TS to AAC Converter

How to Convert TS to AAC Online

1. Upload Your TS File: Drag and drop or click "+ Add Files" to load one or more .ts recordings — DVR captures, HLS segments, or camcorder splits. Batch processing is supported.
2. Pick a Quality Preset or Bitrate: Default is the Very High Quality Preset (transparent stereo). For tighter files switch File Compression to Constant Bitrate and pick a value (8–384 kbps; 128 kbps is the default and a common iTunes-era baseline, 256 kbps matches Apple Music's "iTunes Plus" tier). Variable Bitrate offers AAC ranges from 20k–32k up to 96k–112k, and Specific file size caps the output in MB.
3. Trim, Channel, Sample Rate (Optional): Use Trim to keep just the segment you need, set Audio Channel (default Original — keep stereo or downmix to mono) and Audio Sample Rate (default Original — typically 44.1 or 48 kHz for broadcast TS).
4. Convert and Download: Click Convert. Files process server-side, then download directly to your browser — no watermark, no account required.

Why Convert TS to AAC?

MPEG transport stream (.ts) is the broadcast container used by DVB, ATSC, IPTV, HLS streaming and DVR boxes like the HDHomeRun. It chops audio and video into 188-byte packets so a stream can survive a noisy satellite or terrestrial signal. AAC is the audio codec usually riding inside that container, so stripping it out into a standalone .aac file gives you a small, universally playable audio track without the video overhead.

• Save the audio from a TV recording — Capture an interview, concert broadcast or podcast simulcast from your DVR/PVR and keep just the sound. A 30-minute 1080p TS recording is typically 1–3 GB; the AAC-only version is usually 15–60 MB at 128 kbps.
• Extract HLS segments — Streaming players cache video as numbered .ts chunks. Concatenating them and converting yields a clean AAC audio track suitable for any player.
• Feed Apple devices and Apple Music workflows — AAC is the native audio codec for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Music, Apple TV and CarPlay. Apple's "iTunes Plus" tier is 256 kbps AAC, so a 256 kbps export matches their reference quality.
• Cut bandwidth for podcast or YouTube uploads — YouTube re-encodes audio to Opus or AAC anyway; uploading a pre-trimmed AAC speeds up the pipeline. AAC also outperforms MP3 below 128 kbps, so it is the better choice when you need a small file.
• Game console and smart-TV playback — PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch/3DS and most smart TVs play .aac natively but reject many video container variants. An AAC export sidesteps codec mismatches.
• Strip the video to recover disk space — A long sports recording you only want for commentary becomes 95%+ smaller as AAC-only audio.

TS vs AAC — Format Comparison

AAC Bitrate Quick Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is converting TS to AAC lossless if the source already has AAC audio?

Not automatically. xconvert re-encodes audio to the bitrate and profile you choose. If you want a bit-perfect copy of the embedded AAC track without re-encoding, you'd need a demux tool like FFmpeg with -c:a copy. For most listening (podcasts, music, broadcast capture) re-encoding at 192 kbps or higher is sonically indistinguishable from the source. If preservation matters, pick Constant Bitrate at the source rate (often 192 or 256 kbps for broadcast).

My TS file has multiple audio tracks (e.g. English + Spanish). Which one is extracted?

The primary audio track is extracted by default — that is whichever stream the TS marks as the default service audio. For multi-language broadcast captures where you need a specific secondary track, you may need to demux with FFmpeg (-map 0:a:1) first and then run the resulting elementary stream through xconvert. Single-language recordings (the common case) need no special handling.

Why is my AAC file so much smaller than the original TS?

A TS file carries video (usually H.264 or H.265 at 5–20 Mbps for 1080p), audio (AAC or AC-3 at ~128–384 kbps), subtitles, program tables and 188-byte sync overhead. Converting to AAC discards everything except the audio elementary stream and re-encodes it to a single bitrate. Expect a 30–98% size reduction depending on whether the source was an SD radio capture or a 4K HDR sports broadcast.

Should I pick LC-AAC or HE-AAC?

LC-AAC (Low Complexity) is the safe default — universally supported on iOS, Android 2.3+, Windows 7+, macOS, browsers and consoles. HE-AAC v1 (with Spectral Band Replication) doubles perceived quality at very low bitrates (32–64 kbps), and HE-AAC v2 adds Parametric Stereo for even lower bitrates. xconvert's AAC encoder targets LC-AAC, which works everywhere. Only switch to HE-AAC if you specifically need sub-96 kbps files for streaming or voice.

What sample rate should I keep?

Broadcast TS typically uses 48 kHz audio (the broadcast industry standard); CD-rip-style content uses 44.1 kHz. Leaving Audio Sample Rate on "Original" preserves the source and avoids any resampling artifacts. Only downsample (to 22.05 or 16 kHz) if you're targeting a very small file for a voice-only podcast.

Can I cut a clip out of the TS before converting?

Yes — open the Trim control under Advanced Options and set the start time and duration. If you need finer multi-segment editing, do the trim first with the Audio Cutter tool and then run the output through this page. Trim happens during the same pass as conversion, so you do not need to wait for two separate jobs.

What is the maximum file size I can upload?

xconvert processes files through your browser session without a hard cap on most free conversions, but very large TS captures (multi-hour 4K recordings can exceed 30 GB) will be limited by your upload bandwidth and browser memory. For huge DVR archives, consider trimming locally first or converting in chunks. Most TS-to-AAC jobs (single-program SD or HD recordings) complete within a few minutes.

How is this different from converting TS to MP3 or M4A?

TS to MP3 targets the older, universally-decoded MP3 codec — slightly larger files for the same perceived quality, but maximum compatibility with legacy hardware. TS to M4A produces an MP4-container wrapper around AAC, which iTunes and Apple Music libraries prefer for metadata and album art. Raw .aac (this page) is the smallest, simplest envelope — ideal when you just want the audio bytes and don't need tags or chapter markers.

What if my AAC file is still too large?

Run the output through the AAC Compressor to drop the bitrate further, or choose a lower Constant Bitrate (e.g., 96 kbps for speech) in step 2 of this converter and rerun. Alternatively, use Specific file size to target an exact MB cap and let the encoder pick the bitrate.