CAVS to MPEG Converter

CAVS to MPEG Converter

A .cavs file holds raw video encoded with CAVS — the Chinese AVS1 video standard used mainly by set-top boxes and broadcast hardware in China. Most desktop players and editors outside that ecosystem cannot open it. Converting to MPEG repackages the picture as an MPEG-2 program stream, which plays in VLC, legacy DVD-authoring tools, and a wide range of media hardware. One thing to know up front: a .cavs elementary stream carries video only, so the resulting .mpeg has no audio track — there is none in the source to carry over.

CAVS Format at a Glance

MPEG (MPEG-2 Program Stream) at a Glance

How to Convert CAVS to MPEG

1. Upload Your CAVS File: Drag and drop your .cavs file onto the page or click "+ Add Files" to pick it from your computer. You can queue several files and convert them with the same settings.
2. Set the Quality Preset: Open Advanced Options and choose a Preset — "Very High (Recommended)" keeps detail, while lower presets shrink the output. You can instead target a Specific file size or set a Constant/Variable Bitrate.
3. Adjust Resolution or Trim (Optional): Use the Video resolution controls (Preset Resolutions, percentage, or Width x Height) to rescale, or use Trim → Time Range to export only part of the clip.
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert and download your MPEG 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.

For most modern uses — phones, browsers, sharing — CAVS to MP4 is the better target, since H.264 in MP4 is far more efficient and more widely supported than MPEG-2. Need other outputs? The CAVS converter lists every available format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a .cavs file and why won't it play?

It is a raw video stream encoded with CAVS (AVS1), China's national video standard (GB/T 20090.2, 2006). Because it is an elementary stream rather than a normal container like MP4 or MKV, most players outside the Chinese broadcast ecosystem do not recognize it. Converting to MPEG wraps the picture in an MPEG-2 program stream that ordinary players understand.

Will the converted MPEG have sound?

No. A .cavs stream is video only — there is no audio track inside it — so the output .mpeg is silent. This is not a converter limitation; the source simply contains no audio to carry over. If your footage needs sound, you would have to add an audio track separately after conversion.

Does converting CAVS to MPEG lose quality?

Yes, slightly. CAVS and MPEG-2 are different codecs, so the video is decoded and re-encoded, which is generation loss. MPEG-2 is also less efficient than CAVS, so to hold the same visual quality the MPEG file will be noticeably larger. Choosing the "Very High" Quality Preset keeps the loss minimal.

Should I convert CAVS to MPEG or to MP4 instead?

Pick MPEG only if your target needs an MPEG-2 program stream — for example DVD-style authoring or an older player that specifically wants .mpg. For phones, browsers, editing, and sharing, CAVS to MP4 is better: H.264 in MP4 gives smaller files at the same quality and plays almost everywhere.

What is the difference between CAVS and MPEG-2?

CAVS (AVS1) is a newer, China-developed codec that is roughly 2-3x more efficient than MPEG-2 and broadly comparable to H.264, but with very limited player support worldwide. MPEG-2 is an older 1995 ISO/IEC standard that is far less efficient but is supported almost universally by DVD players, broadcast gear, and media software.

Is converting CAVS to MPEG safe and private?

Yes. Your file is uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically after a few hours. There is no sign-up, no watermark, and files are never shared or made public. In our testing, a short SD .cavs clip at the "Very High" preset produced a clean, playable MPEG-2 program stream that opened directly in VLC.