352x576 vs 720x576 for tv shows - much difference?

[redbaron]

Is there much difference in visual quality between dvd and 1/2dvd for shows captured off tv?
I found a huge difference between vcd 352x288 and svcd 480x576 when they were recorded from the same source (a video cassette). Isn't it a reduction is quality to go from 480x576 (svcd) to 352x576 (1/2 dvd).

What is the minimum bitrate people use for making a 1/2 dvd using vbr? I have played around with as low as 2000 with acceptable results but I am after a rule of thumb i.e SVCD shouldn't be lower than 1600 etc.

Cheers

[rhegedus]

I haven't noticed any difference in going to half D1 for TV recordings, but I tend to keep the bit-rate above 3000.

Hi8/VHS to DVD: which bitrate do you recommend?

Should help you out....

[ronnylov]

If your source is a tv show recorded on a VHS casette then 352x576 is enough. But (in my opinion) if it is recorded directly from a live broadcast I get better quality at 704x576 DVD resolution and a bitrate around 6000 kbit/s. But it depends on your source. Some digital DVB channels are sent with resolution 352x576 and in that case there is no need to encode higher. If your TV is old and blurry maybe you can't see any difference anyway. In the end you are the only one to judge what looks good for you, so I suggest you do some tests and make tour own conclusions.

If you aim for bitrates as low as 2000 kbit/s I would not use higer than half D1 resolution. For clean sources like DVD or digitally recorded DVB and encoded as progressive I think 2000 kbit/s is fine, especially if letterboxed. But interlaced full screen video may require minimum 3000 kbit/s average bitrate if encoded with VBR at half D1. But this are my opinions so you better test it yourself.