MPEG to AVCHD Converter

How to Convert MPEG to AVCHD Online

1. Upload Your MPEG File: Drag and drop or click "Add Files" to select a.mpg or.mpeg video. Batch upload is supported, and each file is queued with its own settings.
2. Pick Video Codec and Audio Codec: AVCHD requires H.264 video — that's the default under Video Codec, and you should leave it set unless your editor specifically needs MPEG-2. Under Audio Codec, AC-3 (Dolby Digital) is the default and the only choice that's safe for Blu-ray authoring; switch to AAC only if the file will play in a software player and you want smaller audio.
3. Set Quality Preset or Bitrate (Optional): Under File Compression, "Very High (Recommended)" matches the AVCHD camcorder look at roughly 17 Mbps. For Blu-ray-grade output set Constant Bitrate at 18-24 Mbps; for the smallest files that still look HD use Constraint Quality or Variable Bitrate at 12-15 Mbps. You can also target a specific MB size and let the encoder back-solve the bitrate.
4. Resolution, Trim, Convert and Download: Under Video Resolution choose 1920x1080 or 1280x720 (both are valid AVCHD raster sizes), or keep original. Use Trim with a Start Time and Duration to cut to a clip. Click "Convert", then download the.mts file — Everything runs on our servers, no sign-up, no watermark.

Why Convert MPEG to AVCHD?

MPEG is shorthand for two very different things: MPEG-1 (the 1993 Video-CD codec, capped at 352x240 SIF and ~1.5 Mbps) and MPEG-2 (ISO/IEC 13818, the DVD-Video codec at 720x480/720x576 with a 9.8 Mbit/s ceiling). AVCHD, jointly defined by Sony and Panasonic in 2006, carries H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video in an MPEG-2 transport stream — same container family, much more efficient video codec, plus an HD raster up to 1920x1080. Converting bridges legacy MPEG capture or DVD rips into a format that camcorder software, Blu-ray authoring tools, and modern NLEs treat as a first-class citizen.

• Re-mastering DVD rips for Blu-ray — AVCHD is one of the formats Blu-ray players read natively, so re-encoding MPEG-2 (DVD's 9.8 Mbit/s ceiling) to H.264 at 18-24 Mbit/s gives you HD-style headroom on the disc without changing the optical format.
• Importing into Sony/Panasonic camcorder workflows — Sony PlayMemories Home and Panasonic HD Writer index .mts files automatically; an MPEG file dropped into the same folder is ignored. Convert first so the clip shows up in the library.
• Editing in Vegas Pro and Premiere Pro — both NLEs have AVCHD-specific import paths with hardware-accelerated H.264 decode. MPEG-2 long-GOP is supported but pulls a slower decode path on most timelines.
• Compressing legacy footage — H.264 needs roughly 1/4 to 1/3 the bitrate of MPEG-2 for the same perceived quality, so a 2 GB MPEG often re-encodes to 600-900 MB AVCHD with no visible loss at the same resolution.
• 5.1 surround instead of stereo MP2 — DVD MPEG-2 often ships with MPEG-1 Audio Layer II (MP2) stereo. AC-3 at 384-640 kbps lets you carry a real 5.1 mix into the AVCHD output.
• Long-form archival on SD/USB media — AVCHD's 17-24 Mbit/s sweet spot fits roughly 30 minutes of 1080p per GB, which is why camcorders ship the format on SDHC.

MPEG (MPEG-2) vs AVCHD — Format Comparison

AVCHD Bitrate and Audio Quick Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the output play on my Sony or Panasonic Blu-ray player?

Yes, if the player advertises AVCHD support (essentially every Sony/Panasonic Blu-ray deck from 2007 onward and most others). Burn the .mts file to a DVD-R or BD-R using the AVCHD folder structure (BDMV/STREAM/), or copy to a USB drive the player can read. Standalone players that only do BD-Video without AVCHD support will refuse the disc — re-author to BD-Video with a tool like multiAVCHD if that's your target.

Should I keep AC-3 audio or switch to AAC?

Keep AC-3. It's the audio codec the AVCHD specification mandates for Blu-ray and camcorder compatibility, and AVCHD-aware players are guaranteed to decode it. AAC will play in software (VLC, Premiere, Vegas) but is not part of the AVCHD spec, so a hardware Blu-ray player may refuse the track. Only switch to AAC if the output will live entirely on a computer or phone.

Why is my AVCHD file roughly the same size as the source MPEG?

You probably re-encoded a small MPEG up to 1080p. H.264 is more efficient at matched resolution, but if the source was 720x480 DVD-Video at 6 Mbit/s and you upscaled to 1920x1080 at 17 Mbit/s, the AVCHD output has roughly 6x the pixels — the codec efficiency is offset by the resolution change. Keep the source resolution to see the size drop, or accept the higher bitrate if you wanted HD upscaling for the disc.

Can I trim MPEG before converting to avoid re-encoding the parts I don't want?

Yes. Set Trim to "Time Range", enter a Start Time and Duration (HH:MM:SS.sss accepted), and only the segment in that window goes through the H.264 encoder. The rest of the source is skipped, which speeds up the conversion proportionally. For lossless trimming without re-encoding at all, Trim MPEG cuts directly and Trim MTS handles the AVCHD output after conversion.

What's the difference between AVCHD and MTS/M2TS?

AVCHD is the format specification — codec, audio, container, file layout, folder structure. .mts is the file extension used on camcorder SD cards; .m2ts is the same content after import to Windows/macOS (and the extension Blu-ray Disc uses for AVC streams). Same bytes, different name. If you only need the stream and not the camcorder folder structure, MPEG to MTS and MPEG to M2TS give you the raw transport stream.

My source is MPEG-2 DVD-Video. Should I use this or MPEG-2 directly?

If you want Blu-ray-style HD efficiency or camcorder-software compatibility, AVCHD is the right target. If you only need an MPEG-2 re-mux (different aspect ratio, different audio track, different bitrate at the same SD resolution), MPEG to MPEG2 keeps the codec and just re-encodes the parameters you change — faster and avoids generation loss between long-GOP codecs.

Does 1080p60 AVCHD work for me?

Only if your playback chain supports AVCHD 2.0, the 2011 amendment that added 1080p50/60 and a 28 Mbit/s ceiling. Most Blu-ray players from 2011 onward and all current NLEs handle it; older AVCHD-1.0 hardware (2006-2010 camcorders and decks) will not. If you're unsure, pick 1080i60 or 1080p30 at 24 Mbit/s — that's the original AVCHD spec and universally compatible.

Can I convert multiple MPEG files into a single AVCHD?

Not from this page — it converts each file independently. To combine first, use the merge-video flow before conversion, then drop the merged MPEG here. To go the other direction (split one MPEG into multiple AVCHD clips), run the conversion once at your target settings, then Trim MTS on the output for each cut.

Is the file processed on my computer or uploaded to a server?

Uploaded. Files are transferred over an encrypted connection, processed on xconvert's servers, and both source and output are deleted automatically after a few hours. No account, no watermark, no long-term retention.