Encode speed for PAL DV to MPEG2

[kyle hopkins]

Hello,
I'm looking for an alternative way to convert my PAL DV tapes to DVD-Video. Currently I'm using Toast 6 on my 900MHz Power PC G3 ibook with 256MB RAM running OS10.2.8 to import the DV, convert it and burn the disc. The result is fine, however it takes approx 30 hours for a 1 hour tape which is quite frustrating. I'm considering buying a DVD Recorder & doing it that way but I'd rather do it on the computer so I'm researching software encoders (can't find any hardware products that will work with PAL on a G3). I'm wondering if anyone has any experience using ffmpegx on a G3 to convert PAL DV to MPEG2 for making DVD-Videos? Any ideas about how long ffmpegx will take to convert, let's say, 1 minute of PAL DV to good quality MPEG2? Doesn't matter if it's muxed or demuxed or what kind of audio it creates. I've got tools to deal with all the possible final file types and the burning. Just need something to convert my PAL DV into a good quality MPEG2 faster than 30 x real time. Much faster hopefully. Thanks. Take it easy.

[major]

Get a small file to test, drop it on ffmpegX, choose "DVD ffmpeg" click "Encode", and measure the time spent. In case of errors report back.