avi to mpeg4 format then burn

[brucefl]

hi,
Kind a two part question. I had(have) 2019 and had recording from vhs through the Canopus 100 into VS so I had to use a little program that was suggest and records to avi which is a bigger file.
Because of this the project time is also longer? Though it is in several files at the moment would it be best to convert them to mpeg4 before importing them into VS2020 (which I am using now)
In order for me to burn a DVD, I have to chance the settings down to about 4000bps, my understanding where it is VHS it possibly does not make a difference in rendering.
If I converted them to mpeg4 I could up the bps, probably to twice that. Though it might not make much of a difference in the quality output? It could save space?

I have not tried using the Canopus 100 in 2020, but I am assuming the same problem will happen, I still think it has something to do with the GT640 that I can not upgrade the drivers for quite a while.
This is because of some quirk in the particular board I have. It is almost as inexpensive to buy a new computer as it is to upgrade to a newer Nvidia card, or I could get a some sort of new VHS to USB3
that is if it is not the IEEE card itself. Oh the fun lol
thanks for any assistance
Bruce

[canuck]

Why should the project time be longer? A 60 minute avi video and a 60 minute mpg video will have the same project time. The format has nothing to do with it. Video files in the avi format are generally larger than mpg format since mpg is much more compressed then avi; avi also gives better quality.

Converting to mpeg4 is pointless since it has to be converted to mpg if you want to create a DVD. With each conversion you lose quality.

[lata]

To add to canucks comments
A DVD has to use Mpeg2 files to burn a DVD
If your canapus captures the footage to AVI, DV-AVI, that will be approx. 13Gb per hour
As canuck says this is the better option to retain quality
Edit the project in DV-AVI, then render to Mpeg2

As a guide
A dvd holds 4.3 Gb of data
A Mpeg2 data rate of 8000kbps will allow between 60 / 75 minutes per disc, full quality
At 6000kbps will allow 90 minutes, good quality
And 4000 120 minutes at VHS quality, the lowest quality
Aim for the highest data rate to retain the best quality

[brucefl]

One reason I was thinking of converting first. Where the avi file is larger, I am assuming the same amount of files with mpeg4 would allow more in the timeline
even though at the end process it is converted and could convert at a higher rate the 4000 that I would have to use now to compress it on one disc (even though it is from VHS)

Possibly I am thinking the wrong way, instead of thinking avi, mpeg4. One section of the file avi is 650 meg say whereas the mpg4 is 400. I am thinking that 400 fits in the time line better since there
are several files from the windiv program?

Thanks Bruce