Project: Backing up Shows off my TiVo (DivX, VDub, SVCD)

[Bullrose]

So with no knowledge of what I am doing, I've started a project to back up some shows off my TiVo.

I've got a ATI AIW Radeon and I'm feeding it with video via S-Video and audio via RCA jacks. I've troubleshooted all my hardware problems and everything now seems to be working.

I would like to back up 1 or 2 hour shows to CD's with good enough quality that I can watch it back in 640x480 (or better ) quality. The originals off the TiVo are not DvD quality in the first place (my cable service is not that good) so I am confident this is doable.

I'm using VirtualDub to capture (with the Huffythinger codec) the segments between commercials and am then encoding the AVI's with Divx and MP3.

So, my questions:

I barely understand what I am doing with the Divx settings when I compress. Any suggestions for a good Divx settings for solid quality with good compression?

What this 1st pass and 2nd pass option in the codec?

I understand I could make SVCD's or some like CD format that would be in the viewing range that I'd like to shoot for... but when I capture using the presets (either with the ATI MMC or VDub) for those formats the aspect ratio is way off. Is there a guide somewhere that can explain to me in small words and lots of detail how that all works and how set things up? I've read the capture guides here, but none of them mention how the aspect ratio gets tweaked.

Bit Rate... So for I just get a blank look when I read about bit rate and the need to calculate it for some arcane purpose. Is it important? When do I need to bother with it?

More questions later, I'm sure...

Thanks for the help, this site has been a great resource so far.

[Dartec]

Ati file player does not play vcd or svcd resolutions correctly. Get a Mpeg2 player from here http://www.elecard.com. This plays them correctly.
I also have the ATI AIW card if you create a custom capture setting for mpeg2 set resolution at 352x480and the last menu with variable bitrate about 2300 and set the motion to 100. These settings should give you good results. You can burn these to cds with vcdeasy or nero as svcd's. In nero just turn off compliance and burn. Then if your dvd player plays svcd's you can watch them on your tv.