i am new to conversion from analog to DVD format and to date have had great success with the Hauppauge PVR USB 2 and the Ulead Movie Factory 3 SE program that comes witht it.

Now that I have successfully done 4 copies of 4 VHS tapes that were 60 minutes each and all playable on the 5 different brands of Standalone players of various prices, from the kids door crasher specials to middle of the road toshiba 3860, plus panasonics of various vintages and a high end Home Theatre unit I now want to tackle a 180 minute concert VHS tape that is not available to purchase in DVD format.

Since Movie Factory converts to MPEG onto the HD in "My Videos" file I am wondering about using a DL since the video is so long.
However I saw some discussion about "breaking" and being a Noob did not understand what that was all about in the process of using DL's and how that will relate to my MPEG process since all of my prior backups have been with DVD Shrink when they are long to back up, however I am confused about the process of Video TS and MPEG and how the latter would work on a DL.
I am not too crazy about using the DL, though I have a BenQ 162I external drive that I have done straight backups on the 4.7 gigs media recommended by BenQ's phone support and that is Maxell, Sony, TDK, Imation R+.
What concerns me is whether or not I can actually do a couple of disks or will the 4.7 disk when I put it in (after I have the VHS on my HD) whether it will say something to the effect of insufficient space on the disc?
If it does not say that does the 180 minute VHS get backed up in a reasonable way? For example 100 minutes on the first disc and 80 minutes on the second disc or does it just randomly fill the first disc with the maximum amount and leave as an example only 1o minutes of backup on the second disc?
If I use a DL Disc instead is there a difference in using this type of disc in the application of Movie Factory 3 SE compared to when I did my copies of my 60 minute VHS tapes which I must say turned out excellent in Quality.
I am really happy with my burner and the Hauppauge and of course I burn always in DVD ROM.

Being a Noob to all of this, I thought I should ask the experienced members for advice.
I have been searching around for some discussion on what the difference is in using a DL or 4.7 gig DVD when converting from analog to digital and can't seem to find anything.
I hope that this is not a silly question.
I simply want to start this one project out on the right footing.

Thankyou and I look forward to replies.

You can change the encoding rate (so you can fit 3hrs onto a disc), or make a large DL dvd and shrink it down to SL using DVD Shrink ....

Alternatively, capture at your current rate and use Cuttermaran or similar tools to break the stream into 2 files of almost equal length -> and make a dvd with just one of these files.

Or while capturing, hit stop and then start capturing again to a new file, and make a dvd with just one file, so you will have 2 dvd's.

Thx for the reply, I wondered if there are any tutorials on analog to digital conversion or any suggested reading material.
i would like to get a better understanding of what the last poster suggested and being a Noob to conversion and encoding, i would like to be able to read something about the subject if it is available.
i look forward to replies, thankyou

There are numerous guides and tutorials at www.videohelp.com