Free online TOD to FLAC converter

What the TOD format is

TOD is a video container used mainly by JVC Everio high-definition camcorders, including models such as the GZ-HD7 and GZ-HD30. The files usually contain MPEG-2 video in an MPEG transport-stream structure and an audio track encoded as AC-3 or MPEG-1 Layer II. You typically encounter .TOD files copied from a JVC camera or exported by software that preserves the camera's original recording format.

TOD is not normally an audio-only format. Players and editors such as VLC, FFmpeg, and some versions of CyberLink PowerDirector can read it, but support depends on the installed codecs and the exact camera recording mode.

What the FLAC format is

FLAC, or Free Lossless Audio Codec, stores PCM audio without losing information during compression. It reduces file size compared with uncompressed WAV while preserving the decoded sample values, and it supports metadata such as artist, album, track title, and embedded cover art.

FLAC is suitable for archiving, editing workflows that accept lossless audio, and playback on computers, media servers, and many dedicated audio devices. It does not improve the source: if the TOD audio is AC-3 or MPEG audio, FLAC preserves the decoded result but cannot restore information discarded by the original lossy codec.

How to convert TOD to FLAC

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg is the most reliable desktop method because it can demux the TOD container and decode its common audio codecs directly.

1. Install FFmpeg from the official package for your operating system and make sure the ffmpeg command is available in a terminal or Command Prompt.
2. Place the TOD file in an accessible folder.
3. Run:

ffmpeg -i "input.TOD" -map 0:a:0 -vn -c:a flac "output.flac"

-map 0:a:0 selects the first audio stream, -vn discards the video, and -c:a flac encodes the extracted audio as FLAC. Replace the filenames with the actual names; keep quotation marks when a path contains spaces.

To inspect the streams before converting, run:

ffprobe "input.TOD"

If the file contains more than one audio stream, change the mapping to -map 0:a:1, -map 0:a:2, and so on. To convert every audio stream into separate files, run the command once for each stream.

Using 101convert.com

You can also convert the file for free on the 101convert.com website without installing software. Select the TOD input, choose FLAC as the output, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. Uploading is unsuitable for private recordings or files restricted by a slow connection; FFmpeg keeps the source on your computer.

Quality and compatibility considerations

The output sample rate, bit depth, and channel layout normally follow the decoded TOD audio. Since FLAC is lossless from that point onward, increasing its compression level changes encoding time and file size, not audio quality.

Some TOD files use audio or container variations that older applications cannot decode. Updating FFmpeg usually resolves this; if it does not, copy the file from the camera again and verify that it is complete. A TOD file with no audio stream cannot produce a meaningful FLAC file, and a damaged stream may produce a partial output with decoding errors.