I changed my workflow from recording directly to a DVD standalone recorder (using a standalone black box editor) to rendering an MPEG-2 for DVD Architect authoring, directly from the Vegas timeline. My first attempt was on a 1:55 Vegas timeline, which when rendered (according to the VASST training DVD guidlines) to an MPEG-2 to import into DVD Architect was over 5GB, too big for a standard DVD!! DVD Architect had to re-render the MPEG-2 so that it would fit on a standard 4.7GB DVD. I do not know how much loss actually occurred, for this footage was old 8mm film that was converted to mini-DV. So, how do I know how long my program can be for it to be decently rendered only one time (from AVI to MPEG-2)? Do I use CBR or VBR (one or two-pass for the latter)? How high/low should the bitrates be set? Again, I used the guidlines from the VASST training DVD, but they did not mention length of programs, just custom template settings.