Do you need a DVD decoder for all videos or not?

[Harry]

Is there any format that you can capture video in and then burn it straight to a DVD without having to run it through a DVD decoder?

My ATI All In Wonder 128 card with the accompanying Multimedia Center software lets me capture videos at different levels of mpeg-1 and mpeg-2. If I save a video in any of these mpeg levels can I just copy them straight to DVD so that a standalone DVD player will play them or do I need to use a decoder on them first to put them in the DVD format?

These are some of the formats I can capture my videos in.

1. Low Resolution mpeg-1, 176 x 144, 800K/bit/sec, 22,050 khz 16 bit
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2. Best quality mpeg-1, 352 x 240, 8 m bits/sec, 22,050 khz 16 bit
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3. Good Quality mpeg-2, 640 x 240, 6 m bit/sec, 22,050 khz 16 bit
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4. Longest Time mpeg-2, 640 x 240, 2 mbit/sec, 22,050 khz 16 bit
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5. Video CD mpeg-1, 352 x 240, 1.05 mbits/second, 22,050 khz 16 bit

[reboot]

None of those formats is dvd standard.
For best quality, capture mpeg-2 640x240, 6mbit/sec 22,050 khz 16 bit.
Then you'll have to re-encode it to 720x480, 48khz for DVD, and then author it before burning.
I'm not sure what you mean by "dvd decoder".
You will need some software, most of which, is free/demo/trial ware.
I suggest you start with the guides at www.videohelp.com

[Harry]

Thanks, this sure seems a lot more involved than making music CDs.

[reboot]

That's an understatement!