MTS to WMA Converter

MTS to WMA — Should You Actually Extract to WMA?

MTS is the AVCHD recording format Sony and Panasonic introduced in 2006: H.264 video alongside a Dolby Digital (AC-3) or LPCM audio track. This tool pulls the audio out of that camcorder clip and re-encodes it to a WMA (Windows Media Audio) file; the video is discarded, so the result is audio only. Be honest with the target first — WMA is a legacy Microsoft format with poor playback support outside Windows. Pick it only when an old Windows PC, a Windows Media Player-era library, or a piece of editing software specifically expects a .wma file. If you just want camcorder audio that plays anywhere, extract to MP3 or M4A instead — both are far more universal.

WMA vs MP3 (and M4A) for Extracted MTS Audio

When to Pick WMA

• An older Windows PC, Windows Mobile device, or Zune-era library that expects .wma.
• A car stereo or home receiver whose manual lists WMA but not AAC or Opus.
• Windows-based editing or archiving software that only accepts Windows Media Audio input.
• You specifically need marginally better quality than MP3 at very low bitrates (below ~64 kbps) on a Windows-only target.

When to Pick MP3 or M4A Instead

• You want the camcorder audio to play on iPhones, Android phones, browsers, and smart speakers without extra apps — use MTS to MP3.
• You want modern AAC efficiency and broad device support — use MTS to M4A.
• You are sharing the file with other people and cannot guarantee they run Windows.
• You are not tied to the Windows ecosystem at all; there is little practical reason to choose WMA in 2026.

How to Convert MTS to WMA

1. Upload Your MTS File: Drag and drop your .mts (or .m2ts) clip onto the page or click "+ Add Files". Several files queue and convert with the same settings.
2. Set the Quality Preset: Under File Compression the Quality Preset defaults to "Highest"; choose a lower preset, or switch to Custom Bitrate or Constant Bitrate, if you need a smaller file. The output uses the standard WMA v2 codec for the widest compatibility.
3. Adjust Audio Channel, Sample Rate, or Trim (optional): Leave Audio Channel and Audio Sample Rate on "Original" to match the source, downmix to mono to shrink a voice recording, or use Trim to keep only part of the track.
4. Convert and Download: Click "Convert" and download your WMA file. No sign-up, no watermark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I extract camcorder audio to WMA or to MP3?

For almost everyone, MP3 is the better pick. WMA only makes sense when something on the receiving end specifically requires a .wma file — an old Windows PC, a Windows-era media library, or a car stereo that lists WMA but not AAC. WMA plays poorly outside Windows, so if portability matters at all, use MTS to MP3 or MTS to M4A instead. Choose WMA deliberately, not by default.

Does converting MTS to WMA keep the video?

No. WMA is an audio-only format, so the H.264 video in your MTS file is dropped and only the soundtrack is saved. That is the point of this tool — lifting an interview, a concert, or ambient sound off camcorder footage. If you want to keep the picture, convert to a video format with MTS to MP4 instead.

Will extracting WMA from an MTS file lose quality?

Yes, to some degree — this is a re-encode, not a copy. MTS audio is usually Dolby Digital AC-3 (already lossy) or LPCM (lossless). AC-3 to WMA is a lossy-to-lossy step that adds a small amount of generational loss; LPCM to WMA goes lossless-to-lossy. Using the "Highest" Quality Preset or a bitrate of 192 kbps and up keeps the loss small, but it cannot recover detail the AC-3 source already discarded. In our testing, a stereo AVCHD clip extracted at the "Highest" preset was hard to tell from the source in ordinary listening; the loss only compounds if you keep re-editing and re-exporting.

Is WMA actually better than MP3 for this conversion?

Only in narrow cases. WMA can sound slightly better than MP3 at very low bitrates (under roughly 64 kbps), which is why some old voice and streaming setups used it. At the 192-320 kbps range most people actually use, the two are effectively indistinguishable, and MP3 wins decisively on compatibility. Unless something specifically requires .wma, MP3 is the more practical output for camcorder audio.

Why won't my WMA file play on my iPhone or Android phone?

Because WMA is a proprietary Microsoft format with limited support outside Windows. Apple and Android devices typically do not play .wma natively and need a third-party media player such as VLC. If you hit that wall, it is the clearest sign you should have extracted to MP3 — it plays on essentially every phone, browser, and speaker without extra software.

Which WMA codec version does the output use?

The converter encodes to the standard lossy Windows Media Audio codec — WMA v2 by default — which is the variant the broadest range of Windows software and devices can read. The WMA family also includes Pro, Lossless, and Voice variants, but standard WMA is the most compatible target for a general extracted audio track, and it is what an old Windows-based workflow is most likely to expect.

How are my files handled, and is there a size limit?

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. The main practical limit is upload size and time: AVCHD clips can be large because they carry full HD video, so a long recording may take a while to upload even though the WMA you get back is small.