Free online TOD to MKV converter

What the TOD format is

TOD is a video file used mainly by JVC Everio high-definition camcorders, including models in the GZ-HD range. It contains an MPEG-2 transport stream with high-definition MPEG-2 video and usually MPEG audio or AC-3 audio; the camcorder may also create a matching .moi metadata file.

TOD files usually appear after copying recordings from the camcorder's storage card or hard drive. VLC, FFmpeg, and some older JVC or Windows video software can open them, but many modern applications identify them more reliably after the extension is changed to a standard container such as MKV.

What the MKV format is

MKV, or Matroska Video, is a multimedia container that can hold video, multiple audio tracks, subtitles, chapters, and metadata in one file. It is useful for archiving and media-server libraries because it supports MPEG-2, H.264, H.265, AAC, AC-3, and many other codecs.

MKV is a container, not a video-compression method. A TOD recording can therefore be placed in an MKV without re-encoding, avoiding generation loss and making the operation much faster.

How to convert TOD to MKV

Using FFmpeg without re-encoding

FFmpeg is the most direct desktop method. Install FFmpeg, open a terminal in the folder containing the recording, and run:

ffmpeg -i input.tod -map 0 -c copy output.mkv

-map 0 copies every detected stream, while -c copy remuxes the streams instead of decoding and encoding them. Replace input.tod with the actual filename; quote the name if it contains spaces:

ffmpeg -i "Everio recording.tod" -map 0 -c copy "Everio recording.mkv"

Check the result with:

ffprobe output.mkv

If FFmpeg cannot identify the source automatically, specify the transport-stream input format:

ffmpeg -f mpegts -i input.tod -map 0 -c copy output.mkv

When re-encoding is required

Use re-encoding only if the target application rejects the original MPEG-2 or audio stream, or if you need a smaller file. A broadly compatible H.264/AAC conversion is:

ffmpeg -i input.tod -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c:v libx264 -crf 18 -preset medium -c:a aac -b:a 192k output.mkv

Lower CRF values increase quality and file size; 18 is a high-quality starting point. Re-encoding takes substantially longer and cannot restore detail already absent from the source.

Using the online converter

You can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software. Upload the TOD file, select MKV as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. Do not upload recordings containing sensitive or private footage unless the service's handling policy is acceptable for that material.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

• Stream copying preserves the original MPEG-2 video and audio exactly; it changes the container, not the picture quality.
• MKV can contain the codecs found in TOD, but individual televisions, editing programs, and streaming devices may still require H.264 video or AAC audio. Re-encode only for that compatibility requirement.
• The .moi sidecar file is not needed for the MKV and usually will not be transferred. Keep the original TOD and MOI files if you may need the camcorder's recording metadata or want a source backup.
• Inspect the converted file for correct duration, audio, interlacing, and aspect ratio before deleting the source. Older camcorder footage may be interlaced, and deinterlacing during re-encoding can change motion quality.