burn all 8 hours on to a dvd

[jimmytheexploder]

this is my problem
i recorded several public speaking events
these events go well over 8 hours on vhs
i started out trying to burn all 8 hours on to a dvd
useing The Panasonic DMRES30V
http://www.panasonic.co.uk/dvd-recorders/dmres30v/index.htm dvd to vhs/vhs to dvd burner
but it didnt all fit onto one dvd
so i ripped them off of the 2 dvds i burned and encoded them as mpeg2
i want to be able to fit all 8 1/2 hours or so on to one dvd
if this is possible i want to use a program similar to DVD-LAB to make
professional quality menus
i dont know whether to encode my mpeg2 to mpeg4 or is there another way
please help!!!

[jtoolman2000]

What? You are really kidding right? In short,,, it will look like total crap!!!

Maybe 2 hours per disc for top quality or maybe 4 hours for mediocre quality but trying to fit 8+ hours is totally unrealistically. Considering that you transfered from Cam to VHS and now want to do VHS to DVD. The old second generation problem crops up. You should have gone from CAM directly to the DVD in your recorder. I hope I interpreted your post correctly.

[Richard_G]

The only way you are going to get anything that is remotely watchable (although 8 hours of somebody speaking isn't my idea of rivetting viewing!) is going to be to cut the resolution down to 1/4 D1. If you are in Europe (which I suspect you are as you are linking to the UK Panasonic site), that means mpeg2 at 352 x 288 and a bitrate of something like 1400 kbs. Use AC3 or mp3 audio (which is compliant on a PAL DVD) with a bitrate of 128 kbs. You'll probably need to play around with a bitrate calculator to find the exact rate you need.

I reckon on a max of 2 hours per DVD in full resolution (720 x 576) and 4 hours in 1/2 D1 (352 x 576). Dropping it to 1/4 D1 may just about do it. It will be up to you whether the quality is acceptable though. See What Is DVD at the top left for compliant resolutions.

[jimmalenko]

Need serious help!!!

Hmmmmm ..... so THAT'S why you're at videohelp.com, huh ?


I thought you were ordering a pizza





But seriously, if we're talking about just a lot of talking head shots, then you're probably gonna get a decent bang for the buck with your bitrate distribution, and throw in dual layer discs, and I reckon you could nearly get 8 hours on at reasonable quality.