SF VV - VHS to DVD Need some advise and opinions please

[sfxwe]

Well lets see, where do I start……

Ok, I have been reading a lot in these two forums, DVDrhelp.com and SF Forum; I also read up at dvddemystified.com. I think the more I read the more confused I become….. lol……so much info, so little time. I am using SF VV 4.0

My Goal:
To Capture VHS and Sony Digital 8 and then store on DVD…..

The point that I am at right now:
Video captured through a Canopus ADVC 100 @ 720x480 with VV 4.0, edited and ready for re-encode….

Problem:

I have read on both forums that VHS would be better converted to 352x240. On the SF Forum I read that the quality would be much better @ 352x240 BUT as an MPEG 1 (because of the lower bitrate compared to MPEG 2 @ the same res & bitrate). I also read that this would allow me to fit approximately 6 hours of video onto a single DVD-R, because doing VHS higher then 352x240 is a waste of space as VHS originally is around 352x240, anyways. MPEG 2 @ 352x240 = worse at lower bitrate and MPEG 1 @ 352x240 = better at the same lower res & bitrate?

My Questions; General:

1. DVDdemystified.com states MPEG 1 is a DVD format, if I read it right, but what audio goes with it? AC3, LPCM, MPG ?
2. Isn’t 352x240 ½ D1 and if so, I read that not all DVD players will play ½ D1?
3. I would like to make it progressive, but I read this on the DVDRhelp forum, is it true?
4.

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=156412

“Keep the video interlaced. The job of a progressive scan DVD player is to do the de-interlacing for you. That's what it does. All commercial DVD's are 480i (i = interlaced). The progressive scan DVD player takes this data and converts it to a 480p signal (p = progressive).

Also, if your progressive scan DVD player has 3:2 pulldown, then you don't have to worry about the FPS. It'll take 29.97 and bring it down to 24 for you.”


My Questions RE; Vegas Video:

So I have the captured VHS / Digital 8 video @ full 720x480 (interlaced I am assuming). What settings should I use in VV?

1. Should I choose the Main Concept MPEG 1 setting? And choose the VCD settings? And then import it into a DVD Authoring program?
2. Should I choose the Main Concept 2 settings and use mpeg 2?
3. Would you use 352x240 or 352x480 and with what mpeg format?
What do you guys think, or what settings would you use

Thanks For Any Help

[mtremel]

Correct me if I am wrong, but in order to be dvd compliant you would have to render you source in vegas to mpeg2. Mpeg1 is not standard to dvd (to the best of my knowlege). The author program will expect force you to recode the video. That is not to say you could not author your dvd with with vcd or svcd content. There are author programs that will do that.

[ktnwin]

To be brief, here are the answers:
1) it would be best to encode to MPEG-2 352x480 (vertical resolution make video extremely clear). This is the half D1 resolution, valid for DVD.
2) bit rate: between 3200 to 4000, you can fit 2 to 3 hours on one DVD-R
3) audio: AC3 to ensure DVD compliant.
(I have done this successfully and the resulting DVD is identical to the original VHS tapes)

I am sure you can do:
1) encode at 352x240, bitrate less than 1800 and fit 6 hours on one DVD-R
2) don't know about audio in this case
(have not tried this yet).

[DJRumpy]

Excellent question. I don't know of many people that put VCD resolutions onto DVD. I've never put much thought into the audio question in such a scenario.

1. DVDdemystified.com states MPEG 1 is a DVD format, if I read it right, but what audio goes with it? AC3, LPCM, MPG ?

MPEG-1 (352x240 ntsc, or 352x288 pal) is a valid format, although the audio has to be 48Khz. If your in PAL land, you can use MP2, since it's the most common VCD audio format, and it happens to be in the PAL DVD spec. In NTSC land, you should probably use PCM or AC3. No idea if AC3 is actually allowed since your talking MPEG-1, but you should be able to mutliplex it. You can always use MP2 for NTSC disc as well, but the spec says the disc must contain PCM, or AC3 audio. Many players will play MP2 audio discs regardless. If I was placing VCD onto DVD, I would probably just use MP2 audio, and specifications be damned.

2. Isn’t 352x240 ½ D1 and if so, I read that not all DVD players will play ½ D1?

No, Half D1 is 352x480. All players should play Half-D1 as long as it is within specifications.

3. I would like to make it progressive, but I read this on the DVDRhelp forum, is it true?

Read what? I'm not sure what your asking for here. You can convert any source to progressive. Most VCD sources are left in 23.976 fps (progressive) to begin with. You an also use IVTC (inverse telecine) if your source is telecined to 29.97fps.

[sfxwe]

Thanks for the input guys......I knew if I waited someone would give me some suggestions .

Thanks.

Ya know, instead of trying to stuff a dvd full of 6 hours of video, I think I will just go with settings (352x480) that produce the 3 - 4 hours with VHS stuff and settings (720x480) that would produce 2 - 3 hours with Digital 8. Cause who the hell is gonna want to watch 6 straight hours of videos anyways. Plus DVD are so cheap now.....anyways, so who cares if I use one or two.

Again thanks for your opinions, it is appreciated.