Guide
MPG to MP4: old DVD and camcorder video that plays on any phone
Drop an MPG, MPEG or VOB file above and get an MP4 that plays on any phone. It is usually much smaller too.
In short
- An MPG or MPEG file becomes an MP4 that plays on any phone or computer.
- An MPG from a DVD or camcorder will not open on most phones or apps.
- The MP4 is usually much smaller than the MPG file, and the picture looks the same.
- It accepts .mpg, .mpeg, .m2v and unprotected .vob files. Copy-protected DVDs cannot be read.
- Nothing is uploaded. Everything runs inside this browser tab.
MPG to MP4
Runs in your browser · files never leave this page
Drop a MPG file here
or
The engine reads the file first. An H.264 picture with AAC sound is copied into the MP4 with no re-encode. Anything else is written as H.264 + AAC.
Your file never leaves this page. The engine downloads once, the work happens in this tab, and there is no upload, no account and no storage. Close the tab and the file is gone unless you downloaded it.
More free tools: Video compressor · Video resizer · Video to MP4 · Video to MP3 · Video clipper · all tools
What is an MPG file?
An MPG file holds the kind of video DVDs and older camcorders recorded, called MPEG-1 or MPEG-2.
- MPG files come from DVD folders (.vob), old camcorders and TV captures.
- Inside an MPG you find MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video, with MP2 or AC-3 sound.
- H.264 needs far less data for the same picture, and every phone plays it.
What the converter does
It copies what an MP4 can hold as it is, and re-encodes only what it cannot.
- Copied: H.264 video and AAC sound go into the MP4 untouched. No quality loss.
- Re-encoded: any other video becomes H.264 at a high quality setting (CRF 23).
- Sound: any other sound becomes AAC at 160 kbps.
- Web ready: the MP4 is set up to start playing before it fully loads.
What happens to each part of your MPG file
The first video track and the first sound track are used. The rest is left out.
| Inside the file | What you get in the MP4 | How long |
|---|---|---|
| MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video | Re-encoded once to H.264 | Minutes for a long file |
| MP2 or AC-3 sound | Converted to AAC at 160 kbps | Seconds |
| Unprotected .vob from a DVD folder | Accepted | - |
| Copy-protected DVD | Cannot be read | - |
Inside the file: MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video
- What you get in the MP4
- Re-encoded once to H.264
- How long
- Minutes for a long file
Inside the file: MP2 or AC-3 sound
- What you get in the MP4
- Converted to AAC at 160 kbps
- How long
- Seconds
Inside the file: Unprotected .vob from a DVD folder
- What you get in the MP4
- Accepted
- How long
- -
Inside the file: Copy-protected DVD
- What you get in the MP4
- Cannot be read
- How long
- -
This is the whole editor
Highlight a phrase and a clip lands on those exact words. No timeline, no keyframes, no layers.
How to convert MPG to MP4
Four steps, all in this tab.
MPG to MP4 in four steps
Drop your MPG file
In the box at the top
The engine reads it
Which video and sound it holds
Copy or re-encode
Only what MP4 cannot hold is redone
Download the MP4
Saved to your device
Limits of a browser tool
Everything runs on your own device, so your device sets the limits.
- File size: up to 500 MB runs comfortably. Bigger files may run out of memory.
- Speed: the engine uses one processor core, so a long re-encode takes minutes.
- First run: the engine downloads once, about 32 MB. After that it starts fast.
- Phones: it works, but a laptop is faster and has more memory.
Questions people ask
- Can I convert a DVD to MP4 with this?
- Only unprotected .VOB files you have copied to your device. Most bought DVDs are copy-protected, and this converter cannot read those.
- Will the MP4 be smaller than the MPG?
- Usually, yes. H.264 stores the same picture in much less data than MPEG-2.
- What is the difference between MPG and MPEG?
- None. Both names mean the same format. The converter also takes .m2v and .vob files.
- How long does MPG to MP4 take?
- Every frame is re-encoded on one core of your device. A short clip is quick; a full DVD chapter takes a long time.
- Is my MPG file uploaded anywhere?
- No. The tool runs inside this browser tab, so your MPG file never leaves your device. Only the engine itself is downloaded, about 32 MB, once per visit.
Want a finished video with captions, not just a converted file? Cutroom edits your clip for you. Your first video is free.