AVI to MPEG Converter

How to Convert AVI to MPEG Online

1. Upload Your AVI Files: Drag and drop AVI files into the page or click "+ Add Files" to pick them from your computer. Batch uploads are supported — every file in the queue gets the same output settings.
2. Pick a File Compression Mode: The default is Quality Preset set to "Very High (Recommended)". For DVD authoring or broadcast workflows, switch to Specific File Size to target a known disc capacity (e.g. 4.37 GB usable on single-layer DVD-5), Constant Bitrate when you need a predictable stream rate, Variable Bitrate for better quality at the same average rate, or Constant/Constraint Quality to drive encoding by visual fidelity instead of size.
3. Set Video Resolution (Optional): Keep original, scale by Resolution Percentage, choose a Preset Resolution (480p for DVD-NTSC at 720x480, 576p for DVD-PAL at 720x576, 720p/1080p for HD MPEG-2 streams), or enter a custom Width x Height. Width-only or Height-only entries keep the aspect ratio.
4. Trim and Convert: Use the Trim control's Time Range option to clip a section, then click "Convert". Files are processed in your browser session — no sign-up, no watermark, and the source file never leaves your machine until you click upload.

Why Convert AVI to MPEG?

AVI is Microsoft's container format from Video for Windows (November 1992) and behaves as a generic wrapper around almost any codec — DivX, Xvid, MJPEG, HuffYUV, uncompressed YUV, or PCM audio. MPEG (typically MPEG-1 Part 2 or MPEG-2 Part 2 / H.262, ISO/IEC 11172 and 13818) is a tightly specified codec-plus-container that DVD players, hardware decoders, and broadcast equipment can decode in silicon. Converting AVI to MPEG is almost always about reaching a specific piece of legacy hardware or a fixed-spec authoring pipeline.

• DVD-Video authoring — The DVD-Video specification requires MPEG-2 video at 720x480 (NTSC) or 720x576 (PAL) with a peak bitrate of 9.8 Mbps and combined audio+video ceiling of 10.08 Mbps. Tools like DVDStyler, ConvertXtoDVD, and TMPGEnc Authoring Works will only ingest MPEG-2 program streams — feeding them an AVI/DivX file forces a re-encode you can control yourself by converting first.
• Video CD / Super Video CD — VCD discs require MPEG-1 at 1150 kbps and 352x240 (NTSC) or 352x288 (PAL). SVCD bumps to MPEG-2 at up to 2.6 Mbps and 480x480/480x576. Both formats refuse non-MPEG payloads.
• Broadcast and satellite delivery — ATSC, DVB-T, DVB-S, and most cable headends carry MPEG-2 transport streams (.ts/.mpg). Older playout servers and SDI insertion gear still expect MPEG-2 elementary streams as their native input.
• Non-linear editor compatibility — Older versions of Premiere, Avid Media Composer, and Pinnacle Studio refused some AVI codecs (notably MJPEG variants without the matching codec installed). MPEG-2 is universally readable by editors released after 2000.
• Hardware decoder playback — Set-top boxes, in-car DVD players, older Blu-ray players in DVD mode, and digital photo frames decode MPEG-2 in hardware but lack the codec table to play AVI's mixed payloads.
• Replacing missing codecs — If an AVI throws "codec not found" errors (a common DivX 3/Indeo/Cinepak symptom on modern Windows), re-encoding to MPEG-2 sidesteps the legacy codec entirely.

AVI vs MPEG-1 vs MPEG-2 — Format Comparison

MPEG-2 Bitrate Quick Guide for DVD Authoring

If you're aiming for streaming or modern playback instead of legacy hardware, convert to MP4/H.264 with AVI to MP4 — MPEG-2 files are 3-5x larger than H.264 at equivalent quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between MPEG, MPG, and MPEG-2?

"MPEG" is the standards body (Moving Picture Experts Group); .mpg and .mpeg are interchangeable file extensions for MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 program streams. This converter outputs an MPEG program stream. If you specifically need the .mpg extension, the AVI to MPG page is the same conversion with that filename. MPEG-2 (ISO/IEC 13818, also published as ITU-T H.262) is the DVD codec; MPEG-1 (ISO/IEC 11172) is the older VCD codec.

Should I pick Constant Bitrate or Variable Bitrate for DVD?

Variable Bitrate (VBR) gives better picture quality for the same file size because it spends more bits on complex scenes. For a 2-hour movie on a DVD-5, VBR around 4-5 Mbps average is a good starting point. Use Constant Bitrate only when your authoring software is strict about predictable rates or you're targeting broadcast spec (9-9.8 Mbps CBR is the safest DVD ceiling for cheap hardware decoders).

Why is my MPEG output larger than the AVI?

If your AVI was already encoded with a modern codec (DivX, Xvid, H.264-in-AVI), MPEG-2 will be larger because MPEG-2 is an older, less efficient codec — typically 3-5x larger than H.264 at the same visual quality. The size advantage of MPEG appears only when the source AVI was uncompressed or used MJPEG. For pure size reduction, use AVI to MP4 instead.

Will MPEG output play on a DVD player without authoring?

Not directly. A DVD player expects a VIDEO_TS folder structure with .VOB files, IFO/BUP index files, and a UDF 1.02 filesystem. The MPEG-2 elementary stream from this converter is the video payload that DVD authoring software (DVDStyler, ConvertXtoDVD, TMPGEnc Authoring Works) wraps into that structure. To play directly on hardware, burn the file to a USB stick — most DVD players from 2010 onward will read .mpg from USB.

Can I convert AVI to MPEG-4 here instead?

MPEG-4 Part 14 is the MP4 container, and MPEG-4 Part 10 is H.264 — both are different formats from the MPEG-1/MPEG-2 output of this page. For MPEG-4/MP4, use AVI to MP4. For H.264 specifically, MP4 with H.264 video is the standard pairing on the web.

What's the maximum file size I can upload?

There's no hard cap from the converter, but practical limits depend on your browser's available memory and your network speed during upload. Files up to a few GB process reliably in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on a desktop with 8 GB+ RAM. For very large AVI archives, consider trimming to clips first or compressing the AVI with Compress AVI before conversion.

Does the converter preserve interlacing for broadcast use?

The output is encoded according to your chosen settings — if you select a 480i/576i preset (NTSC/PAL field-based), the encoder will produce interlaced MPEG-2. For modern playback or progressive displays, choose 480p/576p/720p/1080p presets so the output is progressive (deinterlaced from the source if needed).

Will subtitles embedded in the AVI carry over?

External subtitle tracks (.srt, .sub) embedded as AVI text streams are dropped during MPEG-2 encoding because MPEG-2 program streams don't carry SubRip or SSA text. If you need subtitles on a DVD, your DVD authoring software adds them as separate subpicture tracks at authoring time.

Are my files private?

Yes. Files are uploaded over HTTPS, processed for your session, and deleted automatically — they're never indexed, shared, or used for training. No account or email is required to use the converter.