MPEG files: MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, and why they are so large
What .mpg and .mpeg files contain, why converting shrinks them so much, and what interlacing does. Convert MPEG in your browser, no upload.
At a glance
- Type
- Video
- Container format
- Yes
- Extensions
- .mpeg, .mpg
- MIME type
- video/mpeg
- Common codecs
- mpeg1video, mpeg2video, mp2
An .mpeg or .mpg file normally holds MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video — the codecs behind Video CD, DVD and digital broadcast. Both are decades old and remarkably durable: almost any player will still open them. What they are not is efficient. MPEG-2 needs several times the bitrate of H.264 for the same picture, which is why a short DVD-era clip can be surprisingly large.
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That inefficiency is the main reason to convert. Re-encoding to H.264 typically produces a much smaller file at similar visible quality, and gives you something phones and browsers decode in hardware rather than in software. Video ripped from a DVD, captured with an old capture card, or recorded off broadcast is the usual input.
Interlacing is the detail that surprises people. MPEG-2 from broadcast or DVD is frequently interlaced — each frame is two fields captured a fraction of a second apart — and on a progressive screen that shows as comb-like teeth on anything moving. This converter does not deinterlace automatically, so if the result shows that pattern, the source is why. A desktop tool with a deinterlacing filter is the fix.
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FAQ
Will the MP4 be smaller?
Usually much smaller. MPEG-2 needs several times the bitrate of H.264 for the same picture, so re-encoding cuts the size substantially at similar visible quality.
Why do I see comb-like lines on movement?
The source is interlaced, which is normal for DVD and broadcast MPEG-2. Deinterlacing is not applied automatically here, so the interlacing is preserved and shows on a progressive display.
Are .mpg and .mpeg the same?
Yes, both extensions describe the same family of files and both are accepted here.
Is quality lost?
A little, since the video is compressed again. The size reduction is usually the point, and at the default quality preset the loss is not visible on DVD-era material.
Is there a size limit?
About 667 MB. Because MPEG-2 is inefficient, even a modest amount of video approaches that — a DVD-length rip will exceed it and needs a desktop tool.
Can I extract just the audio?
Yes, and it is much faster, with a 2 GB ceiling since the output is small. MPEG files often carry MP2 or AC-3 audio, which is re-encoded to MP3 or AAC.