AVCHD to MPEG-2 Converter

AVCHD to MPEG-2 Converter

AVCHD is the consumer HD camcorder format — H.264 video with Dolby AC-3 or LPCM audio, wrapped in an MPEG-2 transport stream and saved as .mts or .m2ts. MPEG-2 is the older DVD-and-broadcast video codec stored in .mpg/.mpeg files. This converter transcodes the efficient H.264 inside your AVCHD clips to MPEG-2, which is what you need when authoring a DVD or feeding a legacy editor or hardware deck that only accepts MPEG-2. Because MPEG-2 is a less-efficient codec than H.264, expect the file to grow and — if you target DVD resolutions — the picture to be downscaled; re-encoding can never add back detail the source didn't have.

AVCHD Format at a Glance

MPEG-2 Format at a Glance

How to Convert AVCHD to MPEG-2

1. Upload Your AVCHD File: Drag and drop your .mts or .m2ts files onto the page or click "Add Files." You can queue several clips and convert them with the same settings.
2. Confirm MPEG-2 and Set Quality Preset: The output is already MPEG-2 (the video stream encodes to the MPEG-2 codec); under File Compression, leave the Quality Preset on "Very High" for the cleanest result or pick a lower preset to shrink the file.
3. Set Resolution and Trim (Optional): Under Video resolution use Preset Resolutions to downscale to 720×480 or 720×576 for a standards-compliant DVD, or keep the original frame size for a legacy HD editor; use Trim to export only a time range.
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and download your .mpg file. Files upload over an encrypted connection, are processed on our servers, and are deleted automatically after a few hours. No sign-up, no watermark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will converting AVCHD to MPEG-2 lose quality?

Yes, some loss is unavoidable. You are decoding H.264 and re-encoding it to MPEG-2, a lossy and less-efficient codec, so even at a high bitrate the result can't exceed the AVCHD original. Keeping the Quality Preset high and the resolution unchanged minimizes the visible difference; downscaling to a DVD resolution adds further loss.

Why is my MPEG-2 file larger than the AVCHD source?

Because MPEG-2 is less efficient than the H.264 inside AVCHD, it needs a higher bitrate to hold similar detail, so the file often grows. That is expected behavior for this codec direction. If a smaller, modern file is your real goal, convert to MP4 instead with AVCHD to MP4, which keeps the H.264 quality at a fraction of the size.

What resolution should I pick for burning a DVD?

DVD-Video requires MPEG-2 at 720×480 at 29.97 fps for NTSC regions or 720×576 at 25 fps for PAL regions. Choose the matching Preset Resolution so your 1080p AVCHD footage is downscaled to a disc-legal frame size before you load it into DVD-authoring software.

Should I convert AVCHD to MPEG-2 or just to MP4?

For DVD authoring or a legacy editor or deck that demands MPEG-2, convert to MPEG-2. For everyday playback on phones, computers, TVs, and the web, convert to MP4 (H.264) instead — it preserves the HD quality and is far more widely supported. MPEG-2 only makes sense when something downstream specifically requires it.

Does the conversion keep my camcorder's AC-3 audio?

Your AVCHD soundtrack is decoded and re-encoded for the MPEG-2 output; the standard audio for MPEG program streams is MPEG audio (MP2), which is what DVD-Video and most MPEG-2 hardware expect. The audio remains in sync, but as with the video it is a re-encode rather than a copy.

How accurate are MPEG-2 file sizes from this converter?

In our testing, a one-minute 1080p AVCHD clip re-encoded to MPEG-2 at a typical DVD bitrate of around 6 Mbit/s lands near 45 MB, versus roughly half that for the same clip kept as H.264 — a direct consequence of MPEG-2 being the less-efficient codec.

Is it safe to upload my camcorder footage here?

Your files travel over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection, are converted on our servers, and are deleted automatically after a few hours. There is no sign-up, no watermark, and your footage is never shared or made public.