Best Settings for DirecTV

[motogib]

I have searched through most of the posts here on settings and qualty but come away confused. I have only one source and that is svideo from direcTV. I also play the recording through my MVPMedia part of the time. I have one complaint and that is feature detail and skin tones. i am capturing with a pvr-250 and have set
vbr 12000000
720x480
29.97
predicitve 1
bidirectional 1
motion 10%
noise filter off
vbr on at 9000000 base and 12000000 peak

this results in peak rates on high 11mb and average of 8.5 to 8.7 mb recordings

I'set the predictive and bidirectional down becaus ei read they cause more comperssion when higher. i set the motion down becasue several posts said the vbr on the pvr-250 was adequate for this. some said move it down to 1%.

also when capturing from svideo off satellite is 720x480 really best?

are low predictive and bidirectional good or bad fro holding detail in faces?

when using vbr does the video bit rate in the main section even do anything?

sorry toi be stupid here but i just can't seem to sort out the best settings form the posts or experience. any help much appreciated.