What format should I convert my MTS files to?

[badjujumatt]

Highest quality for conversion? I am trying mpeg2.

[yoda313]

We need to know what you will be watching them on.

You only need to do mpeg2 if you want to make regular dvds.

If you are just playing back on a computer anything will do.

If you are using a game console you can do more but there are restrictions. The ps3 and xbox 360 can't play everything, they can play a lot but must meet certain relatively strict requirements.

A settop media player like a wdtv media player can play just about anything you throw at it.

Tablets have their own restrictions on video playback. However they are getting looser relatively speaking with each generation and as they get more powerful can handle things like high def with ease. But check your specs to be sure.

If you want the widest range of compatibility it will be a low base profile h264 inside a mp4 file. That should play in most anything these days. Keep it standard def if you know you have a device that can't do hd. Please note dvd players that can play divx and xvid wont' do hd. Bluray players can do hd files.

So let us know what your playing back on and we can narrow down the suggestions.

Edit - also highest quality will be the original file. IF this is for computer playback just leave it as it is.

Don't forget to backup your original file should you ever need to get back to it and start over. I'm going to guess this is probably from a video camera if you are thinking about mpeg2 hence the possibility of doing dvd.

Also don't forget it HAS to be converted to sd mpeg2 for authoring to dvd. You could of course use avstodvd and import the original mts file and have it do the conversion and create a menu (it uses hcenc or quenc to encode to mpeg2 - its a suite so its all packaged together you won't have to do separate programs on your own)