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How-To Guide

How to Convert MTS to MP4

MTS (also called M2TS) is the AVCHD video format used by Sony, Panasonic, Canon, and other camcorders since 2006. AVCHD cameras record in MTS directly to SD cards or internal storage. While MTS is excellent quality (H.264 in an MPEG-2 Transport Stream container), editing software often requires conversion to MP4 for smoother playback.

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FormatDrop doesn't convert MTS to MP4 yet. The methods below use free tools that do. FormatDrop's own converters cover common image, audio, video and PDF formats, all in your browser.

Convert MTS to MP4 with free tools

  1. 1

    HandBrake (recommended for beginners)

    Download HandBrake from handbrake.fr. Open HandBrake, click Open Source and select your MTS file. Choose the 'Fast 1080p30' preset, check that Format says MP4, then click Start Encode. HandBrake re-encodes the video, so it takes a while for long clips.

  2. 2

    FFmpeg (command line, fast)

    To keep the video untouched and only convert the sound: ffmpeg -i input.mts -c:v copy -c:a aac output.mp4. AVCHD sound is Dolby AC-3 or PCM, and FFmpeg can't copy AVCHD's PCM into MP4, so converting the sound to AAC is the safe choice. To re-encode everything: ffmpeg -i input.mts -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -c:a aac output.mp4. Batch convert: for f in *.MTS; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:v copy -c:a aac "${f%.MTS}.mp4"; done.

  3. 3

    Join recordings the camera split into several files

    AVCHD cameras split a long recording into several MTS files, such as 00000.MTS and 00001.MTS. Join them before converting so there's no gap or jump at the seams: ffmpeg -i "concat:00000.MTS|00001.MTS" -c:v copy -c:a aac joined.mp4. Editors that import the whole AVCHD folder from the card join split recordings for you.

  4. 4

    Video editors (Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro)

    If you're editing the footage, you may not need to convert at all. Premiere Pro and DaVinci Resolve import MTS files directly. Final Cut Pro wants the whole AVCHD folder from the card: copy the card's PRIVATE folder to your drive, then use Import from Camera and Open Archive. Export as MP4 (H.264) when you're done.

Why convert MTS to MP4?

MTS footage from AVCHD camcorders needs conversion for editing in non-professional software, uploading to YouTube, and sharing with others. MP4 (H.264) is universally compatible with every platform and editing tool.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between MTS and M2TS?
MTS and M2TS are almost identical — both are AVCHD video streams in MPEG-2 Transport Stream format. MTS is used for files on Sony and Panasonic cameras stored directly in the AVCHD directory structure. M2TS is used in Blu-ray disc structures. AVCHD files hold H.264 video with Dolby AC-3 or linear PCM audio; Blu-ray M2TS files can carry other codecs too. FFmpeg and HandBrake handle both with the same commands.
Why does my MTS file have audio sync issues after conversion?
It usually comes from timestamps, for example where the camera split one long recording into several MTS files. Join split recordings first (see the concat step above) rather than converting each piece. If a single file still drifts, re-encode the sound with -af aresample=async=1 added to the FFmpeg command; it pads or trims the audio to match the timestamps.
Can I edit MTS files directly in DaVinci Resolve?
Yes — DaVinci Resolve (including the free version) imports AVCHD MTS files natively via the Media Pool. For smooth playback with MTS, create Optimized Media (Playback menu → Generate Optimized Media) — DaVinci transcodes MTS to DNxHR internally for smooth editing without conversion. When you export (Deliver page), output as MP4 H.264.
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