CONVERT
MTS → MOV
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Fast, secure MTS to MOV conversion. No registration required.
Setup: MTS is the AVCHD camcorder variant of the MPEG transport stream. Goal: an interchangeable MOV. Repackaging a MTS file into MOV is one of the fastest video jobs there is. When the codecs already match the target container specification, the bytes are literally copied across — no re-encoding, no quality drop, no long wait. Upload above and watch the progress bar usually fly. In practice MTS is the AVCHD camcorder variant of the MPEG transport stream. On the other end, MOV is Apple's QuickTime container, a close cousin of MP4 with extra editing metadata.
AVCHD Video
Source formatMTS (AVCHD) is a high-definition video format from Sony and Panasonic camcorders.
QuickTime Movie
Target formatMOV is Apple's QuickTime container format, widely used in video production on macOS and iOS. It supports high-quality codecs like ProRes and is the default recording format for iPhones and professional cameras.
Why convert MTS to MOV
QuickTime Movie is better supported than AVCHD Video across web uploads, social networks and consumer devices. Converting trades the niche advantages of MTS for broad playback and fewer "file type not supported" messages. Stream copy (when codecs match) keeps the video bit-identical to the source.
HOW TO CONVERT
MTS → MOV
Upload the MTS
Drop your MTS onto the uploader. Files up to 25 MB run on the free tier without registration; paid plans go up to 2 GB.
Stream-copy or re-encode
FFmpeg probes the codecs; if compatible, it stream-copies (no quality loss). Otherwise it transcodes at matching bitrate.
Download the MOV
Fetch the converted MOV as soon as it is ready. Both files auto-delete within two hours.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send MOV files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for MTS.
Embed in documents
Drop MOV output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
MOV often produces smaller files than MTS for web, email and storage.
Archive & future-proof
Store in a widely-supported format that will still open on future operating systems without legacy plugins.
MTS vs MOV — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
MTS Strengths
- Native format for every AVCHD camcorder since 2006.
- H.264 compression — small files for high-def quality.
- Direct compatibility with iMovie, Premiere, Resolve, Final Cut.
- Carries Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on flagship camcorders.
Limitations
- Slow to decode — editors typically transcode for editing.
- Proprietary folder-structure conventions complicate direct import.
- Largely legacy as smartphones replaced dedicated camcorders.
MOV Strengths
- Professional-grade container — supports ProRes, DNxHD, and every pro codec.
- Multi-track friendly — video, audio, subtitles, chapters, markers all coexist.
- Native in every major NLE (Final Cut, Premiere, Resolve, Avid).
- Low overhead — the ISOBMFF structure is efficient.
- Timecode, alpha channels, and HDR metadata are first-class citizens.
Limitations
- Windows and Linux need QuickTime or FFmpeg-based players to read all features.
- ProRes-encoded MOVs are gigantic — 4K clips run 400-900 MB/minute.
- Metadata format diverges slightly from MP4, which causes interop bugs.
MTS vs MOV — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
MTS
- MIME type
- video/mp2t
- Extension
- .mts
- Container
- BDAV MPEG-2 Transport Stream (192-byte packets)
- Video codecs
- H.264 (AVCHD Main/High Profile)
- Audio codecs
- AC-3 (Dolby Digital), LPCM
MOV
- MIME type
- video/quicktime
- Container
- QuickTime File Format (ISO Base Media File Format)
- Extensions
- .mov, .qt
- Common codecs
- ProRes, H.264, HEVC, DNxHD, Animation
- Max file size
- 2^64 bytes
| Specification | MTS | MOV |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | video/mp2t | video/quicktime |
| Extension | .mts | — |
| Container | BDAV MPEG-2 Transport Stream (192-byte packets) | QuickTime File Format (ISO Base Media File Format) |
| Video codecs | H.264 (AVCHD Main/High Profile) | — |
| Audio codecs | AC-3 (Dolby Digital), LPCM | — |
| Extensions | — | .mov, .qt |
| Common codecs | — | ProRes, H.264, HEVC, DNxHD, Animation |
| Max file size | — | 2^64 bytes |
MTS vs MOV — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
MTS
- 1 min HD AVCHD (17 Mbps) ~130 MB
- 1 hour AVCHD Full HD ~8 GB
MOV
- iPhone 4K clip (HEVC, 1 min) 170-300 MB
- 4K ProRes 422 (1 min) 400-600 MB
- 1080p ProRes 4444 (1 min) 800 MB - 1.5 GB
Quality & Compatibility
Stream-copy is bit-perfect: when the codecs inside MTS match what MOV can carry, the frames are copied across without re-encoding and the output is visually identical to the source. When transcoding is required, we target CRF 20–23 H.264 — visually transparent for most content — and keep audio bitrate at 192 kbps AAC.
Tips for Best Results
- Stream-copy beats re-encoding by orders of magnitude — check if your MTS already uses MOV-compatible codecs before picking Advanced settings.
- For social uploads, 1080p at 30 fps strikes the best quality-to-size ratio; 4K is often downscaled server-side anyway.
- Keep the MTS if you plan further editing — transcoded MOV is fine for final delivery but not for intermediate edits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only when it has to. If the codecs inside MTS (usually H.264 or H.265 for video, AAC for audio) are accepted by MOV, we stream-copy — the bytes are repackaged into the new container with zero re-encoding and no quality loss. When the source uses a codec the target does not support, we transcode at a matching bitrate to keep the visual quality close to the original.
With stream copy, expect the job to finish in seconds to tens of seconds regardless of video length — the work is mostly rewriting the container. Transcoding is slower (roughly real-time: a ten-minute clip takes about ten minutes) because every frame must be decoded and re-encoded. The progress bar shows which mode applies.
Yes. Resolution, frame rate, colour space and bit depth are preserved by default; stream copy is literally bit-identical on these parameters. If you explicitly pick a lower bitrate or a different codec in Advanced, the output is rebuilt to those settings, but the default is always "match the source".
Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
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Read guideSecure & Private Conversion
Your files are encrypted during transfer, processed in isolated containers, and automatically deleted within 60 minutes. We never read, share, or store your data.