Free online OGV to MPG converter

Some older DVD players, televisions, and editing applications accept MPEG program streams but reject Ogg-based OGV files. Converting the video to MPG makes it usable with MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 hardware and software, although the conversion may reduce quality and increase file size.

What the OGV format is

OGV is a video file that uses the Ogg container, most commonly with Theora video and Vorbis audio. FFmpeg, VLC, Kdenlive, OpenShot, and other open-source video tools can create or export OGV files; they also occur in older web-video collections, screen recordings, and Linux-based workflows.

The .ogv extension identifies the container rather than one mandatory codec combination. An OGV file can therefore contain codecs other than Theora, so a converter must inspect the actual streams before selecting output settings.

What the MPG format is

MPG, also written as .mpeg, usually refers to an MPEG program stream containing MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video and MPEG Layer II audio. It is supported by many older televisions, DVD-era players, set-top boxes, and editing programs.

MPG provides broader legacy compatibility than OGV, but MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 are less efficient than modern codecs. An MPG export can be larger than the source even when the picture looks similar, and the extension alone does not specify the exact MPEG profile, resolution, frame rate, or bitrate.

How to actually convert OGV to MPG

Using the built-in online converter

1. Open the OGV-to-MPG converter on 101convert.com; it can be used free without installing software.
2. Upload the .ogv file and choose MPG as the output format.
3. Start the conversion, then download the resulting .mpg file when processing finishes.

Use a desktop converter instead when the video is private, very large, or requires control over MPEG codec, bitrate, frame rate, or audio settings.

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg converts OGV files reliably and exposes the settings needed for older MPEG hardware. The following command creates an MPEG-2 program stream with MPEG-2 video, MP2 audio, 4:2:0 pixel format, and a moderate video bitrate:

ffmpeg -i input.ogv -c:v mpeg2video -b:v 4000k -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a mp2 -b:a 192k -ar 48000 output.mpg

Replace input.ogv with the source filename and output.mpg with the desired output name. Lowering -b:v 4000k reduces size and quality; raising it preserves more detail but produces a larger file. For a video-only source, add -an and omit the audio options.

For equipment that specifically requires MPEG-1, use MPEG-1 video instead:

ffmpeg -i input.ogv -c:v mpeg1video -b:v 2000k -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a mp2 -b:a 192k -ar 44100 output.mpg

Quality and compatibility limits

Both Theora and MPEG-1/MPEG-2 are normally lossy codecs, so converting an OGV file to MPG cannot restore detail already lost in the source. Avoid enlarging the frame during conversion; use the original dimensions unless the target device requires a specific size.

Check the target device’s requirements before choosing settings. Some hardware expects MPEG-2 at 720×576 or 720×480, 25 or 29.97 frames per second, and 48 kHz audio; other devices accept only MPEG-1 with lower resolutions and 44.1 kHz audio. A generic .mpg file may still be rejected if its stream parameters do not match the device.

OGV subtitles, chapters, multiple audio tracks, and metadata may not survive the conversion. Burn subtitles into the picture before encoding if the target player cannot display subtitle streams, and verify the finished MPG with the intended player rather than relying only on its filename.