Create a VCD from VHS and related questions

[manub]

Hi folks. I've got some bootleg video tapes that I want to convert in Video CD format, for playing on my DVD-ROM drive (and see them with my TV due to TV-OUT) and for giving them to friends. I've got some questions ...

1 - With my acquisition board (ATI AIW 8500DV) I can capture directly into Video CD format (for PAL) without frame lossing. Is this the best capture method, or it's better to use other methods ? I haven't so much free space (about 10GB) so I can't capture directly into AVI format ... what about ATI VCR native format and/or MP2 ? I would like to know what's best format to capture to, then I'll encode into MPEG-1 VCD compliant format

2 - What's the best program for cutting scenes from MPEG files ? I liked the way VirtualDub works, but I can't save to MPEG a file edited that way .... and I find some difficulties working with TMPGenc. Is it possible to cut scenes without re-encoding the whole file ?

3 - I'd like to make tracks in my Video CD ... I've an entire MPEG file to burn (after I captured and I cut my movie). How can I set track markers ? (sorry for my English but it isn't technical at all ...) I use Nero 5.5.10

thanks for your patience and answers

[Luis Neves]

Real time encoding will hardly produce a good result.

Also VCD resolution is poor, SVCD allows for much better quality. The problem is that you will need a big hard disk, no way to encode while capturing. A 40 Gb hard disk will solve your problem...

With TMPGEnc its easy to cut mepgs without reencoding (goto file, mpeg tools and select cut/merge).

[lpn1160]

10GB HD? Best you upgrade if you want to do decent quality caps
40GB should be your min, 80 or more best.
with VHS, which is shit to begin with, you should cap with huffy @480x480
encode with tmpg to the highest bitrate your dvd player can handle.
READ the guides, they are xcellent