Will picture quality improve by using higher encoding resolution ?

[vcd_user]

I have successfully converted some rm/rmvb clips to mpeg using SUPER and used TMPGEncDVD to put on DVD.
For those who are interested: these are the parameters I used on SUPER
mpegII output container
output video mpeg II
output audio AC3
Video : resolution: 352X240, Aspect 4:3 Bitrate 1152, 29.97 fps
Audio : Freq 48000 channel 2 Bitrate 224

AVICodec shows my rmvb file
Video : 192 MB, 610 Kbps, 25.0 fps, 480*360 (4:3), RV40 = RealVideo 9,

my 2 questions are:
Q1. My input video has a resolution of 480X360. But SUPER setting is only 352X240, I think I am losing Video quality. Am I right ?

TMPGEncDVD supports 352x240 , 352x480, 704x480 , 720x480
SUPER only has 352x240 , 704x480 , 720x480 that I can select. So I pick 352X240.
Q2. If I want to keep as much picture quality as I can, should I pick 702 or 720 ? But my input is only 480X360 will the higher resolution actually makes the picture better and will it take much longer to encode if I pick resolution higher than needed ?
I always heard the phrase "garbage in garbage out" Will picking a higher resolution makes "garbage in magic out" ?

[thecoalman]

Will picking a higher resolution makes "garbage in magic out" ?

No it will make it "garbge in,complete and utter useles trash out". Scaling video up produces some very undesirable results. Give it try....

One thing I would suggest is increasing the bitrate to around 2000-2500. That should give you better results.

[vcd_user]

Thanks thecoalman,
But my input only has a bitrate of 610 kbps. Please excuse my ignorance, why using a 2000+ bitrate helps to improve the quality. I probably do not have a good understanding of the relationship between bitrate and picture quality. Will using the high bitrate increase the time for encoding. It already took SUPER close to an hour to encode a 45 minute clip on my machine. A 1.5G Hz centrino notebook with 1G of ram.

[thecoalman]

Bitrate selection depends on the codec and resolution your are encoding too. MPEG2 at that resolution should be appoximately 1000-2000. Go below 1000 and the quality will start to suffer, go above 2000 and you're just wasting disc space. 2500 hundred is probably overkill but you can test it.

See the heading MPEG bit rate at the bottom for guides: http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/capture/intro.htm