I'm in the legal industry and need to use MPEG-1 files for videos I shoot and capture (it's my only option). Using iMovie, I need to know the absolute quickest way (1-step, more or less) to go from there into MPEG-1, with a Data Rate of 500 kbits/s, 352 x 240 image size.

What I've done so far is capture in DV (which is larger than I need, but iMovie's only option) and drag the DV file to the desktop, then use ffmpegX to take me from there to MPEG-1.

I start with selecting VCD in the To menu, then click the Video tab. I've used the MPEG1 [.MPG] (ffmpeg) Video Codec, changed the Video Bitrate to 500 (it goes red), and change my autosize to VCD (I don't know if that's the exact ratio I need, but close). Is the other MPEG1 (mpeg2enc) Video Codec better? Primarily, these videos need to be used in QT, Windows Media, and legal programs for PC's.

Part of the problem I keep running into is that the audio sync keeps getting off. The audio lags behind the video by just a few frames, but it's noticable. Does the audio Data Rate or Sample Rate have anything to do with this, or is it just because I'm trying to compress too low at 500 kbits/s for the video?

Also, when I play these in QT, everything looks great until I try to skip ahead, which freezes the frame, but the ticker keeps counting. It plays fine in Windows Media, thoughjavascript:emoticon ('').

I have a brand new iMac 2 GHz Intel Core Duo, 1.5 GB memory, QT Pro 7.1.2. I also have Toast 7 Titanium, if that's useful. I have to keep the bit rate for the video at 500, unfortunately. Can anybody shed light on what might be at issue?