Using a hardware MPEG2 encoder for converting

[SilentBob]

I have been working with AVI video off of my DV video camera and then re-encoding it to DVD.

My question is:

If I buy a hardware MPEG encoder, will I be able to use it to re-encode AVI video to MPEG2, or will it only allow me to directly capture MPEG2 video directly from an input source?

Thanks to anyone who has knowlege on this.

[auenf]

i have a Canopus Amber which can encode to mpeg1/2 from the analogue inputs or a Canopus DV AVI

Enf...