Help on resolution

[cdcox]

I use DVD complete to author DVD's. My question is this, it states that the mpeg2 for ntsc must be 720x480 or 352x240 @ 30fps. I have a 1hr and 45 min video that I will encode with tmpeg and author. With a bitrate calculator to get the mpeg to 4gig, it says use a bitrate of around 5200 with audio set at 192. Would I notice a difference of improved quality if I set tmpeg to encode this to 352x240 with a 8000 bitrate. Seems it may look like the picture is being stretched to fit proper or will I not notice much difference and I'm just wasting time. I tried to do a search but maybe I didn't use the proper terms. Any comments are welcomed.
Thanks

[rcb]

What was the source and what is the captured avi file resolution size ?

[jg0001]

Note that if you use the lower resolution, it often won't show up in Windows Media Player properly sized. I just created a 2hr video using 1/2 DVD quality and set my bit-rate to 4000. It plays back just fine (proper aspect ratio) in PowerDVD but Windows Media stretches it. Try your final product on a DVD player before wondering about any problems.

[cdcox]

rcb asked

What was the source and what is the captured avi file resolution size ?

The video was captured to pc from DV at 720x480 full res .avi and exported as 720X480 full res .avi

jg0001:
As far as it not playing proper in media player, that doesn't matter to me, It will be played mostly on a set top player.

[rcb]

I would stick with 720 x 480 and process to dvd compliant mpeg usiing TMPGEnc Plus vbr 2 pass setting with mp2 audio.