4 Ways to Convert M2TS to MKV Without Losing Quality

M2TS is a high-quality video format used by big camera manufacturers, such as Sony and Panasonic. It delivers excellent image quality but also creates large files. Worse still, M2TS has limited compatibility, making it difficult to play on common devices and media players. Fortunately, converting M2TS to MKV solves these problems. The MKV container offers broader compatibility with multiple audio tracks, subtitles, chapters, and high-bitrate video support. With a reliable M2TS-to-MKV converter that supports hardware acceleration, you can convert large AVCHD or Blu-ray videos quickly. In this guide, we'll compare the four best methods for converting M2TS to the Matroska format. We'll also explain when each method is the best choice so you can find the fastest and most reliable solution.

Why Convert M2TS to MKV?

The M2TS file is an HD video container format for Blu-ray discs and AVCHD camcorders. Big camera manufacturers use it to store Full HD and 4K recordings. It can contain HD videos, multiple audio formats, subtitle streams, chapter markers, and metadata. However, not all media players and devices can play M2TS files.

MKV is an open-source multimedia container format. It can hold almost all the modern video, audio, subtitle, and chapter formats in a single file. Unlike M2TS, MKV is not tied to Blu-ray or any hardware standard. You can remux to MKV, since it is a container that can keep the original video and audio without re-encoding.

Method 1: The Best M2TS to MKV Converter for Fast & Lossless Results

AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate is a safe and secure M2TS-to-MKV converter. It can batch-convert hundreds of AVCHD videos and Blu-ray formats to the Matroska container without lag. It uses the most advanced lossless hardware-accelerated conversion technology to achieve 120× speed. You can adjust the video/audio codecs, bitrates, sample rates, frame rates, resolutions, and channels. Also, it can automatically detect embedded subtitles and audio tracks, allowing you to preserve a high-quality audio stream and multilingual subtitles.

Here’s how to convert M2TS to MKV:

1. Download AnyMP4 Video Converter Ultimate and set it up. Immediately after the installation, the software enters the Converter tab by default.

Click +Add Files to add an individual M2TS video source. You can also batch-import multiple files saved in a single folder by clicking Add Folder.

2. Head to the Output Format picker and select MKV in the Video category. For a lossless remux, use the Same as Source preset to retain the source's quality without re-encoding.

3. Enable Hardware Acceleration and 120× Faster Conversion to accelerate the conversion. Set your output destination folder, then click Convert All to batch-convert M2TS files to MKV fast.

We put AnyMP4 to the test to evaluate its speed, quality, hardware acceleration (GPU) usage, and track preservation. In our test, it completed converting 100 M2TS files to Matroska format in 3 minutes and 26 seconds. When we play it on an MTS/M2TS player for video quality assessment, there’s no desync, and the video is crystal clear.

Method 2: Convert M2TS to MKV Free Using HandBrake

HandBrake is an established open-source video transcoder that has been around for years. It can encode AVCHDs, Blu-ray backups, and even TS streams to various MKV video codecs. This includes H.265 (HEVC) MKV, H.264 MKV, VP9 MKV, and AV1 MKV. See the instructions below to convert M2TS to MKV for free.

To convert: Upon opening HandBrake, the Source Selection window will appear. Here, click File to import an individual M2TS file or Folder to load an entire folder. Go to the Summary tab and select MKV in the Format picker. Right after selecting MKV as your format, head to the Picker preset and choose an MKV preset. Click Start Encode to convert M2TS to MKV with HandBrake.

Method 3: Remux M2TS to MKV Using MakeMKV (No Re-encoding)

MakeMKV is known for ripping and converting DVDs and Blu-ray discs to MKV files. The good thing is that it remuxes the file rather than transcoding it. It means MakeMKV duplicates the source video, audio, subtitle, and chapter information directly into an MKV container. For a quick tutorial, follow the steps below to convert M2TS to a lossless MKV.

To convert: In MakeMKV, click the Folder button to open the M2TS source. Leave all the tracks selected to include everything in the output MKV. Select an output folder, then click Make MKV to start remuxing.

As the anime suggests, MakeMKV can make MKV from the sources you input. Since it only copies instead of re-encoding, the process finishes much faster. However, remember that remuxing is not the same as converting.

Method 4: Online M2TS Converters (Are They Worth It?)

FreeConvert is a smart choice if you only need to convert files under 1GB. It can convert M2TS to lossless MKV without installing any software. However, since it runs entirely online, a stable internet is required to perform the conversion.

To convert: Navigate to FreeConvert and click Choose Files to upload the M2TS source. Select MKV in the Format picker, then click Convert to upload and process the video.

FreeConvert is convenient for one-time conversion of small M2TS or MTS files (Check MTS vs M2TS difference). However, if you’re uploading a sensitive or personal video, we remind you that your uploaded files will remain on the server for 24 hours. So, if your privacy is your priority, you should skip this tool.