resolution and bit rate setting

[bennetts]

I am capturing old VHS tapes playing them in my VCR coming out using RCA cables to my SONY Digital8 camera and then on to my computer using 1394 Cable. In the past I have burned my DVDs at 8000 bit rate and used the DVD resolution of 8000 for my 8mm tapes. They look great. I have read that VHS only records at around 250 lines of resolution so therefore the setting of 720 X 480 is an overkill and is only using up disk space. After I capture my VHS video I look at the video properties and notice that it says "720 X 480". I know that the original source is not that much. Is it reading that because I am using my digital camera to send it to my computer? And if I convert it to Mpeg2 at 352 X 480 am I causing the video to lose some resolution if the computer thinks that the video file is larger than that?
If I do keep it at 352 X 480 what should I set the bit rate at and maintain a good VHS video without noticing any loss in quality? I would like to know the settings in order to get almost 2 hours on one DVD. The last one I did I was able to get 1 hour and 40 minutes on one DVD using a setting of 352 X 480 with a bit rate of 6000 and using Dolby Digital Audio. Is the bit rate too much for that resolution?

Thanks for your input here.

[bugster]

After I capture my VHS video I look at the video properties and notice that it says "720 X 480". I know that the original source is not that much. Is it reading that because I am using my digital camera to send it to my computer?

Yes. DV is 720 * 480 (NTSC) interlaced, bottom field 1st.

And if I convert it to Mpeg2 at 352 X 480 am I causing the video to lose some resolution if the computer thinks that the video file is larger than that?

Well, yes, your capture was 720 * 480, but the source doesn't really carry enough info to justify this so reducing to 352 * 480 would only make a small difference to the overall sharpness. Try it and see what you think.

If I do keep it at 352 X 480 what should I set the bit rate at and maintain a good VHS video without noticing any loss in quality? I would like to know the settings in order to get almost 2 hours on one DVD. The last one I did I was able to get 1 hour and 40 minutes on one DVD using a setting of 352 X 480 with a bit rate of 6000 and using Dolby Digital Audio. Is the bit rate too much for that resolution?

The bitrate required depends to a large extent on the type of material as well as other factors such as noise in source etc. 1/2 D1 res (352*480) can look pretty good down at 2000kbits with a clean source and little motion. To get 2 hours on a DVD with compresses audio you bneed to use a bitrate of about 4500 to 4750 kbits/s. At 1/2 D1 res this should be more than enough for all but the noisiest source and loads of flashing lights/movement.