AVI to MPEG2 for DVD resolution

[Pat Brown]

I have captured VHS video to AVI and now I want to convert to MPEG2 for DVD. In the past I have just set the render at default (720x480) size. I was wondering if using a smaller resolution such as 640x480 or 320x240 would be a better way to go.

So what resolutions are legal for DVD and when would you want to use each one?

[redwudz]

For VHS I use 352 X 480 (NTSC) which is also called 1/2 D1, because it makes better use of the bitrate and is more than enough for a VHS source. There's plenty of information about this in the 'Guides' to the left.

[ZippyP.]

So what resolutions are legal for DVD and when would you want to use each one?

There's three basic resolutions, 1/4, 1/2 and full DVD. Check the blue "What is DVD" section over there <-<-<-.

Match the resolution of the DVD to the source and avoid increasing resolution. For VHS see redwudz comments.

[Pat Brown]

Match the resolution of the DVD to the source and avoid increasing resolution. For VHS see redwudz comments.

So VHS source matches with 1/2 D1. What about the other 2?

Will lower resolution mean smaller file sizes?

[redwudz]

Lower resolution will mean lower quality, smaller file sizes. If you are encoding off your local TV station VCD quality is probably enough.

If you are backing up a quality VHS tape, 1/2 D1 will be okay. If you are using a projection TV and your source is say, a SVHS tape, then full DI (DVD spec.) may be better.

It depends on your source, what you plan to watch them on and how much space on the DVD you want to use. You will have to answer that yourself.

Try some short encodes to a DVD-RW to see what the differences are. For VHS tape though, 1/2 D1 is more than enough. (IMO)