AVI to AVCHD Converter

AVI to AVCHD Converter

AVI is Microsoft's 1992 RIFF-based video container; AVCHD is the consumer HD camcorder format Sony and Panasonic introduced in 2006, built on an H.264-in-MPEG-transport-stream payload. This tool re-encodes the video and audio inside your AVI and writes an AVCHD-style transport-stream file (H.264 video, AC-3 audio) with a .avchd extension.

One thing to know first: this produces a stream file, not a camcorder folder. A real AVCHD camcorder or Blu-ray player expects a directory tree — PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM/ plus the INDEX.BDM, MOVIEOBJ.BDM, and playlist (.MPL) index files that tell the player how to navigate clips. What you download here is the single elementary stream that belongs inside that STREAM/ folder, not the folder itself. Players and camcorders that scan for the BDMV structure will not treat a bare file as a disc or card import. If you need a true AVCHD disc, drop this file into an authoring tool (multiAVCHD, tsMuxeR) that builds the folder around it.

AVI Format at a Glance

AVCHD Format at a Glance

How to Convert AVI to AVCHD

1. Upload Your AVI File: Drag and drop or click "+ Add Files" to select one or more AVI clips. Batch upload is supported.
2. Set Quality Preset and File Compression: AVCHD locks the video codec to H.264 and audio to AC-3, so there's no codec dropdown to pick. Under File Compression, choose a Quality Preset (the Preset dropdown defaults to "Very High (Recommended)"), or target a Specific file size, Constant Bitrate, or Variable Bitrate. Keep peak bitrate at or below 24 Mbit/s if a downstream camcorder or player must accept it.
3. Set Video Resolution and Trim (Optional): AVCHD is HD-only — use Preset Resolutions (1920×1080, 1280×720, 1440×1080) or set a Resolution Percentage; don't exceed 1080p. Use the Trim section's Time Range to keep only the segment you want.
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert. Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically a few hours after conversion — no sign-up, no watermark, never shared.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the output include the AVCHD BDMV folder structure my camcorder or Blu-ray player needs?

No. This converter writes the single H.264 transport-stream file — the content that belongs inside BDMV/STREAM/. It does not generate the surrounding PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/ directory tree or the INDEX.BDM, MOVIEOBJ.BDM, and playlist (.MPL) index files that a camcorder or standalone Blu-ray player scans for. To author a playable disc or a card a camcorder will re-ingest, feed the downloaded file into an AVCHD authoring tool (multiAVCHD, tsMuxeR, or the AVCHD template in ImgBurn / Vegas), which builds the folder structure around the stream.

Will I lose quality converting AVI to AVCHD?

Yes — this is one full lossy generation. AVI footage is almost always already compressed (DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, or similar), and AVCHD requires H.264, so the source is decoded and re-encoded to H.264. Any re-encode between lossy codecs discards some detail. Pick the "Highest" / "Very High" Quality Preset (or a high bitrate near the 24 Mbit/s AVCHD ceiling) to keep the loss minimal. There is no lossless path from an arbitrary AVI codec into AVCHD.

Why does the file have an .avchd extension instead of .mts or .m2ts?

AVCHD is a specification, not a real file extension — camcorders write .mts and computers use .m2ts once the clip is imported into a BDMV folder. The .avchd file you download here holds the same H.264-in-transport-stream bytes; the extension is just a label. If a specific tool insists on .mts, use AVI to MTS, which writes the same transport-stream family with that extension, then rename if needed — the payload is identical.

Should I convert AVI to AVCHD or to MP4?

For almost everything modern, choose MP4. MP4 also carries H.264, plays on virtually every phone, browser, TV, and editor, and has no 1080p ceiling. Only pick AVCHD when a downstream tool specifically requires the transport-stream format — a legacy AVCHD-only NLE, a camcorder re-ingest workflow, or an authoring app that builds an AVCHD disc. If you're unsure, AVI to MP4 is the safer, more compatible target.

Does AVCHD support 4K, and can I keep my AVI's resolution?

AVCHD caps at 1920×1080 (1080p60 with AVCHD 2.0 / Progressive). If your AVI is larger than 1080p, downscale it to a 1080p preset before or during conversion — AVCHD has no 4K profile. The successor formats Sony and Panasonic use for 4K are XAVC S and XAVC, not any "AVCHD 4K," which does not exist in the published spec. For 4K output, use AVI to MP4 instead.

What audio does the AVCHD output use, and will my AVI's audio carry over?

The primary audio track is re-encoded to Dolby AC-3, which is the AVCHD default (the spec also allows LPCM). MP3 or PCM audio inside your AVI is converted to AC-3 stereo or 5.1; only the first audio stream survives, since AVCHD consumer devices expect a single primary track. If you have multiple language or commentary tracks to preserve, keep the source AVI or convert to a container like MKV that carries every stream.

In your testing, how big is a converted AVCHD file compared to the source AVI?

It depends entirely on the source codec. In our testing, a 60-second 1080p AVI carrying Xvid at roughly 6 Mbit/s re-encoded to AVCHD at the "Very High" preset landed near 90-110 MB — slightly larger than the source, because the preset targets a higher H.264 bitrate for clean camcorder playback. An uncompressed or MJPEG AVI shrinks dramatically. To force a smaller result, target a Specific file size or drop to a lower Quality Preset.

Are my AVI files uploaded to a server, and how long are they kept?

Yes. Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically a few hours after conversion — no sign-up, no watermark, never shared or made public. For sensitive or unreleased footage you'd rather not upload anywhere, a local tool such as FFmpeg or HandBrake can produce an equivalent H.264 transport stream offline.