Mpeg-4 encoding

[ragdoll]

Does anyone know if I can put a mpeg-4 format on a DVD+R and play it in a DVD player. I have a DVD burner that works very well. I have been backing up DVDs using Smartripper, then encoding as MPEG-1 using Divx and then burning to DVD+R with VCDEASY. The quality is very poor. The picture is choppy and the sound level comes and goes. I want to burn with a better quality much like an original DVD. Does the software exist for this or am I wishing for too much?
Thanks for your help!
Carole