Bitrate question with VS 10

[VinnyC]

I have several commercial movies on VHS that I am converting to DVD. They run on average 80-90 minutes each. The tapes were digitally mastered and look as close to DVD quality as you can get. What would be the best bitrate to use for these VHS movies with very good quality? Also, should I use constant or variable? There isn't a lot of fast movement in the films.

Thanks!!

[Black Lab]

Typically, 8000 kbps gives you 1 hour, 6000 kbps for 90 minutes, and 4000 kbps for 2 hours.

[DVDDoug]

Here is a bitrate calculator.

Variable bitrate is generally better. It will use a higher bitrate when there is a lot of detail or motion and a lower bitrate when it can get away with it. (It tries to take the best advantage of the limited disc space.)

The exception would be where you have a short program and you can use a constant high-bitrate (6000-7000kbps) without running out of space.

[Ken Berry]

Even more to the point, though digitally mastered, about the best that a VHS video can achieve in digital terms is around 6000 kbps. (Some would say even less...) Given that your VHS tapes are 80 - 90 minutes long, and given that 6000 kbps will allow you to burn 90 minutes of video to a single layer DVD, that would appear to point clearly towards what bitrate you need to use all round...

[VinnyC]

Thank you for the responses.