Convert BNP to AVI

An older video editor, player, or industrial system may require AVI even though a Sony Handycam records in AVCHD or MP4. The .BNP file is not the recording to convert; locate the associated .MTS, .M2TS, or .MP4 video first.

What the BNP format is

In the video context, BNP is a Sony camcorder image-management file used by some Handycam models and Sony transfer software. It stores catalog or management information associated with recordings, rather than the compressed picture and audio stream.

BNP files may appear in the camera's private folder structure alongside AVCHD content. Their exact location and role vary by model, so copy the complete card or camera folder before handling the files. A BNP file is not playable video: VLC, FFmpeg, and ordinary AVI converters cannot reconstruct a recording from it. Renaming clip.BNP to clip.AVI changes only the extension.

What the AVI format is

AVI is a Microsoft container that can hold video and audio encoded with different codecs. It remains useful when an older Windows editor, playback system, or industrial application specifically requires AVI.

AVI does not specify a single quality level or codec. For older software, Xvid or MPEG-4 Part 2 video with MP3 audio is generally more compatible than H.264 video with AAC audio, although some applications require a particular codec. AVI files are often larger and carry less modern metadata than MP4 files, so AVI is usually a compatibility target rather than the preferred archival or web-sharing format.

How to convert the recording

Find the source video

1. Connect the Handycam or its memory card and copy the complete camera folder to a local drive. Do not copy only the BNP file.
2. Search the copy for .MTS, .M2TS, or .MP4 files. In many AVCHD cards, recordings are under PRIVATE/AVCHD/BDMV/STREAM, although Sony folder layouts vary.
3. If the clips are difficult to identify, use Sony's supplied transfer application or PlayMemories Home, when compatible with the camera, to import the original recordings. The application may use BNP data to organize clips, but the imported video remains the conversion input.

Convert with FFmpeg

FFmpeg provides direct control over the AVI container and its codecs. From a terminal in the folder containing the source file, run:

ffmpeg -i input.MTS -c:v libxvid -q:v 3 -c:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 -ac 2 output.avi

Replace input.MTS with the actual filename. With this command, -q:v 3 requests high-quality variable-bitrate Xvid video; values such as 4 or 5 reduce the file size and quality. -ac 2 creates stereo MP3 audio, which avoids compatibility problems with older AVI software that cannot handle multichannel audio.

If the FFmpeg build does not include Xvid, use its MPEG-4 Part 2 encoder instead:

ffmpeg -i input.MTS -c:v mpeg4 -q:v 3 -c:a libmp3lame -q:a 2 -ac 2 output.avi

A graphical alternative such as Avidemux can open the actual MTS, M2TS, or MP4 file, set the video codec to Xvid or MPEG-4, set audio to MP3, choose an AVI output container, and save the result. HandBrake is suitable for MP4 and generally does not provide AVI output in current releases, so it is not the appropriate final tool for an AVI requirement.

Use an online converter only for the source video

Services such as CloudConvert or Convertio may accept an actual .MTS or .MP4 file and produce AVI, subject to their current size, codec, and account limits. They cannot meaningfully convert a BNP management file. Uploading private camera footage also exposes it to a third party; local FFmpeg or Avidemux avoids that issue.

Quality and compatibility limits

All picture and sound quality comes from the original MTS, M2TS, or MP4 recording; BNP contains no missing video data that conversion can recover. Transcoding AVCHD to Xvid or MPEG-4 Part 2 is lossy, so retain the original camera files for archiving.

Check the AVI in VLC and in the application that requested it. Verify picture, audio synchronization, frame rate, rotation, and interlacing. Interlaced Handycam footage may need deliberate deinterlacing for a progressive workflow; allowing an arbitrary player to deinterlace during playback does not change the file.

Older AVI software may fail with files above 4 GB, despite OpenDML extensions that allow some AVI files to exceed that size. Split the output or use a newer application when that limitation applies. AVI conversion can also discard AVCHD-specific surround audio, subtitles, GPS data, and camera-management timestamps.