Free online TOD to TS converter

What the TOD format is

TOD is a video container used mainly by JVC Everio high-definition camcorders. These cameras typically record MPEG-2 video with an associated audio stream, often at 1440×1080 or 1920×1080 resolution, and store the recording with a .tod filename extension.

You usually encounter TOD files after copying footage directly from an Everio camera or its memory card. Some JVC workflows also include companion files used for low-resolution previews or camera metadata; the TOD file itself contains the high-definition recording.

What the TS format is

TS is an MPEG transport stream container designed to carry video and audio in packets. It is used for digital television, broadcast workflows, hardware playback, streaming segments, and video applications that need a fault-tolerant transport format.

A TS file can contain MPEG-2, H.264, or other supported video codecs, so changing the extension does not automatically make a TOD recording compatible. TS is useful when a device or editor specifically accepts transport streams, or when you need a container that can tolerate transmission or recording interruptions better than some file-oriented containers.

How to convert TOD to TS

Remux with FFmpeg without quality loss

Because TOD recordings are generally MPEG transport streams already, the fastest method is often a container remux. Install FFmpeg, open a terminal in the folder containing the video, and run:

ffmpeg -i input.TOD -map 0 -c copy output.ts

The -c copy option copies the existing video and audio streams instead of decoding and re-encoding them. This preserves the original quality and is much faster than a full conversion. Replace input.TOD and output.ts with the actual filenames; filenames containing spaces should be enclosed in quotation marks.

To inspect the streams before converting, run:

ffprobe input.TOD

If FFmpeg reports timestamp problems, try regenerating presentation timestamps:

ffmpeg -fflags +genpts -i input.TOD -map 0 -c copy output.ts

Transcode when remuxing is not accepted

Some programs reject the original TOD codecs or require H.264 video and AAC audio inside the TS container. In that case, use:

ffmpeg -i input.TOD -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 18 -c:a aac -b:a 192k -f mpegts output.ts

This creates an H.264/AAC transport stream. Lower CRF values increase quality and file size; 18 is a high-quality starting point, while values around 20–23 produce smaller files with more visible compression. Transcoding takes longer and cannot preserve every detail of the original recording.

Convert without installing software

You can convert the file for free on the 101convert.com website without installing software. Upload the TOD file, select TS as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting file. For private recordings or very large camcorder files, local FFmpeg conversion avoids uploading the footage and is less dependent on upload limits.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

• Do not rely on renaming .TOD to .TS. Although both commonly represent MPEG transport-stream data, the internal stream layout and metadata still determine compatibility.
• Use stream copying first because it avoids generation loss. A remux changes the container structure, not the recorded picture quality.
• Check the output with the target editor or player. Some applications accept TS only when it contains specific codecs, such as H.264 video with AAC audio, even though the TS specification supports other combinations.
• Keep the original TOD file until the TS output has been tested. A failed remux can indicate damaged timestamps, incomplete camera data, or an unsupported audio stream.
• Conversion does not increase the source resolution or restore details lost during the camera recording. Transcoding can only maintain or reduce the original quality.