Free online TREC to M2TS converter

What the TREC format is

TREC is the recording container created by TechSmith Camtasia Recorder and Camtasia. It can contain screen video, microphone audio, system audio, cursor data, and recording metadata. TREC files commonly appear after recording a presentation, software demonstration, training session, or desktop workflow; they are normally opened and edited in Camtasia rather than general-purpose video players.

TREC is not a standard transport stream, so changing the filename extension does not convert it. Camtasia must first decode the recording and export a conventional video file.

What the M2TS format is

M2TS is a media container based on MPEG-2 Transport Stream. It is used for AVCHD camcorders, Blu-ray video structures, broadcast-style delivery, and hardware players that expect transport-stream media. Typical M2TS streams contain H.264/AVC or HEVC video with AAC, AC-3, or another supported audio codec.

Compared with TREC, M2TS is much more widely supported by video hardware and authoring tools, but it does not preserve Camtasia-specific editing information such as separate cursor tracks, callouts, or timeline objects.

How to convert TREC to M2TS

Using Camtasia and FFmpeg

1. Open the TREC file in Camtasia.
2. Choose Share → Local File or the equivalent export command in your Camtasia version.
3. Select MP4 as the output format. Use the source recording's resolution and frame rate when Camtasia offers those settings, then export the file as recording.mp4.
4. Install FFmpeg and run this command to create an M2TS-compatible transport stream:

ffmpeg -i recording.mp4 -c:v libx264 -preset medium -crf 18 -c:a aac -b:a 192k -f mpegts -mpegts_m2ts_mode 1 recording.m2ts

The command re-encodes video as H.264 and audio as AAC. For faster processing when the MP4 already contains compatible H.264/AAC streams, try stream copying:

ffmpeg -i recording.mp4 -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a? -c copy -f mpegts -mpegts_m2ts_mode 1 recording.m2ts

Stream copying only works when the codecs, stream layout, timestamps, and bitrate meet the destination device's requirements. If playback fails, use the first command and check the device's required resolution, frame rate, audio codec, and maximum bitrate.

Using the online converter

You can convert the file on the 101convert.com website for free without installing software. Upload the TREC file, select M2TS as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting file when processing finishes. If the service cannot decode a particular TREC version, export the recording from Camtasia to MP4 first and convert that MP4 instead.

Quality and compatibility limitations

Exporting from TREC to MP4 and then encoding M2TS can cause two generations of processing if the MP4 is also re-encoded. Use a high-quality Camtasia export and -crf 18 or a similar visually lossless setting when quality matters; use a higher CRF value to reduce file size.

For Blu-ray or AVCHD authoring, an M2TS file alone may not be sufficient. The authoring application can require specific H.264 level, frame rate, GOP structure, audio codec, bitrate, and accompanying playlist or clip metadata. A generic FFmpeg-generated M2TS is suitable for many players but is not automatically a valid Blu-ray disc title.