Newbie making DVDs

[Sturm]

This post may be asking questions that have already been answered elsewhere, but a quick search through the forums didn't provide answers, unfortunately, so here goes.
I used to make CVDs and, in fact, have quite a few of them. I used VirtualDub for the capturing and rough cutting/splicing, then Adobe Premiere for more precise editing (if necessary), TMPGEnc for the obvious encoding, and finally VCDEasy for the layout and burning.
I have now decided to leave the CVDs behind and begin all my future recordings for DVD. My new computer is certainly strong enough to handle it, with a 2.8GHz P4 CPU, 1GB DDR RAM, ATI All-In-Wonder 9800Pro, and over 200GB free hard disk drive space. I just recently purchased a Pioneer A06U DVD burner and I've already made a test record using their bundled Ulead DVD MovieFactory 2 software. I happened to have a sample MPEG2 file laying around on the hard drive with 48KHz audio, 352x480 resolution, and 2520Kbps bitrate. Worked like a charm on a DVD-RW played back on my Sony DVD stand-alone player.
My first question is regarding bitrate. I know that I should capture my video now at 720x480 to get the best out of DirecTV's broadcast video and even my VHS tapes that I intend to convert/archive onto DVDs. However, I am unsure as to what bitrate to use for them. I am pretty sure that I want to use VBR, of course, but what is the "standard" bitrate used by most (if not all) DVDs? Or is there even a standard at all?
My second question is regarding filters for VirtualDub. I intend to create a "test disc" with a few captures of the same video clip done in ATI's built-in MPEG2 encoder, and some using the longer route. Said longer route includes capturing to AVI through either ATI's capturing or VirtualDub, then encoding with TMPGEnc, as I have done in the past. However, I would like to clean up the video, especially that coming from VHS. (I only have composite connectors; don't want to spend the money to get a VCR with an S-Video output). I see a "VideoSoap" option in ATI's capture utility, but it doesn't seem to let me set much... I also have heard from numerous sources here of a site that has a plethora of free filters for use in VirtualDub to help clean up source video, some even made specifically for VHS captures. Unfortunately, this site (http://shelob.mordor.net/dgraft/) is unavailable. Anyone know where I can get all those nifty filters I keep hearing about?

[Vejita-sama]

My first question is regarding bitrate.

There is no 'standard' DVD bitrate. You can use up to 9800kbit/s, and the recommendation is to use the highest bitrate possible to fill the DVD for your desired runtime.
You do not have to use 720x480 for DVD video, 352x480 and 352x240 are also supported, and for VHS captures I normally encode to 352x480.
As for VBR vs. CBR it's a personal choice. I use CBR encodes for bitrates > 6000kbit/s, 2 pass for 5000-6000, and < 5000 3-4pass VBR encode (CCE). I've made DVDRs with 3.5hrs on them of captured VHS material, they looked 'good enough' to me, others might disagree

My second question is regarding filters for VirtualDub.

Try the main url www.virtualdub.org there are several filters there and links to others. I personally prefer AVISynth over VDub for running filters, but avisynth isn't as user friendly. You can run avisynth filters through VDub but it slows down the whole process.

[ejsjrnc]

one quick word about encoding using VBR or CBR....

I use Adobe Encore to author my discs and I have not yet been able to get a CBR encode to import into encore without it wanting to re-encode the video. If I use VBR, it works fine (no re-encode issue). Just a thought....