MPEG1 vs MPEG2

[Bull]

I have a bunch of home video recorded on 8mm tapes, which I want to encode on my computer. I have a capture card that lets me record to either mpeg1 or mpeg2 (mpeg2 bit rates as high as 12Mbs or as low as 2Mbs).

I am wondering if it makes any sense to encode this footage in mpeg2? I've got a lot of film, so I don't want to waste disk space. On the other hand, I want the best quality recordings I can get.

Does an analog recording have enough detail to justify recording it at the high bit rate MPEG2 settings?

I have done some test recordings at differnt bit rates, and I really don't see much of a difference, but I am bad at noticing these sort of things.

[Lunch of Kong]

I have a bunch of home video recorded on 8mm tapes
I am wondering if it makes any sense to encode this footage in mpeg2?

Nope!

Does an analog recording have enough detail to justify recording it at the high bit rate MPEG2 settings?

Yes, but only if you're looking at Betamax, S-VHS, or Laserdisc signals, not 6-hour VHS or 8mm analog recordings.

[Bull]

Thanks Roger. This is going to save a bunch of disk space! And now I can do it with confidence that I'm not losing anything.

[Case]

I have a bunch of home video recorded on 8mm tapes, which I want to encode on my computer. I have a capture card that lets me record to either mpeg1 or mpeg2 (mpeg2 bit rates as high as 12Mbs or as low as 2Mbs).

I am wondering if it makes any sense to encode this footage in mpeg2? I've got a lot of film, so I don't want to waste disk space. On the other hand, I want the best quality recordings I can get.

Does an analog recording have enough detail to justify recording it at the high bit rate MPEG2 settings?

I have done some test recordings at differnt bit rates, and I really don't see much of a difference, but I am bad at noticing these sort of things.

Roger is mostly correct as far as image quality goes. However, if you plan to burn to DVD at some point. You can burn to VCD using MPEG1, but burning to DVD media that will be readable on consumer DVD players requires MPEG-2.

Note that some Hi-8 camcorders could record up to 525 lines, so you may get slightly better results with moderate bit rate MPEG2 recordings. But it's your call.

[Bull]

if you plan to burn to DVD at some point. You can burn to VCD using MPEG1, but burning to DVD media that will be readable on consumer DVD players requires MPEG-2.

Wow, that's something to consider. It looks like I need to check out more about creating DVDs. Maybe I can just make low bit rate MPEG2 recordings, so I will still be okay for burning to DVD in the future.

[Lunch of Kong]

Maybe I can just make low bit rate MPEG2 recordings, so I will still be okay for burning to DVD in the future.

When the time comes, you can convert your mpeg1 to mpeg-2 for the purposes of making that one DVD. There's lots of info at www.dvdrhelp.com. It's a pain to navigate, though.

[Bull]

Thanks for the link, Roger!