How to open, edit, and convert TS files
A file with the .TS file extension is a Video Transport Stream file used to store MPEG-2-compressed video data. They’re often seen on DVDs in a sequence of multiple .TS files.
A TS file is a Video Transport Stream (TS) file that stores video data compressed with standard MPEG-2 (.MPEG) video compression. The TS format is often utilized for saving video on a DVD disc but may also be used to store streamed or broadcast video.
TypeScript is another file format that uses the .TS file extension. These are text files used to make JavaScript applications and are in fact similar to JavaScript (.JS) files but include code in the TypeScript programming language.
A file ending in .TS might instead be an XML-formatted Qt Translation Source file used to store translations for a specific software program developed with the Qt SDK.
M2TS and MTS files are similar to Video Transport Stream files explained here but are targeted specifically at Blu-ray video files.
You will most likely encounter TS files on DVDs. For example, when viewing video files burned onto a DVD, you may find a sequence of TS files named moviename1.ts, moviename2.ts, moviename3.ts, and so on.
TS files were common during the height of DVDs in the 1990s and 2000s. However, as technology and multimedia formats (.M2TS, .MP4, etc.) have progressed, the TS format has become more obscure.
How to Open a TS File
Video Transport Stream files stored on a DVD will play in a DVD player without needing any extra software. If you have a TS file on your computer, you can open it with a number of media players.
VLC should be your first choice since it’s completely free and can open these files on Mac, Windows, and Linux. MPEG Streamclip is another option, and the Movies & TV Windows app might work too.
If you can’t get your file to open with VLC, the file extension is probably already tied to a different program. To open it, try dragging it directly into the open program window or use the Media > Open File menu item. You can also change the program currently associated with .TS files, and set it as VLC.
Another option for opening the TS file is to rename it to something that your existing media player will support, like .MPEG. Most multimedia players already support .MPEG files, and since TS files are MPEG files, the same program should also play your TS file.
Some non-free TS players include Roxio’s Creator NXT Pro, Corel’s VideoStudio, Audials One, CyberLink’s PowerProducer, and Pinnacle Studio.
Visit this Get TypeScript page for programs that support the TypeScript language. It’s there you can find the plug-ins and programs that let you open this type of TS file.
For example, you can use TS files with Microsoft’s Visual Studio program by installing the TypeScript SDK for Visual Studio, or this plug-in for opening the file in Eclipse.
Qt Translation Source files open with Qt, a software development kit.
How to Convert TS Files
Several free video file converters are available that can convert TS to MP4, MKV, or even audio formats like MP3. Freemake Video Converter is a favorite from that list that supports those formats and many others.
If you use Freemake Video Converter, you can also convert the TS file directly to a DVD or ISO file with the to DVD output option.
Several media players and video editors, including VideoLAN VLC media player and Corel VideoStudio, can convert TS files to other formats.
For example, VLC media player can convert TS files to the following formats:
It’s best to use an offline, desktop converter if the file is large. However, you can also convert the TS to MP4 online without needing to download any programs, with sites like Zamzar or FileZigZag.
Remember that with the online converters, you have to first upload the file and wait for it to convert, and then download it again before you can use it. It’s much more convenient to use an offline converter for bigger videos.
There probably isn’t much of a need to convert TS files from the TypeScript language to something else. However, if possible, do the conversion with the same program that opens the file. You can normally find this option within a Save As or Export menu.
To convert your TS file to QPH (Qt Phrase Books) so that the translations can be used with more than one Qt program, use the “lconvert” tool included within the Qt SDK.
Still Can’t Open the File?
It’s possible that you’re misreading the file extension and are treating a different kind of file as a TS file, causing it to not open in the programs mentioned above.
For example, TSV files are Tab Separated Values files that share two of the same file extension letters as TS but have nothing to do with video content, TypeScript, or the Qt SDK. Therefore, opening one in the software linked above won’t let you use it as it was intended.
The same is true for lots of other file formats. Some of them use extensions like ADTS, TST, TSF, TSC, TSP, GTS, TSR, and TSM. If you have any of those files or a different one that doesn’t actually end in .TS, research that specific file extension to see which programs are able to view, edit, and/or convert it.
Why to use TS File Format?
So, if TS files are somewhat large in size, what advantage does it offer to use them instead of other file formats? Well, in broadcasting, the tiny chunks of video and audio can be sent over the communication media (wired or radio) in real-time. The extra data in the chunks is used by the receiver to skip the error-prone chunks.
In addition, TS files are used because the broadcasting system doesn’t need the whole stream to play it. The transmission can be picked up and can be used in real time by assembling audio and video.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to play TS files?
.ts is a part of formats under MPEG, a widely supported video codec; simply changing the extension’s name to MPEG will let you play your file on several software applications.
Is a TS file a suitable video file format option?
Yes! It is certainly not popular today. However, it is noteworthy that TS files use the MPEG codec. This means it has the same quality as other formats, like .MP4.
What is the significant difference between the MP4 and TS file formats?
If the transmission is interrupted or the recording file is not closed correctly, the entire file can be rendered unreadable. The TS format (can recover such problems by automatically adding file information after each keyframe.
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