CONVERT TS → MKV (TS to MKV)
Fast, secure TS to MKV conversion. No registration required.
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Automatic format identification and lossless transcoding across 201+ formats.
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HOW TO CONVERT TS → MKV
Upload the TS
Drop your TS onto the uploader. Files up to 25 MB run on the free tier without registration; paid plans go up to 2 GB.
Stream-copy or re-encode
FFmpeg probes the codecs; if compatible, it stream-copies (no quality loss). Otherwise it transcodes at matching bitrate.
Download the MKV
Fetch the converted MKV as soon as it is ready. Both files auto-delete within two hours.
Situation. TS is the MPEG transport stream, used in broadcast and HLS streaming segments. Solution: a MKV, produced below. Repackaging a TS file into MKV is one of the fastest video jobs there is. When the codecs already match the target container specification, the bytes are literally copied across — no re-encoding, no quality drop, no long wait. Upload above and watch the progress bar usually fly. Context: TS is the MPEG transport stream, used in broadcast and HLS streaming segments. MKV is the Matroska container, flexible enough to carry nearly any codec plus chapters and subtitles.
Why convert TS to MKV
Matroska Video is better supported than MPEG Transport Stream across web uploads, social networks and consumer devices. Converting trades the niche advantages of TS for broad playback and fewer "file type not supported" messages. Stream copy (when codecs match) keeps the video bit-identical to the source.
TS vs MKV — Technical specifications
Side-by-side comparison of the technical details.
TS
- MIME type
- video/mp2t
- Extensions
- .ts, .m2ts, .mts
- Standard
- ISO/IEC 13818-1 (MPEG-2 Systems)
- Packet size
- 188 bytes (standard); 192 bytes (M2TS/Blu-ray)
- Primary use
- Broadcast TV + HLS streaming
- MIME Type
- video/mp2t
- Extension
- .ts
- Category
- Video Files
- Full Name
- MPEG Transport Stream
- Conversion Engine
- FFMPEG
MKV
- MIME type
- video/x-matroska
- Extensions
- .mkv, .mka (audio), .mks (subtitles)
- MIME Type
- video/x-matroska
- Extension
- .mkv
- Category
- Video Files
- Full Name
- Matroska Video
- Conversion Engine
- FFMPEG
- Container structure
- EBML (Extensible Binary Meta Language)
- Related
- WebM (restricted MKV subset)
- Max tracks
- Practically unlimited
| Specification | TS | MKV |
|---|---|---|
| MIME type | video/mp2t | video/x-matroska |
| Extensions | .ts, .m2ts, .mts | .mkv, .mka (audio), .mks (subtitles) |
| Standard | ISO/IEC 13818-1 (MPEG-2 Systems) | — |
| Packet size | 188 bytes (standard); 192 bytes (M2TS/Blu-ray) | — |
| Primary use | Broadcast TV + HLS streaming | — |
| MIME Type | video/mp2t | video/x-matroska |
| Extension | .ts | .mkv |
| Category | Video Files | Video Files |
| Full Name | MPEG Transport Stream | Matroska Video |
| Conversion Engine | FFMPEG | FFMPEG |
| Container structure | — | EBML (Extensible Binary Meta Language) |
| Related | — | WebM (restricted MKV subset) |
| Max tracks | — | Practically unlimited |
TS vs MKV — Strengths and limitations
What each format does best, and where it falls short.
TS Strengths
- Designed for noisy channels — packet-level error correction.
- Multi-program: one TS can carry several TV channels.
- Native format for all digital TV broadcasts and HLS streaming.
- Streaming-first: no need to download whole file to start playing.
- 30+ years of stable, deployed infrastructure.
Limitations
- Packet overhead (~3% vs Program Stream).
- Seek index is implicit — requires scanning for random access.
- Multiple audio/subtitle selection requires parsing PMT (Program Map Tables).
MKV Strengths
- Carries virtually any codec — H.264, H.265, AV1, VP9, Opus, FLAC, AAC, you name it.
- Multiple audio and subtitle tracks, chapters, and menus in one file.
- Patent-free container — no licensing fees.
- Attached fonts and metadata ride along for self-contained playback.
- Streamable and seekable with built-in index/cue tables.
Limitations
- Not natively supported in Apple's QuickTime or Safari without third-party tools.
- Windows needed codec packs (or "Films & TV" app updates) to play it out of the box.
- Hardware decoders on older TVs and streamers often reject MKV.
Quality & Compatibility
Stream-copy is bit-perfect: when the codecs inside TS match what MKV can carry, the frames are copied across without re-encoding and the output is visually identical to the source. When transcoding is required, we target CRF 20–23 H.264 — visually transparent for most content — and keep audio bitrate at 192 kbps AAC.
Tips for Best Results
- Stream-copy beats re-encoding by orders of magnitude — check if your TS already uses MKV-compatible codecs before picking Advanced settings.
- For social uploads, 1080p at 30 fps strikes the best quality-to-size ratio; 4K is often downscaled server-side anyway.
- Keep the TS if you plan further editing — transcoded MKV is fine for final delivery but not for intermediate edits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only when it has to. If the codecs inside TS (usually H.264 or H.265 for video, AAC for audio) are accepted by MKV, we stream-copy — the bytes are repackaged into the new container with zero re-encoding and no quality loss. When the source uses a codec the target does not support, we transcode at a matching bitrate to keep the visual quality close to the original.
With stream copy, expect the job to finish in seconds to tens of seconds regardless of video length — the work is mostly rewriting the container. Transcoding is slower (roughly real-time: a ten-minute clip takes about ten minutes) because every frame must be decoded and re-encoded. The progress bar shows which mode applies.
Yes. Resolution, frame rate, colour space and bit depth are preserved by default; stream copy is literally bit-identical on these parameters. If you explicitly pick a lower bitrate or a different codec in Advanced, the output is rebuilt to those settings, but the default is always "match the source".
MPEG Transport Stream
Source formatTS (Transport Stream) is used for broadcasting, streaming, and recording live TV.
Matroska Video
Target formatMKV is a flexible, open-standard container format that can hold unlimited video, audio, subtitle, and metadata tracks. It is popular for high-definition video and supports virtually any codec.
Going the other way? Convert MKV back to TS with the same engine.
Common Use Cases
Share across platforms
Send MKV files to anyone without worrying about whether they have the right software for TS.
Embed in documents
Drop MKV output into Word, Google Docs, PowerPoint, Notion or a website without conversion warnings.
Optimize size
MKV often produces smaller files than TS for web, email and storage.
Archive & future-proof
Store in a widely-supported format that will still open on future operating systems without legacy plugins.
TS vs MKV — Typical file sizes
Approximate file sizes for common scenarios.
- HLS video segment (6 seconds, 1080p) 2-5 MB
- 1 hour recorded TV (HD) 4-8 GB
- Satellite transponder capture (1 min) ~300 MB
- 45-min episode (H.264 1080p) 800 MB - 1.6 GB
- 2-hour movie (H.265 1080p) 1.5-3 GB
- 2-hour movie (4K HDR H.265) 15-40 GB
Working with 4K/8K Video or Files Over 100MB?
Web browsers impose strict RAM limits on media streams. For gigabyte 4K/8K footage, GPU-accelerated NVENC transcode, or batch subtitle muxing, dedicated desktop encoders deliver zero upload delays.
One-time payment with zero recurring commitment: convert files up to 1 GB, OCR, PDF/A, and .ZIP batches for 24 hours.
Full 7 days of unlimited conversions, up to 2 GB per file, 100% ad-free with zero subscription.
High-throughput enterprise pipeline for files up to 2,048 MB, 50-file batches, ISO PDF/A, and priority processing.
Uncapped 4K/8K multi-track transcoding with hardware NVENC, VideoToolbox, and AV1/HEVC pipelines.
10-bit color grading workflows, Apple ProRes mastering, and automated watch-folder queues.
Related comparisons
See these formats side by side to understand which fits your use case best.
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