How to Convert MP4 to MPEG2 Easily Using 5 Different Converters

What are the common ways to convert MP4 videos to MPEG2? What is the best converter to use? Can I do the MP4 to MPEG2 conversion for free without watermark? Find the answers in this article.

Although MP4 is a common and widely supported format, sometime we still need to convert MP4 videos to other formats so that we can edit the videos in certain software or play them on certain players. When it comes to the conversion, there is more than one way to do it. This article will show you the common ways used, the MP4 to MPEG2 converters to use on Mac and other platforms and how to use them.

MPEG2 vs. MP4: when to convert MP4 to MPEG2

How is MPEG2 different from MP4? To know the difference between MPEG2 and MP4, we need to know what they are. MPEG2 (or MPEG-2) is a commonly used codec standard used for lossy video and audio compression. MP4 (or MPEG-4 Part 14) is a commonly used container format to store video and audio.

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 latter is used in broadcast systems. When it comes to converting MP4 to MPEG2, we usually convert an .mp4 video to an .mpg video. MP4 (.mp4) is widely used to store video, audio and other data such as subtitles.

MP4 is widely supported by video software, media players and digital devices, but some devices and software 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. The following parts of this article will show you how to convert.

The best MP4 to MPEG2 converter

To do the conversion from MP4 format to MPEG2, you need a MP4 to MPEG2 converter. Cisdem Video Converter for Mac allows you to convert videos in MP4 to MPG, MPEG2 TS and other formats you need.

In addition to MP4 and MPEG2 TS and MPG, the supported input and output formats also include all other common video and audio formats such as MKV, AVI, MOD, TOD, WMV, 3GP, RM, RMVB, MOV, FLV, M4V, WebM, MTS, M2TS, VOB, etc. This is why you can use it to efficiently convert videos for iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Android phones and tablets, game consoles, media players, video editing software, etc.

This MP4 to MPEG2 converter is the best of its kind. It can also work as a YouTube downloader, DVD ripper, basic video editor and video compressor.

Step-by-step instructions on MP4 to MPEG2 conversion

After the process is completed, you can click the Tick button to open the folder that contains the converted files. This is how you can easily convert MP4 videos to MPEG2 on Mac. Unfortunately, this easy-to-use app is currently only available for Mac. But don’t worry. We will also recommend tools that can work on other platforms.

Can you convert MP4 to MPEG2 online for free with no watermark, and how?

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.

#1 online-convert.com

Available in four languages including English, this is a totally free online conversion service which 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. To convert, just go to https://video.online-convert.com/convert-to-mpeg-2 and upload your MP4 file.

# 2 convertio.co

This is another online MP4 to MPEG2 converter without watermark. To do the conversion, you only need to visit https://convertio.co/mp4-mpeg2/, upload a MP4 file from your computer hard drive or cloud services such as Google Drive and click the conversion button. After the converting process is done, you need to download the converted video file to your computer.

How to convert MP4 to MPEG2 using open-source software

Another way to convert MP4 to MPEG2 is to use free, open-source software apps. The commonly used ones are HandBrake and VLC. Compared with the best MP4 to MPEG2 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.

#1 HandBrake

Converting a 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 a 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.

#2 VLC media player

Also known as VLC, this is another open-source app that can help you convert a 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 a 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.

Conclusion

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.