[Best AVCHD Converter] How to Convert AVCHD to MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV, MOV, and More?

Q: "I bought a Sony AX100 Handycam from Amazon which promised that this camcorder supports MP4 and AVCHD formats. The recorded footage work well on the camcorder but can't play on my computer! How can I solve this issue?"

A: Well, AVCHD videos are generally saved in .mts or .m2ts extension format. Despite the fact that AVCHD is supported by many video editors, you may still run into AVCHD footage playback failure in some media players, phones, TVs, or editing apps, such as an unrecognized file, Windows Media Player MTS no sound, laggy playback, or failed import. Therefore, I've sorted out 5 well-chosen AVCHD converters below to help you convert AVCHD files to more familiar video formats without any difficulty.

AVCHD itself is mainly a camera recording standard, commonly using H.264 video and Dolby Digital/Linear PCM audio in an MPEG transport stream. For daily use, the best output format depends on where you want to play, edit, or save the video.

Convert AVCHD to MP4 if you want the safest choice for Windows, macOS, phones, tablets, TVs, online sharing, and most editing programs. MP4 with H.264 keeps a good balance between compatibility, file size, and quality.

Convert AVCHD to AVI when an older player, legacy editing program, or specific device only accepts AVI. Keep in mind that AVI is an older container and may create larger files depending on the codec you choose.

Convert AVCHD to MPEG if you need MPEG-2/MPG for DVD-style workflows, older TVs, or some broadcast-related tools. MPEG-4 is also available when you want a more modern compression option.

Convert AVCHD to MKV for local archiving, multiple audio tracks, subtitles, or flexible playback on media players. MKV is not as universal as MP4 on mobile devices, but it is very useful for keeping more streams in one file.

Convert AVCHD to MOV if your workflow is mainly based on Apple software or MOV-friendly editors. For broader playback outside Apple apps, MP4 is usually easier.

Let's begin with the highly recommended WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro. As an all-purpose video and audio processing toolkit, it not only works as a credible AVCHD converter capable of converting AVCHD files to MP4, AVI, MPEG, MKV, MOV, and more than 500 formats and devices, but also incorporates multiple modules, allowing you to edit AVCHD files, compress MTS files, batch process camera clips, and fine-tune video/audio parameters in a much easier way. Unlike other applications, the self-explanatory layout and intuitive GUI make it more accessible to people at all levels.

Free downloadFree download this easy-to-use program and jump in how to convert AVCHD files efficiently.

HandBrake, needless to say, is a big name in free video transcoder, helping you convert video from nearly any format to a selection of modern, widely supported presets. Let's see how it works to convert AVCHD files to MP4, MKV, or WebM format with several mouse-clicks.

Step 1. Download and install HandBrake from official website: https://handbrake.fr/

Step 2. Run HandBrake, add a single AVCHD footage or a folder with multiple AVCHD files for batch conversion.

Step 3. After your AVCHD files are loaded, press "Presets" menu to expand the built-in presets and choose your preferred option.

Step 4. Select "MP4", "MKV", "MOV" or "WebM" format under "Summary" tab for different use. You can also switch to other tabs to make your desired changes.

Step 5. Click "Browse" button to choose a destination folder.

Step 6. Press "Start Encode" button on the top bar to make HandBrake convert AVCHD files.

XMedia Recode is another well-known free A/V transcoding program that also functions as an AVCHD converter freeware for Windows. Compared with HandBrake, XMedia Recode offers a wider range of output containers and device profiles, so it is more flexible when you need AVCHD to AVI, MOV, MPEG, MKV, MP4, or other specific formats.

Step 1. Download XMedia Recode from official website: https://www.xmedia-recode.de/en/.

Step 2. Run XMedia Recode, click on "Open File" button to add your AVCHD files. Or drag and drop them into the interface. XMedia Recode will list the AVCHD videos with Name, Chapters, Duration, Video/Audio Streams and Subtitle Tracks.

Step 3. Under "Format" tab, select any video format in the drop-down list of "Format" and "File Extension" respectively. You can also select a specific device in the "Profile" drop-down list.

Optional. You're allowed to switch to each tab for modifying parameters, such as changing video codecs, add or remove subtitles, cut and crop video, edit video chapters, change or pass-through audio, customize ID3 tag, etc.

Step 4. Choose a destination path to save the converted files on the bottom of XMedia Recode.

Step 5. Lastly, click on "Add to queue" button, and then press "Encode" to make XMedia Recode convert AVCHD files. With GPU acceleration enabled, the conversion is supposed to be complete in a short while.

VLC media player, the most universal media player, can not only play AVCHD files smoothly, but also works as a handy AVCHD video converter. Here's the walkthrough.

Step 1. Download and install VLC from official website: https://www.videolan.org/

Step 2. Run VLC, click "Media" menu and choose "Convert / Save" option.

Step 3. Click "+ Add" button under "File" tab to import one or multiple AVCHD files, then press "Convert / Save" button to proceed.

Step 4. Select any option in the drop-down list of "Profile" section.

Step 5. Click "Browse" button to choose a destination folder. If you've added multiple AVCHD files for VLC batch conversion, you're not allowed to change the directory path. The converted videos will be saved on the same location of your original AVCHD files.

Step 6. Press "Start" button to convert AVCHD files with VLC.

For some small-sized AVCHD files that need to be converted, it's a good option to turn to some online AVCHD converters. Convertio is a decent website I've been using for years. You can have a try.

Step 1. Visit Convertio through this link: https://convertio.co/avchd-converter/

Step 2. Upload your AVCHD video clips from PC, cloud drive or URL. Online converters are more suitable for small clips because free accounts usually have file-size, speed, and queue limits.

Step 3. Select any preferred format in the drop-down list. Then press the "Gear" button to open "Settings" window to modify video and audio parameters at will.

Step 4. Hit "Convert" button to convert AVCHD files online.

Step 5. When the conversion is complete, download the converted video files back to your PC.

When it comes to the AVCHD format (Advanced Video Codec High Definition), many people may be at a loss to explain what the file type is. It's more appropriate to say AVCHD is a camera recording standard rather than a single common playback format. It is specially designed for camcorders and digital cameras to record HD footage in .mts extension (on camcorder) or .m2ts (after import to computer). AVCHD adopts MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 for videos and both uncompressed Linear PCM and Dolby Digital (Dolby AC-3) for audio. Stereo and multichannel surround (5.1) are both supported. AVCHD 2.0 also added AVCHD Progressive and 3D-related specifications, but compatibility still depends on the player, device, and editing software you use.

Actually, it's inevitable to degrade quality unless you modify the parameters to convert AVCHD files without re-encoding. When you use an AVCHD video converter, once it triggers the video transcoding, moving from one codec to another is most likely going to involve some loss in quality.

So, you can try to mitigate the extent of that by keeping the original resolution and frame rate, using a proper bitrate, choosing H.264/H.265 for MP4/MKV, or using a less compressed codec when the target software requires it. Fortunately, most AVCHD converters will optimize the presets for the conversion so that you cannot tell the difference with the naked eye.

1. Should I convert AVCHD to MP4 or MKV?

Choose MP4 if you mainly care about playback compatibility, sharing, or editing in common apps. Choose MKV if you want to keep multiple audio/subtitle streams or save the videos for local playback and archiving.

2. Can I convert AVCHD to AVI for an old player?

Yes. AVI can be useful for older devices and legacy software. However, AVI may create larger files and may not support modern codecs as smoothly as MP4 or MKV.

3. Why convert AVCHD to MPEG?

MPEG-2/MPG is still useful for some DVD-style or older TV workflows, while MPEG-4 can provide more efficient compression. Pick it only when your target device or software specifically needs MPEG.

4. Is MOV better for Mac?

MOV is a good option for Apple-oriented workflows and many editing programs. But if you want to send the video to different devices or users, MP4 is usually the safer export format.

5. Why are some AVCHD files split into many clips?

Some camcorders split long recordings into smaller MTS/M2TS clips because of the storage file system or camera recording rules. If the clips belong to one long event, import the whole folder structure when possible or merge them after conversion.

Compared with CLI applications with confusing scripts, the five GUI-based AVCHD video converters mentioned above bring much convenience to everyday AVCHD conversion. If you just want the most compatible result, convert AVCHD to MP4. If you need a specific workflow, choose AVI, MPEG, MKV, or MOV according to your device, editor, or archive needs. Hopefully, this updated post is of some help to you guys. Thanks for reading!