Im encoding from VCD and SVCD to mpeg2 dvd format. The most highest bitrate for a VCD is something like 1200 and the higest for a SVCD is 2500 even if its been ripped from an orignal DVD source.

Usually I set the disc size to 98% which results in bitrates of 5000-6000. Is encoding at this rate a simple waste of time? Should I just do VCDs at say 1200 and SVCDs at 2600. Will I lose ANY quality not doing them at 5000-6000?

Cheers.

If you are increasing the res, then of course you also need to increase the bitrate. The fact that you have a heavily compressed source generally makes it worse not better in terms of compressibility.

Think of it as like taking a 640x480 JPG, blowing it up to 1600x1200 saving it as a JPG the same size in MB's as the original and then shrinking back down to 640x480. Do you think it will still look as good as the original?

I understand what you generally mean, I dont understand what you mean by "then shrinking back down to 640x480. " im going from high compressed, to a 4GB file ready for DVD authoring, not back down to VCD.

So should I continue at 5000-6000 or do as ive suggested?

The default dvd bitrate with TMPGEnc Plus is 4000 so I leave it at that when converting vcd/svcd to dvd.

Ok then, try this.

Take the 640x480 JPG, blow it up to 1600x1200, save it as a JPG the same size as the original.

Take the original 640x480JPG and agaub blow it up to 1600x1200 and save it as a JPG 4 times the size as the original and then compare your two 1600x1200 JPG's.

By using the same VCD bitrate for your DVD you are essentially doing the first example.