M2TS to MOV Converter
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Supports: M2TS
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Need help?M2TS to MOV Converter
M2TS is the BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream that Blu-ray discs and AVCHD camcorders (Sony, Panasonic, Canon) write — a wrapper macOS, QuickTime, iMovie, and Final Cut don't open natively. MOV is Apple's QuickTime container, the format those editors expect. Converting M2TS to MOV rewraps your camcorder footage into a file you can import on a Mac. One honest caveat: M2TS video is already H.264, so this re-encodes rather than copies — keep the Quality Preset high to hold detail.
M2TS Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Container | BDAV MPEG-2 Transport Stream (.m2ts) |
| Used by | Blu-ray Disc video, AVCHD camcorders |
| Introduced (AVCHD) | 2006, by Sony and Panasonic |
| Video codecs (AVCHD) | H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC |
| Video codecs (Blu-ray) | MPEG-2, H.264 / AVC, or SMPTE VC-1 |
| Audio codecs | Dolby Digital (AC-3), DTS, or linear PCM |
| Typical resolution | 1080i or 1080p (1920×1080), some 720p |
| Sibling extension | .mts (same stream, 8.3 filename used on camcorder cards) |
| Native on macOS / QuickTime | No — needs conversion or a third-party plugin |
MOV Format at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Container | Apple QuickTime Movie (.mov) |
| Developed by | Apple |
| Video codecs (this tool) | H.264 (default), H.265, MPEG-4, and more |
| Audio codecs (this tool) | AAC (default), AC3, PCM, and more |
| Native editors | iMovie, Final Cut Pro, QuickTime Player |
| Platform support | macOS, iOS, and Windows (with QuickTime or modern players) |
| Best for | Apple editing workflows and timeline-based color/audio work |
| Relationship to MP4 | Closely related; MOV is Apple's variant of the same ISO base media structure |
How to Convert M2TS to MOV
- Upload Your M2TS File: Drag and drop your
.m2ts(or.mts) clip onto the page, or click "+ Add Files" to browse. You can queue several clips and convert them with the same settings. - Set the Quality Preset: Open Advanced Options and leave the Preset on "Very High (Recommended)" — since M2TS is already compressed H.264, a high preset minimizes the quality cost of re-encoding into MOV.
- Pick the Video Codec (Optional): Under Video Codec the default is H.264, which Final Cut and iMovie handle well; switch to H.265 only if your editor and Mac support it and you want a smaller file.
- Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and save the MOV. No sign-up, no watermark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't my M2TS file open in QuickTime or iMovie on a Mac?
QuickTime and iMovie don't read the BDAV MPEG-2 transport stream wrapper that AVCHD camcorders and Blu-ray discs use, even though the video inside is H.264. Apple's tools expect the QuickTime (MOV) or MP4 container, so the simplest fix is to rewrap the stream into MOV — which is exactly what this converter does.
Does converting M2TS to MOV lose quality?
There is some loss. M2TS already stores H.264 video, and putting it into a MOV here re-encodes the picture rather than copying the stream untouched, so a high preset matters. In our testing, a 1080i AVCHD clip converted at the "Very High" preset stayed visually close to the source on a normal monitor, with the main difference being file size rather than obvious artifacts. For archival masters where zero loss is the goal, a desktop tool that remuxes to MOV without re-encoding is the better route.
My 1080i M2TS footage shows combing or jagged motion — why?
Most early AVCHD camcorders record 1080i interlaced video, where each frame is built from two fields. On a progressive screen, fast motion can look like fine horizontal "comb" lines. Converting the container to MOV preserves the original fields; to remove the combing, apply your editor's deinterlace filter (iMovie and Final Cut both have one) or set your project to a progressive frame rate after import.
What's the difference between .m2ts and .mts — can I convert both?
They are the same BDAV transport stream; only the filename convention differs. Camcorders write .mts because their card filesystem uses short 8.3 names, while Blu-ray discs and many import tools use the long .m2ts name. Both upload and convert the same way here. If your file is specifically named .mts, the dedicated MTS to MOV converter handles it identically.
Will the audio survive the conversion to MOV?
Yes. M2TS camcorder audio is typically Dolby Digital (AC-3) or linear PCM; this tool re-encodes it to AAC by default inside the MOV, which iMovie and Final Cut import cleanly. If you specifically need to keep an AC-3 or PCM track, you can choose it under Audio Codec in Advanced Options, though AAC is the safest choice for Apple editing.
Should I convert to MOV or MP4 for editing on a Mac?
MOV is the more natural target for Final Cut Pro and iMovie because it is Apple's own QuickTime container. MP4 also imports fine and is better if you also plan to share the file on the web or other platforms. The two are structurally close, so picking MOV is mostly about staying inside the Apple workflow — choose M2TS to MP4 instead if cross-platform sharing is your priority.
Is there a file size limit, and what happens to my uploaded footage?
The real constraint is upload size and time rather than a fixed cap — AVCHD clips can be large, so a faster connection helps. 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.