newbie question: difference between capture and encoding

[hhendrix]

i have captured all my video in mpeg1 using dazzle. i have some newbie questions:

1. if the video is captured in mpeg 1 or vcd format already, why do i need to encode (TMPEngc) what does that do for me?

2. when using TMPEngc to encode MPEG1 files to VCD, i notice the file sizes shrink considerably, does the quality degrade as well? will capturing in MPEG 2 or MPEG 1 at a higher bit rate help improve overall quality?

3. should i keep the orig MPEG1 file? is it possible to take an MPEG1 file and re-encode to MPEG2?

[Videopimp]

why dont you try capturing AVI
then encoding for much better quality than what you are getting now

[hhendrix]

avi files too big want to conserve disk space

[PigOnWing]

1. You don't. Capturing to VCD format captures you, er, to VCD format.
   YOu might have to re-multiplex the file using TMPGEnc - but that won't re-encode anything. It may be needed to correct audio sync problems (?) or have the file a more 'proper' vcd stream (??) but it won't re-encode.
   Check out http://www.vcdhelp.com/ATI_AIW_Guide.htm, at the bottom, for some more information regarding this. Yes, I know you said you're using Dazzle. Check just regarding unformation of de- and re-multiplexing the captured stream. It might apply, it might not, but it may give you some more answers (or questions).
   
2. I'm not too sure about the size difference, but yes, encoding MPEG1 files to VCD [=to MPEG1] is re-encoding, and yes, you'll lose quality.
   
3. If you're capturing to a VCD-compliant MPEG1 file, you can keep it, and use it. No need to create another one. As to re-encoding it to MPEG2 - no one will stop you, but you won't gain any quality. Again, it's re-encoding. Re-encoding loses quality. And once you have it in MPEG1 format, you have less information than what MPEG2 can give you - so why bother?
   
   -- Piggie