MP4 to MPG Converter

How to Convert MP4 to MPG Online

1. Upload Your MP4 Files: Drag and drop or click "+ Add Files" to select MP4 or M4V files from your computer. Batch upload is supported — every file inherits the same conversion settings.
2. Pick Quality Preset or Target Size: Default is Very High (Recommended). Choose a lower preset (High, Medium, Low) to shrink output, set a Specific file size in MB to hit a disc-budget target, or fine-tune with Constant Bitrate, Variable Bitrate, Constant Quality, or Constraint Quality. For DVD-Video authoring, keep total video bitrate at or below 9.8 Mbit/s.
3. Set Resolution and Trim (Optional): Pick Preset Resolutions (e.g., 480p for NTSC DVD, 576p for PAL DVD, 1080p for HD MPEG-2), scale by Resolution Percentage, set Width × Height manually, or Keep original. Use Trim → Time Range to cut to a specific start and duration before encoding.
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert. Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically after a few hours — no sign-up, no watermark, never shared.

Why Convert MP4 to MPG?

MPG is the common file extension for an MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 program stream — the format codified in ISO/IEC 11172 (published 1993) and ISO/IEC 13818 (published 1995-1996). MP4 (ISO/IEC 14496-14) is the modern container that typically carries H.264 or H.265, both of which compress 2-3x more efficiently than MPEG-2 at equal visual quality. You convert MP4 to MPG when the downstream system — a DVD authoring tool, a broadcast playout server, a legacy editor, or a VCD burner — expects the older codec family.

• DVD-Video authoring — The DVD-Video specification requires MPEG-2 program-stream video at 720×480 (NTSC) or 720×576 (PAL), with combined audio+video bitrate capped at 10.08 Mbit/s and video peaking at 9.8 Mbit/s. Authoring tools like DVDStyler, DVD Flick, and ImgBurn skip a re-encode step when given a spec-compliant MPG.
• Broadcast and cable headend ingest — ATSC, DVB, and ISDB digital television standards all carry MPEG-2 video, and many station playout systems still ingest MPEG-2 program streams or transport streams for compatibility with legacy automation.
• VCD creation — Video CDs use MPEG-1 video at 352×240 (NTSC) or 352×288 (PAL) with a constant 1,150 kbps video bitrate and MPEG-1 Audio Layer II at 224 kbps. VCD remains relevant for older standalone players common in parts of South and Southeast Asia.
• Legacy NLE and broadcast editing — Pre-2015 versions of Avid Media Composer, Sony Vegas, and Pinnacle Studio handled MPEG-2 program streams natively but stumbled on H.264 in MP4. Older Panasonic P2 and Sony XDCAM workflows also expect MPEG-2.
• Royalty-free distribution — The last essential MPEG-2 US patent expired on February 23, 2018, and MPEG-1 has been patent-free since 2017. MPG can now be encoded, distributed, and played without licensing fees — a reason some open-source projects and archival workflows still prefer it.
• Hardware decoder compatibility — Set-top boxes, in-car DVD players, and embedded systems shipped before roughly 2010 have dedicated MPEG-2 silicon but no H.264 decoder; an MPG file plays where an MP4 would not.

MP4 vs MPG — Format Comparison

DVD and VCD Spec Quick Guide

Need the opposite direction for editing or web playback? Use MPG to MP4. For Windows-native workflows you may want MP4 to WMV instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I pick MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 for my MPG?

MPEG-2 for anything modern — DVD-Video, broadcast ingest, SVCD, or HD playback on legacy hardware. MPEG-1 only when you specifically need VCD compatibility (352×240/288 at 1,150 kbps) for older standalone players. MPEG-2 is the safer default; the file is larger than MPEG-1 only because you're keeping more resolution and bitrate.

Why is my MPG file 2-3x larger than the source MP4?

MPEG-2 compression is roughly 2-3x less efficient than H.264 at matching visual quality, and AV1 widens the gap further. A 1-hour 1080p MP4 at 5 Mbit/s H.264 lands near 2.2 GB; the same content at a visually equivalent MPEG-2 bitrate (12-15 Mbit/s) lands near 5-7 GB. This is inherent to the older codec, not a converter issue.

Will the MPG burn directly to a playable DVD?

Not by itself. MPG is the video file; a DVD-Video disc also needs a VIDEO_TS folder structure with IFO/BUP/VOB files, chapter markers, and (usually) menus. Use authoring software such as DVDStyler (open source), ImgBurn, or Nero to wrap the MPG into a compliant disc image, then burn that image.

What resolution should I target for DVD-Video?

720×480 for NTSC regions (North America, Japan) and 720×576 for PAL regions (Europe, most of Asia, Africa, Australia). The DVD spec doesn't accept other resolutions for the main video object — anamorphic 16:9 widescreen still uses 720×480 or 720×576 with a pixel-aspect-ratio flag. Pick the Preset Resolution in step 3 that matches your target region.

Can I get HD MPEG-2 at 1080p?

Yes. Pick 1080p in Preset Resolutions and keep Quality Preset at Very High or use a Constant Bitrate around 18-25 Mbit/s. HD MPEG-2 is used for ATSC broadcast and Blu-ray (though Blu-ray more commonly uses H.264 or H.265). Note that consumer DVD authoring won't accept 1080p — that's strictly a broadcast / archival use case.

Does the converted MPG keep multiple audio tracks or subtitles?

The MPEG program stream supports multiple audio streams but does not carry soft subtitles or text tracks. If your source MP4 has multiple audio tracks, only one is muxed into the output. Subtitles must be burned in (re-encoded into the video) before conversion if you need them on the final DVD.

What audio codec should I use for DVD compatibility?

AC-3 (Dolby Digital) at 192-448 kbps is the most widely supported DVD audio codec and the only one supported in every region. PCM (uncompressed) and MP2 also appear in the spec but eat disc space (PCM) or have weaker player coverage in NTSC regions (MP2). Most authoring tools default to AC-3 for that reason.

Are MPEG-2 files still patented or do I owe royalties?

No. The last US patent essential to MPEG-2 expired on February 23, 2018, and equivalent patents elsewhere expired by 2020. MPEG-1 has been patent-free since 2017. You can encode, distribute, and play MPG files without paying any codec licensing fees — one reason archives, public-domain projects, and FFmpeg-based pipelines still favor it.

Can I trim the MP4 to a section before converting?

Yes. In step 3, switch Trim from Unchanged to Time Range and enter a start time and duration in HH:MM:SS.mmm. Only that section is converted, which saves time and disc space when you only need a portion of the source. For more cutting controls use Trim MP4 first, then convert the trimmed file.