best quality VCD/SVCD encoding package

720 X 576 @ 4000 is the "standard" of many european DVB transmissions. The picture do have blocks and pixels most of the time. The picture is overallfar from perfect. I believe that 4.000kb/s can be "enough" only with multipass CCE encoding of a good source. For quality freaks that is. Personally, I don't mind for some pixels on very extreme scenes. But many users do... Also the 1/2 D1 resolution have great difference with a full CCIR - 601 one, on some situations. For example, for movies like Monsters INC or Star Wars Episode 2, the difference is very noticable. Expecially to plasma TVs, the new fashion in europe (here, we don't expect HDTV for the next 15 - 20 years, so Plasma Screens and Pal Pixel Plus technology are the new trades...) I believe that 1/2 D1 resolution is good for back up VHS/SVHS/LDs and TV programs (DVB non 720 X 576, most of them are 544 X 576 for a strange reason). For DVD backups, keep the full CCIR 601 as is, if possible. And burn 2 discs if neccessary.