Free online TOD to OGV converter

What the TOD format is

TOD is a video container used by selected JVC Everio high-definition camcorders, including models in the GZ-HD series. These cameras record MPEG-2 video, commonly in 720p or 1080i formats, inside files with the .TOD extension; standard-definition Everio recordings commonly use the related MOD format instead.

You usually encounter TOD files after copying footage from a JVC camcorder or its memory card. Some older JVC software and video editors can open TOD directly, but many general-purpose applications require conversion first.

What the OGV format is

OGV is an Ogg video container generally used with Theora video and Vorbis audio. It is an open format supported by FFmpeg, VLC, and software that accepts Ogg media, although modern browsers and editing applications often prefer MP4 with H.264 or WebM with VP9 or AV1.

OGV is useful when a program specifically requests Ogg/Theora, when you need an open container and codec combination, or when an older web or Linux workflow is built around Ogg media. The conversion normally requires transcoding because MPEG-2 video from TOD cannot simply be copied into a standard OGV file as Theora.

How to actually convert TOD to OGV

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

ffmpeg -i input.TOD -c:v libtheora -q:v 7 -c:a libvorbis -q:a 5 output.ogv

This decodes the TOD file, encodes video with Theora, encodes audio with Vorbis, and writes the result as output.ogv. The Theora quality scale is generally 0–10; higher values preserve more detail and increase file size. Vorbis quality uses a similar scale, with 5 providing a practical starting point.

For a folder of recordings, run the command separately for each file or use a shell script that replaces the .TOD extension with .ogv. Keep the original files because transcoding cannot restore detail lost during encoding.

If you prefer not to install software, you can convert the file for free on the 101convert.com website. Upload the TOD file, select OGV as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting file.

Quality and compatibility considerations

TOD recordings may be interlaced, especially 1080i footage. If the converted video shows comb-like horizontal artifacts during motion, add FFmpeg’s deinterlacing filter:

ffmpeg -i input.TOD -vf yadif -c:v libtheora -q:v 7 -c:a libvorbis -q:a 5 output.ogv

Deinterlacing changes the source frames and may reduce vertical detail, so omit -vf yadif when the source is progressive or the target player handles interlacing correctly. Check the output duration, audio synchronization, frame dimensions, and aspect ratio before deleting the TOD original.

Some FFmpeg builds are compiled without libtheora or libvorbis. If FFmpeg reports that an encoder is unavailable, install a build with those libraries enabled; changing the output filename alone will not create a valid OGV file.