How to convert MP4 to MPEG2? Can I do the MP4 video to MPEG2 conversion for free without watermark? Find the answers in this article.
My version of Premier Elements can't import MP4 files. Has anybody any recommendations for a free MP4 to Motion JPEG converters? Thanks. I meant to say convert to MPEG 2. ― a question asked in a Tech Advisor forum
Although MP4 is a common and widely supported format, sometimes we still need to convert MP4 videos to other formats to be compatible with certain software or players. When it comes to conversion, there is more than one way to do it. Here shows you the best MP4 to MPEG2 converters for Mac and other platforms, as well as the step-by-step guide.
To know the difference between MPEG2 and MP4, we need to know what they are.
MPEG2 (or MPEG-2) is a common codec standard for lossy video and audio compression. Typical container formats that incorporate MPEG-2 compression are MPEG2 PS (.mpg) and MPEG2 TS (.ts). The former is used on DVD-Video discs and HD DVD videodiscs, and the latter is used in broadcast systems.
MP4 (or MPEG-4 Part 14) is a frequently used container format to store video, audio, subtitles, and other data. It's widely supported by video software, media players, and digital devices, but some devices and apps such as the older versions of Adobe Premiere Elements (which support MPEG2) do not support it.
In cases like this, you need to convert MP4 to MPEG2. We usually convert an .mp4 video to an .mpg video. The following parts of this article will show you how to convert.
Cisdem Video Converter for Mac is an excellent MP4 to MPEG2 converter that aims to make audio and video conversion at a super-fast speed. Apart from MP4 (h264/h265 + AAC) and MPG (MPEG2 + AC3), it supports a vast variety of input and output formats such as MKV, AVI, MOD, TOD, WMV, 3GP, M4V, WebM, MTS, VOB, etc. This is why you can use it to efficiently convert videos for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android phones, game console, tablet, media player, and so on. It can also work as a YouTube downloader, DVD ripper, basic video editor, and video combiner.
Launch the application. Drag one or more MP4 files into this app.
Click the format button like to open the format panel. Go to “General Video” and select the output format as:
Plus, you can click the “gear” icon and adjust the video file parameters in the “Advanced Settings” window.
If you need to do some basic editing such as trimming, cropping, rotating, adding effects or subtitles, just click the Edit button.
Click button, and the conversion will start on Mac.
After the process is completed, you can click button to open the folder that contains the converted files.
Can I convert MP4 to MPEG2 online without watermark? The answer is yes. This is a frequently asked question, which is based on the commonly known fact that many online tools watermark converted files. The good news is there are online MP4 to MPEG2 tools that don’t add watermark. They are available for all platforms such as macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, etc.
Available in four languages including English, this is a totally free online conversion service that allows you to convert MP4 to a wide variety of other formats. In addition, it can also convert audios, documents, e-books and images. To access advanced features such as batch conversion, you need to become a premium user.
After the conversion, the converted file will be automatically downloaded.
This is another online MP4 to MPEG2 converter without watermark. As an all-inclusive tool, it supports an array of conversion types such as video, audio, document, presentation, ebook, and more. It ensures you to import files from computer location, Dropbox, and Google Drive.
Another way to convert MP4 to MPEG2 free is to use open-source software. The commonly used ones are HandBrake and VLC. Compared with the Cisdem Video Converter and online tools, they are a bit complicated to use. But if you have already installed one of the apps on your computer, you can try it out. Both tools have Mac and Windows versions.
Converting an MP4 file to MPEG2 using HandBrake can be a bit complex. If you are not familiar with terms like codec, encoding, decoding, etc., you might get confused with this tool. Don’t worry. You can follow the steps below on how to do the conversion.
Step 1. Open the app on your computer. Add an MP4 file by clicking the Open Source icon on the toolbar. You can also import the file by dragging and dropping.
Step 2. Click the Video tab which is on the right side of the Filters tab.
Step 3. From the Video Encoder dropdown list, select MPEG-2.
Step 4. Go to the bottom-left corner of the interface and find the Save As field. Change the file extension from .mp4 to .mpg.
Step 5. Click Browse to select a location on your computer to save the converted video file.
Step 6. Click the Start button on the top toolbar. The conversion from MP4 to MPEG2 will start.
Also known as VLC, this is another open-source app that can help you convert an MP4 video to MPEG-2 TS or PS. While it’s commonly used as a media player, it can actually work as a basic video converter with a few supported formats. We will take the macOS version as an example and show you how to use it to convert MP4 videos to MPEG2 on Mac.
Step 1. Open VLC. Drag an MP4 file into this app. Alternatively, you can add files by clicking the Open media button.
Step 2. Go to the menu bar on the top of the screen on Mac. Select File > Convert/Stream.
Step 3. The Convert & Stream dialog box will appear. In the Choose Profile section, select Custom. Click the Customize button.
Step 4. Under the Encapsulation tab, select MPEG-PS. Click Apply. Click Save as file.
Step 5. In the Choose Destination section, click Browse and choose an output location.
Step 6. Click the Save button to start the conversion.
There are different types of MP4 to MPEG2 converters available. You can choose one of them according to your need. If the video file is small in size, and converting MP4 videos to MPEG2 is not something that you do frequently, you can use an online tool. If you are passionate about video making, video editing and need to convert videos on a regular basis, it’s recommended to choose a professional and powerful video converter that supports a wide variety of formats.
Rosa has worked in Mac software industry for more than eight years. She believes that the purpose of software is to make life better and work more productively. In addition to writing, Rosa is also an avid runner.