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Convert AVI to MTS - Bridge Legacy Video to AVCHD Format

Transform older AVI videos into AVCHD format for modern camcorder workflows and Blu-ray recording.

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Step 3: Convert files

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Legacy AVI Files Need AVCHD Compatibility?

You have older AVI video files but your modern workflow demands MTS format. Maybe your Sony or Panasonic Blu-ray recorder only accepts AVCHD files, or you need to integrate legacy footage into a camcorder-based editing project. The 30-year gap between AVI files and AVCHD technology creates a compatibility barrier.

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) dates back to 1992 - Microsoft's original multimedia container that became the standard for Windows video. MTS emerged in 2006 when Sony and Panasonic jointly developed the AVCHD format for high-definition consumer camcorders. Converting AVI to MTS bridges these generations, letting you use vintage footage in modern HD workflows.

How to Convert AVI to MTS

  1. Upload your AVI file - Drag and drop or select your legacy video from any device
  2. Confirm MTS output - Your file converts to AVCHD-compatible MTS format automatically
  3. Download your MTS file - Get your camcorder-ready video instantly

The conversion process transcodes your AVI content to H.264 video with Dolby AC-3 audio inside an MPEG Transport Stream container - the exact structure AVCHD devices expect. No software installation required.

AVI vs MTS: Understanding the Format Differences

These formats come from different eras with fundamentally different design goals. Understanding their differences helps you decide when conversion makes sense.

  • Age and origin - AVI was created by Microsoft in 1992 for general multimedia; MTS was developed by Sony/Panasonic in 2006 specifically for HD camcorders
  • Video codecs - AVI can contain almost any codec (DivX, Xvid, MPEG-4, even uncompressed), while MTS uses exclusively H.264/AVC High Profile
  • Audio codecs - AVI typically uses MP3 or uncompressed PCM; MTS uses Dolby Digital AC-3 (up to 5.1 surround) or Linear PCM
  • Maximum bitrate - AVI has no specified limit; MTS caps at 28 Mbps per AVCHD 2.0 specifications
  • Resolution support - AVI supports any resolution; MTS is optimized for 720p (1280x720) and 1080i/p (1920x1080)
  • Container structure - AVI uses Microsoft's RIFF container; MTS uses MPEG-2 Transport Stream optimized for Blu-ray compatibility

In our testing, a 200 MB AVI file with DivX encoding typically produces a 150-250 MB MTS file depending on source quality and conversion settings. H.264 encoding in MTS is generally more efficient than older AVI codecs.

When AVI to MTS Conversion Makes Sense

Blu-ray Disc Recorder Integration

Many Sony and Panasonic Blu-ray recorders accept only AVCHD format for importing external video. Your old AVI home movies or downloaded clips need MTS conversion before the recorder will recognize them. In our testing, recorders that reject AVI files immediately accepted the same content after MTS conversion.

AVCHD Camcorder Workflow Consistency

If you edit primarily with camcorder footage and want to add older AVI clips, converting to MTS maintains format consistency. Your editing timeline handles all clips identically, and project exports remain predictable.

Professional HD Editing Environments

Some broadcast and professional editing suites are configured for AVCHD ingest exclusively. Converting legacy AVI content to MTS allows integration without reconfiguring import settings or installing legacy codec packs.

Archive Format Standardization

If your video archive is primarily AVCHD from camcorder recordings, converting scattered AVI files to MTS creates a uniform collection. Any AVCHD-compatible player or editor can access your entire library without codec juggling.

PlayStation and Smart TV Playback

Sony PlayStation consoles (PS3, PS4, PS5) and many Panasonic Viera and Sony Bravia smart TVs play MTS files natively. If your AVI files use obscure codecs that these devices reject, MTS conversion ensures reliable playback on your home theater system.

AVI vs MTS: Which Format Should You Keep?

Each format serves different purposes. Converting everything to MTS wastes time if you do not need AVCHD-specific features.

  • Convert to MTS when: Working with Blu-ray disc recorders, integrating with AVCHD camcorder projects, using editing software configured for camcorder imports, needing Dolby AC-3 5.1 surround audio, or playing on AVCHD-compatible home theater devices
  • Keep AVI when: Playing on Windows computers (native support since 1992), editing in software that handles legacy codecs, archiving with original quality intact, or when file size is not a concern
  • Consider AVI to MP4 instead: For sharing online, uploading to YouTube/social media, streaming to modern devices, or maximizing compatibility with smartphones and tablets

MTS is a specialized format for AVCHD ecosystems. Unless you have specific hardware that demands it, MP4 conversion often provides broader compatibility for everyday use.

AVCHD Technical Specifications

Understanding AVCHD specs ensures your converted files meet device requirements and play correctly on target hardware.

  • AVCHD 1.0 (2006) - Up to 18 Mbps, 1080i60/50 or 720p60/50 resolution, Dolby AC-3 stereo or 5.1 audio
  • AVCHD 2.0 Progressive (2011) - Up to 28 Mbps, adds 1080p60/50 progressive scan support for smoother motion
  • Video encoding - H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile with CABAC entropy coding
  • Audio options - Dolby Digital AC-3 (stereo or 5.1 surround) or uncompressed Linear PCM
  • Color depth - 8-bit 4:2:0 chroma subsampling, matching Blu-ray disc specifications
  • Frame rates - 24p, 25p, 30p, 50i, 50p, 60i, 60p depending on region and AVCHD version

Our converter produces MTS files compatible with standard AVCHD 1.0 devices. For specific bitrate or resolution requirements, check your target device documentation before batch converting.

Quality Considerations When Converting AVI to MTS

Converting between formats always involves tradeoffs. Here is what to expect with AVI to MTS conversion.

  • Standard definition AVI: Many older AVI files are 480p or lower. Converting to MTS does not magically create HD quality - your 640x480 video remains 640x480 in an HD-capable container
  • Codec transcoding: AVI using DivX, Xvid, or MPEG-4 must be re-encoded to H.264 for MTS. This is a generation loss, though typically imperceptible with proper quality settings
  • Audio conversion: MP3 audio in AVI converts to Dolby AC-3. Both are lossy codecs, so minor quality differences may occur
  • Bitrate matching: If your source AVI has very low bitrate, the MTS output inherits that limitation. AVCHD can support up to 28 Mbps, but cannot manufacture detail that was never there

In our testing, well-encoded AVI files produce excellent MTS output. Heavily compressed or very old AVI files show their age regardless of output format - conversion cannot fix fundamental source quality issues.

MTS vs M2TS: What is the Difference?

You may encounter both .mts and .m2ts file extensions when working with AVCHD content. Here is the technical reality.

MTS and M2TS are technically identical formats using the same MPEG-2 Transport Stream container. The only difference is naming convention:

  • MTS - Extension used by camcorders during recording on memory cards
  • M2TS - Extension assigned when files are imported to a computer or authored for Blu-ray

You can rename between them freely without any conversion. Both play identically on all AVCHD-compatible devices. Our converter produces .mts files, but renaming to .m2ts works if your workflow expects that extension.

Batch Convert Multiple AVI Files

Converting an entire archive of legacy AVI content for your AVCHD workflow? Upload multiple files at once and download them all as MTS. Batch conversion is essential when migrating old video collections to camcorder-compatible format or preparing footage for Blu-ray authoring projects.

For large collections, convert in batches of 10-20 files to balance efficiency with manageable download sizes.

Works on Any Device

Our browser-based converter runs entirely in your web browser with no software installation, plugins, or account registration required.

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, ChromeOS
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android tablets and phones

Convert your AVI files from any device, then transfer the MTS output to your Blu-ray recorder, camcorder, or editing workstation. Processing happens locally in your browser for privacy and speed.

Pro Tip

Before batch converting your AVI archive, test one file on your target device first. Blu-ray recorders and camcorders vary in their AVCHD interpretation. Confirm playback works before committing to a large conversion project. Check if your recorder needs the full AVCHD folder structure or accepts standalone MTS files.

Common Mistake

Users convert AVI to MTS expecting to share online or stream to modern devices. MTS files are rejected by YouTube, social media, and most streaming platforms. MTS is specifically for AVCHD hardware ecosystems. For online sharing, convert AVI to MP4 instead - it works everywhere.

Best For

Ideal for copying legacy AVI content to Blu-ray disc recorder hard drives, integrating old footage with AVCHD camcorder editing projects, PlayStation and Sony/Panasonic smart TV playback, and standardizing mixed-format archives into consistent AVCHD collections.

Not Recommended

Not suitable for online sharing, social media uploads, smartphone playback, or modern streaming devices. AVI to MP4 conversion offers far broader compatibility. Only convert to MTS when you have specific AVCHD hardware requirements - otherwise you are limiting where your videos can play.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. AVI files from any era can convert to MTS, though quality depends on the source. Very old AVI files may have low resolution (320x240 or 640x480) and dated codecs. Conversion to MTS does not improve this - your output matches source quality. Expect watchable results, but not HD quality from SD sources.

MTS and M2TS are identical formats with different file extensions. MTS is used by camcorders during recording, while M2TS is the extension after computer import or Blu-ray authoring. You can rename between them without any conversion - both play identically on all AVCHD-compatible devices.

Most Sony and Panasonic Blu-ray recorders accept properly structured MTS files. The converted files use H.264 video and Dolby AC-3 audio per AVCHD specifications. Some recorders may require files in a specific folder structure (PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM) for import.

No. Converting cannot add detail that was not in the original. If your AVI is 480p with artifacts from old compression, the MTS output has the same limitations. Conversion changes format compatibility, not quality. Well-encoded AVI produces excellent MTS; poor-quality AVI produces poor-quality MTS.

AVCHD was designed for Blu-ray disc compatibility, which uses Dolby Digital (AC-3) as a standard audio format. This ensures MTS files play on Blu-ray players without audio transcoding. AC-3 also supports 5.1 surround sound natively, useful for home theater setups.

No. YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and most social platforms reject MTS uploads. Only convert to MTS for specific hardware workflows like Blu-ray recorders or camcorder integration. For online sharing, convert AVI to MP4 instead - it is accepted everywhere.

Most common AVI codecs convert successfully: DivX, Xvid, MPEG-4, MJPEG, and uncompressed video all work. Very obscure or proprietary codecs may fail. If your AVI plays in VLC or Windows Media Player, it will likely convert to MTS without issues.

It depends on your source. Old AVI with inefficient codecs (DivX 3, Cinepak) often produces smaller MTS files thanks to superior H.264 compression. Well-compressed AVI with modern codecs may produce similar or slightly larger MTS files due to container overhead and AC-3 audio.

Standard AVCHD only supports up to 1080p resolution. 4K AVI content would be downscaled to fit AVCHD specifications. For 4K workflows, consider keeping files in MP4 or MKV format. AVCHD/MTS was designed for HD-era equipment, not modern 4K content.

AVCHD devices expect files in PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM folder hierarchy with specific naming conventions. Our converter produces standalone MTS files. For full AVCHD structure creation, you may need authoring software like multiAVCHD or tsMuxeR to generate the complete folder layout.

MP4 is better for general use - broader device compatibility, smaller files, accepted by all platforms. Choose MTS only for specific AVCHD hardware requirements: Blu-ray recorders, camcorder workflows, or PlayStation/smart TV playback. For everything else, MP4 is the practical choice.

AVCHD supports 24p, 25p, 30p, 50i, 50p, 60i, and 60p frame rates. Your source AVI frame rate converts to the nearest supported rate. Most AVI files use 24fps, 25fps, or 30fps which all convert directly. Unusual frame rates like 15fps may be doubled or adjusted for compatibility.

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