5 Easy Ways to Convert MP4 to MPEG2 High Quality (Free & Online)

Summary: We sometimes need to convert MP4 to MPEG2 in various scenarios, such as terrestrial, broadcast, DVD, or similar discs. VideoProc Converter AI offers a simple yet versatile solution to convert MP4 to MPEG2 with no watermark, fast and in batch.

MP4 is probably the most commonly used format due to its good compatibility and balance of size and quality. Although MP4 is the dominant video format today due to its many benefits, sometimes we still need to convert MP4 to other formats to be compatible with different software or devices, such as an old DVD player or a portable DVD player for car travel. In this case, MPEG-2 is the best choice.

You will need a proper video converter to help you convert MP4 to MPEG2. Here in this article, we will show you how to convert MP4 to MPEG2, covering both online and offline, for Windows and Mac, as well as the step-by-step guide. Please keep reading and find more.

Convert MP4 to MPEG2 Windows 10/11 and Mac

VideoProc Converter AI is one of the best free MP4 to MPEG2 video converters on Windows and Mac with high quality.

Compatibility is the primary reason why people need to change MP4 to MPEG2. With the support of more than 420 codecs and file formats, VideoProc Converter AI can handle almost all your audio/video file conversion needs, including MP4 to MPEG-2, MKV, OGV, AVI, etc. A/V file conversion is straightforward and as easy as 1-2-3 with the intuitive interface of the program. With VideoProc Converter AI, you can easily convert MP4 to MPEG2 for DVD or other devices with no watermark. Follow the steps below to convert MP4 to MPEG2 free on Mac and Windows PC.

Step 1. Launch VideoProc Converter AI.

Launch VideoProc Converter AI after downloading and installing. Go to the Video Converter menu on the main interface.

Step 2. Add MP4 file(s) to the program.

Browse and select your MP4 file(s) by clicking the +Video button in the upper left corner. Click the + Video Folder button to import the entire folder. You can also import files by dragging and dropping them.

Step 3. Select MPEG2 as the output format.

Go to the Target Format button in the lower-left corner of the interface, and a window named Select Output Profile will pop up. Search for MPEG2 format in the search box. Choose the format according to your needs. Then hit the Done button to confirm your choice. VideoProc Converter AI offers presets for DVD burning, PS3, PS4, MPEG2 TS video, etc.

Step 4. Change MPEG2 quality settings (optional).

Click the gear icon named Option. Here you can set the overall quality, resolution, bitrate, frame rate, etc. VideoProc Converter AI also provides basic editing features in the Edit tab, including changing playback speed, cutting unwanted parts, adding effects and subtitles, etc.

Step 5. Start the conversion process.

Start converting MP4 to MPEG2 by clicking the RUN button in the lower right corner of the interface. Make sure the box in front of the Hardware Acceleration Engine is checked so that you can enjoy a lightning-fast conversion speed.

MP4 to MPEG2 Converter Online

The free MP4 to MPEG2 converter online also work nicely when converting MP4 to MPEG-2 if your internet connection is good. They are good for occasional uses. Most of them are pretty easy to use and especially suitable when you don't want to install any software. The following content is how to convert MP4 to MPEG2 online free with Convertio.

Note: Most online converters have limits on file size (100 MB for Convertio in this case) or concurrent conversions. Some of them won't let you set parameters such as codec, frame rates, etc. The conversion process is relatively time-consuming and related to your network environment.

Step 1. Go to https://convertio.co/mp4-mpeg2/ in your browser.

Step 2. Upload your MP4 file by clicking the red Choose Files button.

Step 3. Make sure the output format is set to MPEG2.

Step 4. Customize advanced settings like resolutions, aspect ratio, etc (optional).

Step 5. Click the Convert button to start the conversion.

Step 6. Wait to download the converted MPEG2 file.

MP4 to MPEG2 Converter Freeware

The freeware we are talking about is the VLC media player. Well-known as a phenomenal video player, VLC can also work as a video converter. If you already have VLC installed on your device, you can also use it to turn MP4 to MPEG2. The following are the steps to convert MP4 to MPEG2 VLC.

Note: Using VLC cannot promise there is no quality loss. And any conversion process will take roughly the same length as the content you are converting.

Step 1. Start VLC.

Step 2. Go to "Media > Convert / Save" in the top menu bar.

Step 3. Add your MP4 file by clicking the Add button. Then click Convert / Save.

Step 4. Select the "Video - MPEG-2 + MPGA (TS)" option from the Profile drop-down list.

Step 5. Specify the video and audio codec by clicking the wrench icon (optional).

Step 6. Click Browse to set the save path and file name.

Step 7. Press Start to start the conversion process.

MP4 to MPEG2 With HandBrake

HandBrake is one of the most famous programs to convert video/audio files. It is an open-source MP4 to MPEG2 converter that you can get completely for free. Here's how to convert MP4 to MPEG2 free.

Note: HandBrake only supports MP4, MKV, and WebM containers. The preview function is not convenient enough. Novice users may find it not easy to figure out the features they need.

Step 1. Open HandBrake on your device.

Step 2. Load your MP4 file by dragging and dropping, or using the Open Source button.

Step 3. Go to the Video tab, and select MPEG-2 from the Video Codec drop-down list.

Step 4. Click the Browse button next to the Save As field. Set the save path, and change the file extension to .mpg.

Step 5. Press the green Start Encode button to start converting.

FFmpeg Convert MP4 to MPEG2

FFmpeg is a popular command line-based tool. It includes encoders and decoders for many audio and video file formats, making it support many common and uncommon multimedia formats. FFmpeg is also an open-source program that you can get for free. Use the steps below to convert MP4 to MPEG2 free with FFmpeg.

Note: Since FFmpeg is a command-line tool, it does not have a native GUI. Users need to be very familiar with various common commands and type them with the keyboard in the command-line tool to transcode multimedia files and streams. Novice users may find it complicated.

Step 1. Download and install FFmpeg on your computer.

Step 2. Open the Command prompt.

Step 3. Type the following command.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -c:v mpeg2video -q:v 6 -c:a mp2 output.mpg

Step 4. Press Enter on your keyboard to run the command.

Conclusion

All the methods above are proven to be effective. You can use any converter above to convert MP4 to MPEG2. Online converters are good for occasional uses when the file size does not exceed the limit.

VideoProc Converter AI is highly recommended considering the ease of use, conversion speed, and effect. Novice users can benefit from the intuitive interface and rich presets. Experienced users can also customize various advanced parameters according to their needs. Plus with the Hardware Acceleration technology, VideoProc Converter AI will deliver a buttery-smooth video conversion process.

A desktop program like VideoProc Converter AI is always more stable and reliable.

MP4 vs MPEG2

MP4 (or MPEG-4 Part 14) is a container format to store video and audio, sometimes subtitles, still images and other data as well. It supports many video coding formats, including H.263, H.264, HEVC, etc.

MPEG2 (or MPEG-2) is a common codec standard for lossy video and audio compression. It is used in Digital Video Broadcast and DVDs. Typical container formats for MPEG2 are TS (MPEG transport stream) and PS (MPEG program stream).

See the table below for a more detailed comparison of MP4 vs MPEG2.

FAQ

How do I convert a video to MPEG-2?

You can use an MPEG2 converter to convert videos to MPEG-2. Here are the steps.

1. Download and install VideoProc Converter AI (compatible with both Windows and macOS).
2. Launch the program and go to the Video menu from the main interface.
3. Select and add your video(s) to the program.
4. Choose MPEG2 as the output format.
5. Set final result parameters. You can also make edits before converting (optional).
6. Click RUN to start converting the video(s) to MPEG-2.

How do I convert MP4 video to DVD?

To convert MP4 to DVD format, download and install VideoProc Converter AI for free on your device. After installing, perform the steps below.

1. Start VideoProc Converter AI and choose the Video menu from the welcome screen.
2. Add MP4 file(s) by dragging and dropping them into the program.
3. Search for DVD in the Target Format tab.
4. Choose either iDVD or NTSC/PAL DVD as output format per your needs.
5. Set advanced parameters before converting, including frame rates, aspect ratio, etc.
6. Click the RUN button to convert MP4 video to DVD.

How do I play MPEG-2 videos on my PC?

To play an MPEG-2 video on your PC, you can simply double-click it and let the system choose which program to use. If you are a Mac user, QuickTime Player should play your MPEG-2 video. If you are working on Windows, you may need to install the MPEG-2 Video Extension since Microsoft Movies & TV does not support MPEG-2 videos. You can also use VideoProc Converter AI to convert your MPEG-2 videos to a more universal format.