MPEG1 to MPEG2?

[insaprsr]

I have a source for old footage where either MPEG1 or MPEG2 can be downloaded. The MPEG1 files are smaller and would be quicker to download.
a. If I would like to convert the MPEG1 footage into MPEG2 to either save it to DVD or to then convert it to AVI so I can edit it, what is the best software solution?
b. Is there any reason that MPEG1 footage converted to MPEG2 would be lacking in quality, and therefore it shouldn't be done?

[hudsonf]

Every time you convert you loose quality. If all you want to do is cut parts out of your video you don't need to convert to avi. VideoReDo and Womble mpeg-vcr will allow you to cut and join mpegs. They both have trial versions. You can also do this with TMPGEnc DVD Author.

[Grimey]

Garbage in-Garbage out. download the MPEG2 version. you can't convert a bad quality file to a good quality file.

[insaprsr]

Got it! Thanks all! If I may, the same question, but instead of MPEG1, what about MPEG4 vs MPEG2? When I have the choice, which is better? The reason for using AVI would not be just for cutting, but I might want to blend some of the downloaded footage with my own, and I would use EditStudio 4 to do that.

[hudsonf]

I never used mpeg4 so I don't know much about it except its supposed to give better quality with a smaller file size. The main thing about mpeg4 would be compatibility with your player. I never used EditStudio 4 so I don't know anything about the program. The programs I mentioned will join mpegs with the same specs. if specs are different you can add them to TMPGEnc DVD Author as different tracks. They all have trial versions if you want to try them and see if they do what you want.