding, and svcd2.mpg has been encoded from the first mpeg (svcd1.mpg) using 2-pass encoding. So the second mpeg is the result of 2 times encoding with 2-pass.

Who can help me out here please?

thanks,
lalala789

[ZippyP.]

My vote: Go back to the source file but if that's not available then use the next generation file (use the first encode). Every encode means a loss in quality.