Best output quality - Pre- or Post-compression?

[Gargoyle]

I have several TV episodes in .AVI format – captured from satellite tv @ 720x480, HuffYUV compression; the goal is to burn them to DVD with 3 episodes (approx. 120 minute total) on each disc.
Does anyone have an opinion on which method will give me the best results:

Encode each episode as MPEG2 at maximum DVD bitrate, import 3 episodes into DVD authoring program, then compress (DVDShrink, DVD-Rebuilder, etc) the output to fit on 1 disc.

OR

Calculate the bitrate so 3 episodes will fit on 1 disc, then encode each using that bitrate, author, and burn.

Basically, I guess I’m asking if the quality of final output will be better if I encode at a bitrate that will fit 3 episodes on 1 disc, or if I should encode each episode at the maximum bitrate spec for DVD, then compress the output to fit on 1 disc.

Any thoughts – suggestions – opinions?

[lordsmurf]

Do it correctly the first time.

[bugster]

Do it correctly the first time.

Exactly, use a bitrate calculator.

[trickyman]

ditto. bitrate calculator.

[monzie]

As above, your only wasting time re-encoding (or "transcoding") the video back to where you would be if you used a birate calculator in the first place....the end result is IT STILL HAS TO BE OF A SIZE TO FIT ON A DVD.

[jimmalenko]

I agree with all 4 above. Do it right, first time. 120 minutes is an average of about 4800 kbps for video given 224kbps audio, so I would look at either 720 * 480 2-Pass VBR max 9000, ave 4800, min 1000 or 352 * 480 CBR 4800.