MTS files are HD video formats. Sony, Panasonic and Canon etc. use this format in their HD camcorders. However, few applications in Mac or Windows support this format for playing or editing. Therefore, you will need to convert MTS to MOV or another video format in order to play it or edit it.

MTS files are a form of AVCHD (Advanced Video Coding High Definition). Sony and Panasonic developed this format jointly. For the support of 720p and 1080i, this format is used in HD video capturing and playback. I had this project for my school for which I had taken a lot of footage in my Sony HD Camcorder. The footages were in MTS format. When I tried to play them in my Mac, it was not playing. I could not even edit them either.

My plan was to edit the video files and compile them into a nice short documentary. After that, I could take the video in my iPhone, show it to my class, and share it with my friends. However, as I was unable to play it on my Mac, I had to look for alternatives. The alternative was to convert MTS to MOV. Reason for choosing MOV files are that Mac, iPhone and other Apple products support MOV files. As an Apple fan, I thus chose MOV files.

To convert MTS to MOV, I looked for a video converter. A video converter is software that takes a video format that it supports as an input. Then it converts that video format into another supported video format that user specified. Finding a good video converter is somewhat difficult. Many video converters do not support MTS files, as an input or output. In addition, there are low quality video converters. Those converters can perform the conversion, but in the process, it degrades the video quality (darkens it, makes it foggy or hazy or grainy or stripped).

I searched on the Internet and many recommended Video Converter for Mac. I checked it out by using the trial version and it worked like charm. Besides MTS, it supports a bunch of other SD (Standard Definition) and HD video formats. I always thought that video conversion must be difficult to operate. This one proved me wrong. It was as easy as cake.

After the conversion from MTS to MOV, everything worked perfectly. I could play the files and edit it. If you are looking for a good video converter, it is up to you to choose the best one.