Last updated on January 23rd, 2024 at 02:34 am

 Difference between MTS & M2TS? MTS vs M2TS?

If you have been recording video in a AVCHD camcorder, you would have come across these two file extensions – .mts and m2ts

MTS and M2TS

MTS and M2TS are the video container formats or wrappers used by the MPEG-4 AVC /H264 codec employed by AVCHD camcorders and video cameras.

Both the MTS and M2TS are the file extensions for AVCHD video supporting 480i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p high-definition videos.

The two file extensions and their difference?

When AVCHD video is recorded in a camcorder its file extension is MTS and when it’s captured and imported into the computer for editing its file extension changes to M2TS.

In other words MTS is used for recording video whereas M2TS for storing video in a Blu-ray disc.

MTS = camera recording
M2TS  (MPEG-2 Transport Stream) = Blu-ray disc video

M2TS Versatility

According to the book, Handbook of Digital Imaging by Michael Kriss,  the M2TS container in Blu-ray has the capability of supporting

• one primary video track,
• an optional secondary video track
• up to 32 audio tracks
• up to 32 subtitle tracks
• an optional menu track

Playback

M2TS Playback

M2TS could be played back in Sony PlayStation, Sony and Panasonic and other HDTVs that support AVCHD.

Full HD Media Digital Media Players support the format as well.

M2TS Software Players

If you wish to play M2TS over your computer, you could use the
Windows Media Player, VLC and 5KPlayer among others.