Does lowering the maximum bitrate, gain more space?

[Wile_E]

Say I do a 2-pass encode with the settings (2000,6000,9800) and (2000,6000,7000). Since the maximum is lower on the second example, will I be left with more space on the disc? Or does it only depend on the average bitrate? Several calculators I've tried always lower the maximum bitrate, when increasing running time, so I assume this creates more space?

[aedipuss]

since you are telling the encoder to try to average 6000 on both, the end result should be about the same size. the closer you bring the minimum and maximum to average the closer to a CBR encode you get.

[guns1inger]

No. The size is based around the average bitrate. Lowering the maximum only risks reducing overall quality as you are limiting the encoders ability to better allocate data.