MTS to DivX Converter

Convert MTS to DivX: What This Tutorial Covers

This walks you through turning an AVCHD camcorder clip (.mts) into a DivX-encoded file for playback on an old DivX-certified DVD player, car stereo, or set-top box that refuses to read modern formats. It is a niche conversion on purpose: MTS carries H.264 video, DivX uses the older MPEG-4 Part 2 codec, so this is a deliberate step backward in efficiency. If your goal is a file that plays anywhere modern, convert MTS to MP4 instead — that keeps the H.264 video and needs no re-encode of the video stream.

How to Convert MTS to DivX

1. Upload Your MTS File: Drag and drop your .mts clip onto the page or click "Add Files." You can queue several camcorder clips and convert them with one set of settings.
2. Set the Video Codec to DivX: Open "Show All Options," and under Video Codec choose DivX (this is the default for a .divx output). For audio, MP3 is selected by default; AC3 is also available if your player prefers Dolby Digital.
3. Match the Bitrate and Resolution to Your Player: Under File Compression pick Constant Bitrate or Specific file size, and use Quality Preset (Very High is the recommended default). If you are targeting an old Home Theater-class player, set a Preset resolution at or below 720×576.
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert and download the .divx file. No sign-up, no watermark.

Walk-through: Re-encoding HD Footage Backward Without Wrecking It

MTS video is H.264 (AVCHD), introduced by Sony and Panasonic in 2006, at resolutions up to 1920×1080. DivX is MPEG-4 Part 2 (Advanced Simple Profile), the codec that got popular in the early 2000s for fitting movies onto a single disc. H.264 is roughly a generation more efficient, so re-encoding from H.264 down to MPEG-4 Part 2 means you need a higher bitrate to hold the same quality — bit-for-bit, DivX simply does less with each megabit. Plan around the player you are feeding:

• If the target is a classic DivX-certified DVD player: the DivX Home Theater profile maxes out at 720×576 (PAL) / 720×480 (NTSC) and a 10 Mbps transfer ceiling, per DivX, LLC's certification spec. Downscale 1080p footage and keep the bitrate generous (around 4–8 Mbps) to avoid blockiness.
• If the target is a newer DivX-certified TV or Blu-ray player: the DivX HD 720p and HD 1080p profiles allow 1280×720 and 1920×1080 with the same MPEG-4 Part 2 codec, so you can keep your source resolution — just expect a larger file than the H.264 original at equal quality.
• If you only need the file smaller, not DivX-specific: don't re-encode backward at all. Send it through the video compressor as MP4, which holds quality at a fraction of the bitrate.

In our testing, a 60-second 1080p MTS clip re-encoded to DivX at a 720×576 Home Theater target produced a watchable file but visibly softer than the H.264 source at the same file size — the expected cost of moving to an older codec.

Common Errors and How to Fix Them

• "My DVD player still won't read the file" — Many players only accept DivX inside an .avi wrapper on a data disc. Try converting MTS to AVI with the DivX codec, and burn it as a data DVD rather than a Video DVD.
• "The picture is blocky or pixelated" — You set the bitrate too low for MPEG-4 Part 2. Raise it, or use Specific file size rather than a low Target file size (%), which can crush detail when changing codecs.
• "No sound on the player" — Some older players decode only MP3 or AC3 in a DivX/AVI file. Re-run with Audio Codec set to MP3 (the default) or AC3.
• "Output is larger than my original MTS" — Expected. DivX (MPEG-4 Part 2) needs more bits than H.264 for the same quality; that is the trade-off of the older codec.
• "Interlaced footage looks combed" — 1080i AVCHD carries interlaced fields; if your player shows combing, choose a progressive resolution preset so the converter deinterlaces during the re-encode.

When This Doesn't Work

If your destination device is anything made in the last decade — a smart TV, phone, tablet, game console, or modern media player — it almost certainly plays H.264 natively and gains nothing from DivX. In that case convert MTS to MP4 and skip the backward re-encode entirely. DivX only earns its place when you are feeding a genuinely old DivX-certified player or legacy tooling that reads .divx/.avi. For the opposite trip — turning a legacy DivX file back into AVCHD for a camcorder workflow — see convert DivX to MTS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I lose quality converting MTS to DivX?

Some loss is unavoidable because it is a lossy-to-lossy re-encode between codecs. MTS uses H.264, which is more efficient than DivX's MPEG-4 Part 2, so to keep the picture looking the same you need a noticeably higher bitrate in the DivX output. Match or exceed your source bitrate and the difference stays small; cut the bitrate and you will see blockiness sooner than you would with H.264.

What resolution can a DivX-certified player handle?

It depends on the profile. The classic DivX Home Theater profile that most older DVD players support tops out at 720×576 (PAL) / 720×480 (NTSC). Newer DivX HD 720p and HD 1080p certifications allow 1280×720 and 1920×1080. When in doubt, downscale to standard-definition for the widest compatibility with old hardware.

Why is my DivX file bigger than the original MTS?

Because DivX uses the older MPEG-4 Part 2 codec, which is less efficient than the H.264 in your AVCHD source. At equal visual quality, MPEG-4 Part 2 simply requires more bits, so a faithful DivX copy of an H.264 clip is often larger. If file size is your real goal, convert to MP4 instead of DivX.

Should I convert MTS to DivX or to MP4?

Convert to DivX only if you are targeting an old DivX-certified DVD player, car stereo, or set-top box that cannot read MP4. For everything modern, MP4 is the better choice: it keeps the efficient H.264 video, produces a smaller file at the same quality, and plays on virtually every current device.

Which audio codec should I pick for DivX?

MP3 is the default and the safest choice for old players — the DivX Home Theater profile supports MP3 up to 320 kbps. If your player specifically wants Dolby Digital, choose AC3 (supported up to 448 kbps in the same profile). Your AVCHD source is typically AC3 or LPCM, so both paths involve re-encoding the audio.

How are my uploaded files handled?

Files are uploaded over an encrypted connection, processed on our servers, and deleted automatically a few hours after conversion. There is no sign-up, no watermark, and your files are never shared or made public.