I have a VOB I want to convert to DivX. I want as close to the original video as humanly possible and I don't care about file size (As long as its under 6 to 8 gigs). I'm using Dr. DivX.

What are the settings I'm looking for to tweak? If I crank it to Insane quality, it sets the bitrate at 1300 I think... If I crank that to 4000 (the maximum) is that overkill, or am I accomplishing exactly what I'm looking for (as close to original quality as possible)?

I realize this may not be a precise science, but if someone has some insights into this I'd be most grateful...

If you're willing to accept such a big size,
why not just keep the VOB and save time and quality loss ?

It won't stream with subtitles to a PS3.

I'm keeping the VOB's too, but I need a streamable copy of everything too. Size isn't an issue for me. I have a rather large, multi-terabyte array that will hold everything just fine and then some.

But is it overkill? Or am I achieving exactly what I'm trying to do?

Code up a few minutes and see what it looks like.

I encoded a VOB music video just to see how it worked out,
I set xvid quant=1, single pass and got a 240MB xvid.
(original VOB,4 1/2 miniutes 172MB)

Bit rate of this xvid - ~7200.
Encoded it again with quant=2, 98 MB file, bitrate ~2900.

I couldn't see any difference in the quality. Both looked *very* close
to the VOB.

ANY Movie converted to 1400MB Size will retain Excellent Quality, also SupRip will extract your Subtitles, and save them as .srt. Which U give it the same name as the Movie EXAMPLE (MOVIE.avi, MOVIE.srt) Copy both to a Disc and U have a movie that U can turn on or off Subtitles