Free online DAV to M2V converter

Security cameras and DVRs commonly save recordings as DAV, while DVD-authoring and some legacy editing workflows require an MPEG-2 elementary video stream with an .m2v extension. Converting usually requires exporting the proprietary recording first, then encoding the exported video as M2V.

What the DAV format is

DAV is a proprietary video format used by CCTV recorders and surveillance cameras, especially systems from Dahua and some compatible OEM manufacturers. Recorders create DAV files for local storage or USB export, and their contents may include proprietary timestamps, motion data, encryption, or codec variations that ordinary media players cannot interpret.

Dahua Smart Player and similar vendor software can usually open these recordings. Hikvision systems more commonly use other proprietary extensions, but a file from a particular recorder should be opened with the player supplied for that recorder model rather than identified by its extension alone.

What the M2V format is

M2V is an MPEG-2 elementary video stream. It contains video only; audio is not stored in the M2V file. DVD-authoring applications, older broadcast workflows, and some MPEG-2 editing tools use M2V alongside a separate audio stream such as MPA or AC-3.

Because M2V is a standardized MPEG-2 stream, it is more compatible with legacy authoring and playback software than many proprietary surveillance files. It is not normally the best format for general web sharing, and it often produces larger files than H.264 or H.265 at comparable visual quality.

How to convert DAV to M2V

Method 1: export with the recorder’s player, then encode with FFmpeg

1. Open the DAV file in the manufacturer’s desktop player, such as Dahua Smart Player or the equivalent software supplied with the DVR.
2. Use the player’s export function, for example Export → AVI or Save as MP4. Select the required camera channel and time range. If the player offers a choice, use a standard AVI or MP4 export rather than another proprietary format.
3. Check the exported file in VLC or another normal media player before encoding. Vendor players sometimes export a playable file only after applying a proprietary decoder.
4. Install FFmpeg and run this command:

ffmpeg -i exported.mp4 -an -c:v mpeg2video -q:v 2 -f mpeg2video output.m2v

Replace exported.mp4 with the actual export filename. The -an option removes audio because M2V cannot contain it, -c:v mpeg2video selects MPEG-2 video, and -f mpeg2video creates an elementary stream rather than an MPEG program or transport stream.

For a more controlled DVD-style encode, specify a frame rate and bitrate appropriate to the source:

ffmpeg -i exported.mp4 -an -vf format=yuv420p -c:v mpeg2video -b:v 6000k -maxrate 8000k -bufsize 1835k -r 25 -f mpeg2video output.m2v

Use -r 29.97 for NTSC-style footage or -r 25 for PAL-style footage only when that matches the source or the authoring specification. Avoid changing the frame rate unless required, because it can introduce duplicated or dropped frames.

Method 2: use the built-in online converter

You can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software. Upload the DAV file, select M2V as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. If the service cannot decode a particular DAV recording, export it to MP4 or AVI with the recorder’s player first and convert that standard export instead.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

DAV recordings may be encrypted, damaged, incomplete, or tied to a specific recorder model. FFmpeg cannot reliably decode every DAV variant directly, so a vendor-player export is the safer first step. Keep the original DAV file as evidence or an archival source; conversion can remove timestamps, channel information, motion metadata, and authentication features.

Encoding an exported file as MPEG-2 is a lossy second-generation conversion. Use the highest-quality export available and avoid scaling unless the destination requires a particular frame size. The output M2V contains no audio; retain the original audio separately or export it as a compatible stream if the authoring application requires synchronized sound.