Best format to convert sub-optimal source for DVD authoring?

[Thorn]

I'm converting some material from vcd/avi sources that is usually in the 3xx by 240 resolution range and of moderate quality into DVD compliant material for authoring. I'm still new to DVD authoring, but normally I try to use 2-pass vbr at near-max bitrate D1 (for DV and espeically sub-standard source files). For a few discs, however, I'm trying to fit more content on one disc so I want to plan this out before I re-encode everything.

My question is, since I want to fit 225 mintues of animation onto one disc, and my source is starting at a low resolution, am I better off using vcd or cvd(don't know about compatibility for that one) resolution, or going with full D1 mpeg2? I don't know which is best at low bitrates (about 2200kbps after ac3 sound). Essentially, D1 Mpeg2 should always be at least slightly better than VCD mpeg1 if the bitrate is sufficiently higher, but I don't know what that threshold would be.

Am I crazy to go with 2200kpbs? I could go with 2 discs, but it seems to me that there is a limit to how much filtering can do to increase the quality of the picture so ultra-high bitrates are overkill.

Thanks for any insight on this.

[SatStorm]

For VHS source, CVD or 1 2d1 DVD is more than you need, but it remains the best compatible alternative. Don't expect top quality with 2200kb/s or so... I believe that for VHS/SVHS, you need at least 2.450kb/s! Analogue sources are not as good as digital ones, so more bitrate requaired!.

Going -X- using something like sefy's SxVCD (which is a SVCD with VCD resolution/bitrate) is a very good alternative and it can be used with DVD-Rs, by fooling the authoring progs. It is playable on most DVD-R compatible standalones, but is -X- . That is acceptable from some users but is unacceptable from the market. There are compatibility problems and also needs advance skills! So, if you are a newbie or you don't like spending 6 - 8 months testing, go the "right" way from the beggin and focus on VCD, CVD or 1/2D1 DVD.

[davidross]

Can I ask a newbie question please ?

What is 1/2D1 DVD ?

I cant find any information on it and as I am stuggling with a similar issue as Thorn, I could do with understanding !

Cheers.

[SatStorm]

http://www.vcdhelp.com/forum/userguides/94382.php