Free online MTS to DAT converter

MTS footage from AVCHD camcorders is not accepted by many older video players and VCD-authoring tools that expect MPEG-1 DAT files. Converting it creates a legacy-compatible video file for VCD playback, archival systems, or software that identifies video by the .dat extension.

What the MTS format is

MTS is a transport-stream container used mainly by AVCHD camcorders and some Blu-ray recording workflows. It commonly contains H.264/AVC video with AC-3 or LPCM audio, plus metadata and multiple transport-stream packets. Sony, Panasonic, Canon, and other camcorders may save recordings as .mts or .m2ts files on memory cards.

Video editors and players such as VLC, DaVinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere Pro, and FFmpeg can usually read MTS directly, but older VCD software generally cannot.

What the DAT format is

In the Video category, DAT usually means the MPEG-1 program-stream files used on Video CDs. A VCD DAT file normally contains MPEG-1 video at 352×240 pixels for NTSC or 352×288 pixels for PAL, with MPEG-1 Layer II audio at 44.1 kHz. VCD-compatible DAT files are intended for older standalone VCD players and software that expects the MPEGAV\AVSEQ01.DAT structure on a disc.

The format offers broad compatibility with legacy MPEG-1 playback, but it does not preserve modern MTS quality. Changing the extension from .mts to .dat is not a conversion; the video and container must be re-encoded or remuxed into a compatible MPEG program stream.

How to actually convert MTS to DAT

Using the online converter

1. Open the MTS to DAT converter on 101convert.com; it can be used free without installing software.
2. Choose the source .mts file and select DAT as the output format.
3. Start the conversion and download the resulting .dat file when processing finishes.
4. Test the output in VLC or the target VCD application before deleting the original MTS file.

Using FFmpeg for a VCD-compatible file

FFmpeg provides separate presets for the two standard VCD television systems. For PAL source material, run:

ffmpeg -i input.mts -target pal-vcd output.dat

For NTSC source material, run:

ffmpeg -i input.mts -target ntsc-vcd output.dat

These presets transcode the source to MPEG-1 video, MPEG-1 Layer II audio, VCD dimensions, and VCD-appropriate bit rates. Replace input.mts with the actual filename and use a different output filename if needed. If the target software only requires an MPEG program stream rather than strict VCD parameters, a less restrictive command is:

ffmpeg -i input.mts -c:v mpeg1video -b:v 1150k -c:a mp2 -b:a 224k -ar 44100 -f mpeg output.dat

Quality and compatibility limitations

Conversion from AVCHD to VCD DAT is normally lossy twice: the MTS source is decoded and the result is encoded as low-resolution MPEG-1. Keep the original MTS files for editing or preservation, because a DAT file cannot restore lost resolution, detail, or audio quality.

Use pal-vcd for PAL material and ntsc-vcd for NTSC material; selecting the wrong standard can produce incorrect frame rates or playback problems. A standalone VCD player may also require the converted file to be authored into a Video CD image with the expected MPEGAV directory, not merely copied to a data disc.