AVCHD files are based on the MPEG4 CODEC, can be burned to Blu-ray discs and played in compatible devices, such as Blu-ray disc players and the Sony PlayStation3. Also, the files can be played back directly from a camcorder on an HD television set, through HDMI or component-video cable. On a computer, the files can be played from the camcorder connected via USB as an external storage device, or from removable media or from the computer’s internal hard disk drive. Presently, the default media players from Apple (QuickTime) will not play AVCHD natively. And iMovie also can not import m2ts directly, but M2TS to iMovie Converter can convert m2ts to iMovie, so import m2ts to imovie will be easy.

M2TS is the proper file extension for BDAV and is allowed in modern file systems that use long file names. A problem arises when you use a legacy file system that uses the 8.3 naming convention. It basically means that you can only have 8 characters before the dot and 3 characters after that as its extension. As M2TS consists of 4 characters, it cannot be used as an extension in legacy file systems. This led to the creation of MTS as a substitute extension.

The need to make BDAV compatible with the 8.3 naming conventions stems from the use of AVCHD of this format. AVCHD camcorders use memory cards or other forms of digital storage instead of the typical tapes for recording videos; directly encoding the file into the BDAV format. Since memory cards use FAT32 for compatibility purposes, AVCHD is forced to use the 8.3 naming convention for saving the files. Blu-ray discs can use long filenames, thus they use the M2TS extension.

A difference worth noting between MTS and M2TS is a direct consequence of AVCHD and Blu-ray; because AVCHD uses a simplified version of Blu-ray encoding. AVCHD only has 1 video encoding algorithm and 2 audio encoding algorithms. So if you get an MTS file, you can reasonably hazard a guess that the files comes from an AVCHD camcorder and that it doesn’t use any of the more complex encoding algorithms that are used in Blu-ray discs.

Though both MTS and M2TS are file extensions for the same AVCHD and both support 720p and 1080i HD video formats, there is a slight difference between the two. In the M2TS file, the video file is saved in the high definition Blu-ray BDAV format. Video data on the Blue-ray discs can be saved in one of the three video codecs – MPEG2 Part 2, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, or SMPTE VC-1; and the audio data in Dolby digital, DTS, or the uncompressed Linear PCM. The M2TS file extension is written as “xxxxx.m2ts” where the “xxxxx” are a five digit number corresponding to the audio-visual clip.

To sum it all up, MTS and M2TS are just two extensions used for the same file container format. The differences between the actual contents are not caused directly by the extension but by the standard that encoded the file.

Summary:

1.The two are different extensions used for the same container format

2.MTS is the extension used in legacy file systems while M2TS is used in more modern ones

3.MTS usually means that the file comes from an AVCHD camcorder while M2TS is from proper Blu-ray

AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition) is a file-based format for the digital recording and playback of high-definition video.

Developed jointly by Sony and Panasonic, the format was introduced in 2006 primarily for use in high definition consumer camcorders. Favorable comparisons of AVCHD against HDV and XDCAM EX solidified perception of AVCHD as a format acceptable for professional usage. Panasonic released the first professional AVCHD camcorder in autumn of 2008, followed by Sony in the first quarter of 2010.

AVCHD 1080i is available on most AVCHD camcorders. For some models this is the only recording mode offered. AVCHD-SD is used in the shoulder-mount Panasonic HDC-MDH1, available on Southern-Asian markets, as well as on its North American AG-AC7 cousin. Several new models from JVC like the GZ-HM650, GZ-HM670 and GZ-HM690 can record AVCHD-SD video too. AVCHD-SD is not compatible with consumer DVD players, because it employs AVC video encoding instead of MPEG-2 Part 2. AVCHD-SD can be played on a Blu-ray Disc player.

MTS and M2TS are both file extensions for the high definition digital video camera recorder format, AVCHD (Advanced Video Codec High Definition). AVCHD was jointly established by Sony Corporation and Panasonic Corporation in 2006 for use in their digital tapeless camcorders.

Though both MTS and M2TS are file extensions for the same AVCHD and both support 720p and 1080i HD video formats, there is a slight difference between the two. In the M2TS file, the video file is saved in the high definition Blue-ray BDAV format. Video data on the Blue-ray discs can be saved in one of the three video codecs – MPEG2 Part 2, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, or SMPTE VC-1; and the audio data in either Dolby digital, DTS, or the uncompressed Linear PCM. The M2TS file extension is written as ‘xxxxx.m2ts’ where the ‘xxxxx’ are a five digit number corresponding to the audio-visual clip.

Below are the video and audio file formats and codecs that QuickTime Player can playback in Mac OS X v10.6.x or OS X Lion:

Video

File format:QuickTime Movie (.mov),MPEG-4 (.mp4, .m4v),MPEG-2 (OS X Lion only),MPEG-1,3GPP,3GPP2,AVI,DV

Codecs or components:MPEG-2 (OS X Lion only),MPEG-4 (Part 2),H.264,H.263,H.261,Apple ProRes,Apple Pixlet,Animation,Cinepak,Component Video,DV,DVC Pro 50,Graphics,Motion JPEG (Mac OS X v10.6.x only),Photo JPEG,Sorenson Video 2,Sorenson Video 3

Audio

File format:iTunes Audio (.m4a, .m4b, .m4p),MP3,Core Audio (.caf),AIFF,AU,SD2,WAV,SND,AMR

Codecs or components:AAC (MPEG-4 Audio),HE-AAC,Apple Lossless,MP3,AMR Narrowband,MS ADPCM,QDesign Music 2,Qualcomm PureVoice (QCELP),IMA 4:1,MACE 3:1 (Mac OS X v10.6.x only),MACE 6:1 (Mac OS X v10.6.x only),ALaw 2:1,ULaw 2:1,24-Bit Integer,32-Bit Integer,32-Bit Floating,Point,64-Bit Floating Point

For mac user, they want to watch avchd file on mac,then how to get AVCHD MTS files off HD Video cameras/camcorders to Mac?

With AVC HD camcorders, you typically need to connect the HD video camera to your Mac using a USB cable, firewire or iLink(Sony). Once connected and powered on, the camcorder should appear on the desktop as a new disk. The location of the films on the camcorders disk will vary depending on manufacturer. It is desirable that you copy the movies to your Mac hard disk before converting or editing.

If you want to playback your video to computer, you will find most AVCHD camcorders are with high definition M2TS/MTS format. This format itself is good even perfect, but for Mac users, they must pay some effort to make it works well with their PC or Book. From QuickTime, iMovie, FCP, iDVD to YouTube, AVCHD M2TS format is not a fully compatible format. Even the latest iMovie’11 and FCPX. It can do nothing when the M2TS can’t be detected by them. You should to convert avchd video on mac,there are many softwares can help you do this,AVCHD converter mac is one of the software.

So, I really, REALLY need some help with this.

“I recently received a HD camera as a gift - a Nikon Coolpix L110. It takes HD video.I have iMovie ‘09 - I don’t have the money to get iMovie ‘11 right now; college has wiped out my account - but there’s a huge problem.I was able to import the video (.mov files - codecs are apple intermediate codec, linear PCM) into iMovie without any problems. Hooray.

There was a huge problem when I began to edit them. I could only hear the audio, but there was a black screen for a video.

I tried exporting the video to see if I would get the same effect and I did.

I tried to convert the .mov vid into an mp4 file with the Miro Video Converter - free in the app store - and I received an error message saying it couldn’t convert the file.” from discussion apple

Each kind of Nikon camcorder recording different HD format video. I.e. Coolpix L120 record HD MP4 format (AVC, H.264 encode), Coolpix P500 record MOV (iFrame/h.264) format (AVC, H.264 encode), Coolpix L24 record AVI Motion, Coolpix S9100 record MP4 format (AVC H.264 encode).

1. Coolpix L series: Nikon Coolpix L120, Nikon Coolpix L110, Nikon Coolpix L100, Nikon Coolpix L24, Nikon Coolpix L22, Nikon Coolpix L11, Nikon Coolpix L3, Nikon Coolpix L2,

2. Coolpix P series: Nikon Coolpix P500, Nikon Coolpix P300, Nikon Coolpix P100, Nikon Coolpix P9o, Nikon Coolpix P80, Nikon Coolpix P7100, Nikon Coolpix P7000

3. Coolpix S series: Nikon Coolpix S9100, Nikon Coolpix S8200, Nikon Coolpix S8100, Nikon Coolpix S6100, Nikon Coolpix S4100, Nikon Coolpix S3100, Nikon Coolpix S100

And iMovie supported modes are the following and require “Footage must be imported through iPhoto”:

Nikon Coolpix AW100,Nikon Coolpix AW100S,Nikon Coolpix L120,Nikon Coolpix P500,Nikon Coolpix S100 Nikon Coolpix S1200pj,Nikon Coolpix S6200,Nikon Coolpix S8200,Nikon Coolpix S9100

Why not import Nikon Coolpix to iMovie directly? Is there a app to convert any Nikon Coolpix footage to iMovie format for direct editing, hd video converter for mac is right the best solution. HD converter for mac is designed to convert Nikon Coolpix MP4, MOV, AVI Motion to iMovie MOV, MP4 Mac MOV for iMovie, also you can convert Coolpix footage to FCP, FCE, iDVD for editing and convert to QuickTime, iTunes for playing.

HD video converter mac can let you edit your video, you can:

Merge multiple videos: Join and convert multiple separated HD videos and regular videos to one single file.

Trim HD video length: Capture video clips from HD video and regular video to only convert your favorite parts.

Crop video: Crop to get rid of redundant parts such as the black sides around your video and any part you want to remove.

Edit video effect: Edit video brightness, contrast and saturation, and set special video effects such as embossment, old film, gray etc.

Have a lot of Canon Vixia camcorder videos but plan to play or edit Canon Vixia M2TS video on Mac OS X Lion? Your favourite Vixia HFS, Vixia HFM, Vixia HFR, Vixia HV series, all recorder in AVCHD formats with an .M2TS extension when connect it to computer.

When you finish photography, the first thing you should do is transfer the Canon Camcorder MTS video to Mac for backup or playback. Follow the tips to easily backup your shooting.

1: Turn on your camcorder and make sure your camcorder is set to the right mode to import videos or photos.

2: Connect camcorder to Mac with USB cable(a 6 pin or 4 pin cable), insert smaller four-pin end of the FireWire cable into the the FireWire port of the camcorder and the the larger six pin end, and insert it into the FireWire port of your Mac.

3: Your Mac will automatically launch iMovie, So you can review your video or select “Import All”, and make sure your camcorder is set to “Automatic”.

Notes: Not all the models of Canon Vixia camcorder can be recognized by iMovie. Some of them are partially supported with Video stabilization limitations or jittery playback. Anyway, there is a professional program designed for Canon Vixia camcorder users to transfer or edit Canon Vixia M2TS video in a safe and efficient way.

Mac Canon Vixia Video Converter is assuredly the easiest and quickest way for Canon camcorder owner to transcode HD M2TS or MTS video to Mac-compatible formats like MOV, MPEG4, etc. Meanwhile, it has various optimized presets for editing applications like Final Cut Express, FCP or iMovie; portable devices like iPad, iPhone 4, iPod Classic, iTouch, BlackBerry, Zune, Creative Zen, iRiver, etc.

Three steps on how to convert or transfer Canon Vixia video to Mac , iMovie or FCP, etc

Step 1: Download the Mac Canon Vixia video conversion program, then connect Canon Vixia camcorder to Mac. Click “Add File” to load .mts or .m2ts shootings into the application.

Step 2: Choose the output video format in the drop-up list of “Profile”. If you intend to edit the recorded clips in iMovie, select iMovie video->iMovie MPEG-4 H.264 video format as the target format.

Step 3: Hit “Start” to begin the Canon Vixia to iMovie conversion.

In addition, the Canon Vixia Video Converter for Mac also provides rich options such as Canon Vixia video trimming, Canon shooting cropping, Canon Vixia video effect, snapshot favourite picture and so forth. Know more about editing features of Mac HD camcorder video editor.