converting mpeg to mp4 keeping same quality

[maja_ldm]

hi,
I think this is a real newbie question but I haven't found anywhere some precise information about:
I have some .mpeg files. I catch them in this format with a webcam, now I would to convert them in mp4 for their hdd enumbrance. I have to decide h264 or xvid.
I think I'll need:
1) a software to analyze this videos and know wich is their bitrate
2) to know wich is the analogue of the mpeg bitrate in the mp4 formats I think I can try out myself a good for me bitrate but it should exist a standard rate or some software to evaluate for each video how to reach an analogue quality, doesn't it?
could you help me, please?

also giving some useful link would be of great aid, thank you.

[siddharthagandhi]

1) MediaInfo or Gspot Codec Information Appliance- Google Each

2) I would reccomend a bitrate of 2 mbps for great quality, and 1 -1.5 mbps for good quality. Anything lower if its for download and its a big movie or something.

[SeeMoreDigital]

Here are some links to some "information" for you: -

MPEG-4 ASP Information (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=73022)

MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Information (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96059)

MP4 FAQ (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=62723)

[maja_ldm]

to siddarthaghandi and all the people who knows what to say --->
thank you. to convert 320x240 do you reccomend the same bitrate? it is quite this kind of information I'm seeking, videos are different so bitrate can change with the specs of each one to reach the same quality. where can I refer to calculate how much?

[siddharthagandhi]

"to convert 320x240 do you reccomend the same bitrate?"

If its a resolution that small then maybe you can go even lower, to 1 mbps, and that should give you good quality.

The only place you should refer for your bitrates is from your own testing, I'm just giving general guidelines on what i would do if i were you.

You want to put the highest bitrate possible in the amount of space you can allocate. What is the file length (in time) and how much space can you allocate and how much do you want to allocate?