MTS / AVCHD
Also known as: mts file, AVCHD, .mts, camcorder video
MTS is the video file produced by AVCHD, a high-definition format used by many camcorders and digital cameras. AVCHD records H.264 video in an MPEG transport stream, giving good HD quality but large files and limited playback support outside dedicated video software.
- AVCHD camcorder format; .mts clips
- H.264 video in an MPEG transport stream
- Large files with limited mobile playback
Where MTS / AVCHD comes from
AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) is a recording standard from Sony and Panasonic used in consumer and prosumer camcorders. The clips it writes carry the .mts extension (or .m2ts inside the camera’s folder structure).
Inside, AVCHD uses the H.264 video codec wrapped in an MPEG transport stream container. That delivers solid HD footage, but the format predates modern phones, so .mts files often will not play directly in basic phone galleries or web players.
Size and getting it to play
High-bitrate HD recording makes AVCHD footage large, and a full memory card of clips can take significant space once copied to a phone or computer.
To play or edit MTS widely, transcode it to MP4 (also H.264) for broad compatibility, or compress it to shrink the file. Most desktop video editors import MTS directly, even when phone apps cannot.