What is M2TS?

M2TS (MPEG-2 Transport Stream) files are the HD video container used on Blu-ray discs in the BDMV folder structure (BDMV/STREAM/00000.m2ts). They contain H.264/AVC or VC-1 video at 1080p/1080i resolution with high bitrates (up to 40 Mbps), Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, multiple subtitle tracks, and chapter markers. M2TS is also used by AVCHD camcorders for recording HD video to SD cards and hard drives.

M2TS is encountered when ripping Blu-ray discs, working with AVCHD camcorder footage, HD video editing, and archiving Blu-ray collections. Professional videographers use M2TS from Sony, Panasonic, and Canon camcorders. While excellent quality, M2TS files are large (5-20 GB per hour) and often converted to MP4 for easier playback on devices. Used in video production and Blu-ray authoring workflows.

Did you know? M2TS supports lossless audio formats like Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD!

History

M2TS was developed as part of the Blu-ray specification to deliver high-definition video with superior audio quality on optical discs.

Key Milestones

  • 2006: Blu-ray format released
  • 2007: AVCHD camcorders adopt M2TS
  • 2008: HD format war won by Blu-ray
  • 2010: 3D Blu-ray with M2TS
  • 2016: 4K UHD Blu-ray (HEVC)
  • Present: Standard for Blu-ray discs

Key Features

Core Capabilities

  • Full HD: 1920×1080 resolution
  • H.264/AVC: Efficient HD compression
  • Lossless Audio: TrueHD, DTS-HD MA
  • Multi-Track: Multiple audio/subtitle tracks
  • High Bitrate: Up to 40 Mbps
  • Blu-ray Standard: BDMV structure

Common Use Cases

Blu-ray Discs

HD movie distribution

Camcorders

AVCHD video recording

Ripping

Blu-ray backup/archiving

Video Production

HD editing workflows

Advantages

  • Excellent HD video quality
  • Lossless audio support
  • Multiple tracks (audio/subs)
  • Blu-ray standard format
  • High bitrate capability
  • Chapter/menu support
  • Professional quality

Disadvantages

  • Very large file sizes
  • Limited device compatibility
  • Requires powerful hardware
  • Not streaming-friendly
  • Often needs conversion
  • Complex container structure

Technical Information

Format Specifications

Specification Details
File Extension .m2ts, .mts
MIME Type video/mp2t
Video Codec H.264/AVC, VC-1
Audio Codec Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, AC3
Resolution 1920×1080 (Full HD)
Bitrate 10-40 Mbps

Common Tools

  • Players: VLC, PowerDVD, MPC-HC
  • Ripping: MakeMKV, DVDFab, AnyDVD HD
  • Converters: HandBrake, FFmpeg, tsMuxeR
  • Editors: Adobe Premiere, Vegas Pro, Avidemux