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, free and with 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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MPEG 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.