MTS to TS Converter

MTS vs TS — Why Convert Between Two Transport Streams?

MTS and TS are both MPEG transport streams, so this is a same-family container move, not a jump between unrelated formats. The difference is the packet layout: MTS (the AVCHD variant your Sony or Panasonic camcorder writes, identical in payload to .m2ts) uses 192-byte BDAV packets, while a plain .ts uses the standard 188-byte broadcast packets defined in ISO/IEC 13818-1. Convert to TS when a broadcast tool, set-top workflow, or older player chokes on the 192-byte camcorder variant. If you just want footage that plays everywhere, MTS to MP4 is the better target for most people.

MTS vs TS — Format Comparison

The 4-byte timecode header is what makes the BDAV variant useful for camcorders and non-linear editors — it lets a player or editor jump to any point in the stream quickly. Plain broadcast TS drops that field because transmission systems carry their own timing. MTS and M2TS are the same payload with two extensions: camcorders write .mts under the 8.3 filename convention, while Blu-ray and PC import tools rename to .m2ts.

When to Pick TS

• Broadcast and streaming tooling — DVB/ATSC playout systems, IPTV encoders, and segmenters that expect the standard 188-byte stream.
• Set-top and PVR workflows — DVR boxes and older receivers that read plain .ts recordings but not the 192-byte BDAV variant.
• HLS-segment-era pipelines — systems built around the .ts segment that HTTP Live Streaming used historically.
• Players that reject 192-byte BDAV — some legacy media players and embedded devices open .ts but stumble on AVCHD's .mts.

When to Stay on MTS (or Pick MP4 Instead)

• AVCHD editor import — Sony Vegas, PlayMemories Home, and Panasonic HD Writer auto-detect AVCHD footage by the .mts/.m2ts structure; keep it as MTS for those.
• Blu-ray / AVCHD-disc authoring — multiAVCHD and tsMuxeR-based suites expect the BDAV 192-byte stream.
• General playback on phones, laptops, and TVs — neither transport stream is the friendliest target; MTS to MP4 keeps your H.264 quality and plays on far more devices.
• Archiving with broad compatibility — MP4 or MKV are easier to open years later than a raw transport stream.

How to Convert MTS to TS

1. Upload Your MTS File: Drag and drop your .mts (or .m2ts) clip onto the page, or click "Add Files" to browse. Batch conversion is supported, so you can queue several clips with the same settings.
2. Pick Video Codec and Quality Preset: The default Video Codec is H.264, which keeps the same codec your AVCHD source already uses; MPEG-2, H.265, and MPEG-4 are also available for tools that need them. Set the Quality Preset (the default is "Very High (Recommended)").
3. Set Audio Codec, Resolution, or Trim (Optional): Audio Codec defaults to AAC, with AC-3, MP2, and MP3 available for broadcast targets. Leave Video resolution on "Keep original" to preserve 1080p, or use Trim to export only a Time Range.
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert and download your TS file. No sign-up, no watermark.

For nearby moves see MTS to MP4 for universal playback, MTS to VOB for DVD-disc structure, or the reverse TS to MTS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is converting MTS to TS lossless, since both are transport streams?

No — this conversion re-encodes rather than repackaging the existing stream. The output defaults to H.264 (the same codec family your AVCHD source uses), so at a high Quality Preset or a low CRF the result is visually close to the original, but it is a real re-encode, not a packet-level remux. The practical change is moving from the 192-byte BDAV packet layout to the standard 188-byte TS layout that broadcast and streaming tools expect.

What is the actual difference between an MTS packet and a TS packet?

MTS (and its identical twin M2TS) wraps each 188-byte MPEG-2 transport packet in an extra 4-byte header — a 2-bit copy-permission indicator plus a 30-bit arrival timestamp at 27 MHz resolution — for 192 bytes total. That timecode field is what lets camcorders and non-linear editors seek quickly. A standard .ts drops the header and uses plain 188-byte packets, the size MPEG-2 Systems originally chose for transmission compatibility.

Why would a player open my .ts file but not the original .mts?

Because the 192-byte BDAV packet layout is the AVCHD/Blu-ray variant, and some broadcast-oriented players, set-top boxes, and embedded devices only parse the standard 188-byte transport stream. Converting to plain TS strips the AVCHD-specific framing so those tools accept the file. If your goal is simply playback on a phone or computer, MP4 is usually the smoother path.

Will the audio survive, and which audio codec should I choose for TS?

The converter keeps a single audio track. AVCHD sources carry AC-3 or LPCM; the TS output defaults to AAC, with AC-3, MP2, and MP3 available. For broadcast or set-top targets, AC-3 or MP2 are the classic MPEG-compatible choices. If your MTS had multiple audio tracks, only the primary one is retained — convert your TS output to a multi-track container with TS to MKV if you need to keep several.

Is MTS the same as M2TS, and does the TS output behave differently?

MTS and M2TS are the same AVCHD payload with different extensions — .mts from the camcorder's 8.3 filenames, .m2ts after import to a PC or Blu-ray tool. Either uploads and converts the same way here. The TS output is a different beast: it is the standard 188-byte transport stream, so it will not auto-detect as AVCHD footage in camcorder software, which is exactly the point when a broadcast tool needs plain TS.

Should most people convert MTS to TS at all?

Usually not. TS is the right target only for broadcast, IPTV, set-top, or HLS-era tooling that specifically expects the standard 188-byte stream, or for a player that rejects the 192-byte AVCHD variant. For watching camcorder footage on phones, laptops, or smart TVs, MTS to MP4 keeps your H.264 quality and is far more widely supported. In our testing, a 1-minute 1080i MTS clip re-encoded to TS at the default Very High preset stayed within roughly 10-15% of the original file size, since the H.264 video is carried over rather than transcoded to a different codec.

What happens to my file after I convert it?

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