Video Format Comparison

TS vs MTS — Transport Stream vs MPEG-2 Transport Stream

TS and MTS both store MPEG-2 Transport Stream packetized video, but they're used in different contexts. TS files come from over-the-air HDTV recordings, IPTV captures, and broadcast workflows. MTS files come from AVCHD camcorders (Sony, Canon, Panasonic). The container is essentially the same — the difference is in the codec inside and the metadata.

TSvsMTS

Quick Verdict

Use TS when…

TS files are broadcast-style streams — keep them only for live recording archives. Convert to MP4 for editing or sharing.

Use MTS when…

MTS files come straight from camcorders. Most modern editors handle MTS natively; MP4 conversion is only needed if you're sharing with software that explicitly requires MP4.

TS vs MTS: Feature Comparison

Feature	TS	MTS
Source	TV recording, IPTV, broadcast	AVCHD camcorders
Typical codec	MPEG-2 or H.264	AVCHD H.264
Audio	AC-3, MPEG audio	AC-3 or LPCM
Editor support	Variable — needs remuxing often	Native in modern NLEs
File extension on disk	.ts	.mts (or .m2ts)
Best converted to	MP4 for sharing	MP4 only if required

When TS wins

✓Source: TV recording, IPTV, broadcast
✓Typical codec: MPEG-2 or H.264
✓Audio: AC-3, MPEG audio

When MTS wins

✓Source: AVCHD camcorders
✓Typical codec: AVCHD H.264
✓Audio: AC-3 or LPCM

Frequently asked questions

Are TS and MTS the same format?

Container-wise, yes — both are MPEG-2 Transport Stream. The differences are conventions: TS uses 188-byte packets and contains broadcast metadata; MTS often uses 192-byte timestamped packets (similar to M2TS on Blu-ray) and contains AVCHD-specific data.

How do I convert TS or MTS to MP4?

Lossless remux: `ffmpeg -i input.ts -c copy output.mp4` or `ffmpeg -i input.mts -c copy output.mp4`. If the audio codec isn't compatible (AC-3 in MP4), re-encode it: `-c:a aac -b:a 192k`.