Free online TOD to MTS converter

JVC Everio camcorders often create TOD files, while video editors, Blu-ray authoring tools, and AVCHD-compatible devices commonly expect MTS. Converting is useful when the receiving software does not recognize TOD or requires an MPEG transport stream with H.264 video.

What the TOD format is

TOD is a video container used mainly by selected JVC Everio high-definition camcorders. It normally contains MPEG-2 video and AC-3 audio, commonly at 1440×1080 or 1920×1080 resolution, with interlaced footage recorded from the camera. TOD files are encountered after copying footage from older Everio media or camera storage; related recordings may also appear with the .MOD extension for standard-definition video.

What the MTS format is

MTS is an MPEG transport stream container associated with AVCHD video. It usually stores H.264/AVC video and AC-3 audio and is used by HD camcorders, Blu-ray workflows, media players, and editing applications. MTS supports transport-stream metadata and is more widely recognized by AVCHD-compatible software than the JVC-specific TOD extension.

How to actually convert TOD to MTS

For a direct conversion without installing software, use the TOD-to-MTS converter on 101convert.com and download the resulting file after processing.

For local conversion, FFmpeg is suitable for batch processing and gives control over codecs and quality:

ffmpeg -i input.tod -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 18 -pix_fmt yuv420p -c:a ac3 -b:a 384k -f mpegts output.mts

1. Install FFmpeg and place the source file in a convenient folder.
2. Replace input.tod with the actual TOD filename; quote the name if it contains spaces.
3. Run the command in a terminal or command prompt.
4. Open output.mts in the target editor or player and verify video, audio, resolution, and field order.

The command keeps the source dimensions unless another video filter is specified. -crf 18 produces high-quality H.264 output; raise the value for a smaller file or lower it for less compression. If the destination accepts MPEG-2 inside a transport stream, a remux may be possible with -c copy, but many AVCHD-oriented applications require H.264 and therefore need transcoding.

Quality and compatibility considerations

Changing the extension from .tod to .mts does not convert the file because the codecs and container metadata remain unchanged. Transcoding MPEG-2 to H.264 introduces a generation loss, so retain the original TOD files for archival use.

TOD footage is often interlaced. Avoid deinterlacing unless the destination is progressive-only; otherwise inspect the converted file for combing or motion artifacts. If the target editor rejects the MTS file, use an H.264 profile and level supported by that application, or export to a more broadly supported editing container such as MP4 while retaining the original camera files.