AVCHD to MPEG Converter

How to Convert AVCHD to MPEG Online

1. Upload Your AVCHD File: Drag and drop your .mts or .m2ts camcorder recording, or click "Add Files" to browse. Batch is supported — drop the whole STREAM folder from your Sony or Panasonic camcorder if you copied it intact.
2. Pick Quality Preset or Bitrate: Default is "Very High (Recommended)". Switch to Constant Bitrate (default 4 Mbps) for predictable DVD-friendly output, Variable Bitrate (target 4, min 2, max 8 Mbps) for better quality at the same average size, or Specific file size if you need a clip to fit a fixed disc budget. DVD-Video tops out at 9.8 Mbit/s for video, so staying under that keeps the file player-compatible.
3. Set Resolution and Trim (Optional): Under Video resolution, keep original to preserve 1080i/1080p, pick a preset (e.g. 720x480 for NTSC DVD authoring, 720x576 for PAL), scale by Resolution Percentage, or enter custom Width x Height. Use Trim → Time Range to cut a clip rather than re-encoding the entire camcorder file.
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert", then download each MPEG (or grab them as a ZIP). Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically after a few hours — no sign-up, no watermark, never shared.

Why Convert AVCHD to MPEG?

AVCHD was introduced by Sony and Panasonic in 2006 as the consumer HD camcorder format, packaging H.264 video and Dolby AC-3 audio inside an MPEG-2 transport stream with .mts (camcorder) or .m2ts (after import) extensions. It records up to 24 Mbit/s on AVCHD 1.0 and up to 28 Mbit/s on AVCHD 2.0. The trouble starts when you try to use the file outside the camera's native workflow.

Re-encoding AVCHD to MPEG (an MPEG-2 program stream with .mpg / .mpeg extension, standardized as ISO/IEC 13818 in 1996) trades H.264 efficiency for near-universal playback and authoring compatibility. Common reasons people make the trip:

• DVD authoring — DVD-Video is built on MPEG-2 Part 2 capped at 9.8 Mbit/s, with NTSC at 720x480 and PAL at 720x576. Almost every DVD authoring app expects an MPEG program stream as input, not raw .mts.
• Legacy media players and set-top boxes — older Blu-ray players, DVD recorders, and DLNA appliances often choke on AVCHD's transport-stream wrapper but happily play .mpg.
• Broadcast and editing handoff — terrestrial digital TV, cable, and satellite pipelines still standardize on MPEG-2, so MPEG is the format station traffic and certain NLE round-trips expect.
• Stable seeking and frame-accurate edits — MPEG-2 program streams are designed for random-access storage and tend to scrub more reliably in older editors than long-GOP H.264 from a camcorder.
• Archive on optical media — burning footage to DVD-R as compliant MPEG-2 gives you a playable disc you can hand to a relative without explaining codecs.
• Hardware decoders — many in-car head units, older smart TVs, and embedded devices ship with MPEG-2 silicon decoders but no H.264 high-profile support.

AVCHD vs MPEG (MPEG-2) — Format Comparison

Bitrate and Resolution Guide

If you need smaller files or modern device playback, convert AVCHD to MP4 instead — H.264 in MP4 is roughly half the size of MPEG-2 at the same visible quality. To compress without changing format, see Compress AVCHD or the general-purpose Video Compressor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my MPEG file 2-3x larger than the original AVCHD?

That is expected. AVCHD uses H.264, a codec that is roughly twice as efficient as MPEG-2 at the same perceptual quality. Re-encoding to MPEG-2 inherently inflates the file. To keep size in check, lower the bitrate (4-6 Mbit/s is fine for SD output) or pick MP4 instead of MPEG.

Should I pick MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 as the video codec?

MPEG-2 in nearly every case. MPEG-1 caps at SIF resolution (about 352x240 / 352x288) and is intended for VideoCD-class output — modern DVD players, broadcast chains, and editors all expect MPEG-2. Only choose MPEG-1 if you specifically need a .mpg for a very old appliance.

Will this output burn directly to a DVD-Video disc?

It will be MPEG-2 with the right codec, but DVD-Video has stricter rules: NTSC must be 720x480 at 29.97 fps or PAL 720x576 at 25 fps, video peak no higher than 9.8 Mbit/s, and audio in AC-3, MP2, PCM, or DTS. Set the resolution and bitrate accordingly here, then run the resulting .mpg through a DVD authoring app (DVD Flick, DVDStyler, or your editor's built-in burner) to add menus and a compliant VOB structure.

What about AVCHD's 5.1 surround audio?

AVCHD records Dolby AC-3 in stereo or 5.1. The MPEG output here defaults to MP2 stereo, which is the safer choice for legacy MPEG-2 players. If you need to keep 5.1 surround intact for home theater playback, MP4 with AC-3 passthrough is usually a better target than MPEG.

What is the difference between .mts and .m2ts?

Both are MPEG-2 transport streams carrying H.264 + AC-3. Camcorders write .mts directly to the SD card or internal disc; .m2ts is the same payload after the AVCHD folder structure is imported into a Blu-ray-style container on a computer. xconvert accepts both — drop either and the conversion path is identical.

Can I keep 1080p/1080i quality in the MPEG output?

Yes. Leave Video resolution on "Keep original" and bump the bitrate to 12-20 Mbit/s VBR. The result will be a 1080-line MPEG-2 file (sometimes called HD MPEG-2 or for-the-archive MPEG-2). It will not be DVD-Video compliant — DVDs are SD-only — but it will play in VLC, mpv, and any current desktop player.

Does my AVCHD folder structure (PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM) matter?

Only as a way to find the actual video files. Drop just the .mts or .m2ts files from inside BDMV/STREAM/. The surrounding folders, .cpi clip-info files, and .mpl playlist files are not needed for conversion to MPEG and will be ignored if you upload them.

What is the largest AVCHD file I can convert here?

There is no fixed cap published — large 1080p camcorder clips (multiple GB) work, but the practical limit depends on your upload size and connection speed and how long you are willing to wait. For long recordings, trim with Video Cutter first or split the original into segments before converting.

Why output MPEG instead of MKV or MOV?

Pick MPEG when the destination expects MPEG-2 — DVD authoring apps, broadcast handoff, hardware decoders without H.264 support, and very old set-top boxes. Pick MKV for archival lossless re-wrapping at original quality and pick MOV for handoff to Final Cut Pro or QuickTime-native workflows. MP4 is the right answer for almost everything modern.