Is it necessary to re-encode up for DVD?

[Des]

I am trying to convert some VHS and 8mm tapes to DVD. I am capturing MPEG2 at 352x480 at up to 4800 VBR.
Is it necessary to re-encode this up to 704x480 before creating the disk?
I am using Ulead Movie Factory 2 for menus and to create the VOB files, but it seems it wants to convert up to 704x480 with a VBR up to 8000. This takes a LOOONG time...

Also, if this is not necessary how to I get MF2 to NOT re-encode?

[andkiich]

The resolution the file is in now is called Half D1 and is a legal DVD resolution. Any good authoring software will allow this. Besides, if you encode up, the video will probably look like crap, as you'd be stretching the pixels.

As far as the software goes, I don't use that so someone else will ahve to help you with that.

[johns0]

Mf2 will accept 352x480 mpg2 files.If i remember you have to check not to re-encode compliant files in options.

[Des]

Found the problem

I had to capture this using ATi MMC 8.1 and when I check the 'crop video' option for setting up the record paramiters it sets the file to 336x462 (or there abouts) instead of the 352x480 I set it to. So no matter which template I set up in MF2 it was re-encoding to 352x480.
Aside from the additional time involved for it to re-encode the file it also created a video with lousy results that was grainy and had wavey lines during any fast motion (almost like water ripples). I re-encoded the file I captured using Main Concept encoder which still looked real good then set up the result with MF2. End result is excellent.

Now I have to see which other ATi MMC version will work with my system. I had to been using MMC 8.8 but had to reformat my HD, so I installed MMC 8.9 which wouldn't run. I had the CD with 8.1 so...

Cheers!

[muskgrave]

hmm..so if I capture vhs stuff at this half resolution I will get a better looking end product? I captured my wedding video at full dvd resolution and de-interlaced it...
dlv