What happens when you convert TS to VOB
- If the video inside the TS is already MPEG-2, the tool first copies the streams straight into the VOB. That takes seconds and loses nothing.
- If a copy is not possible, it re-encodes to MPEG-2 video with Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio at 48 kHz, the streams a DVD uses, which is slow in a browser: expect several times the video's length for HD footage, less at lower resolutions.
- The picture keeps its size, and frame rates other than 25 and 29.97 are changed to the nearer one, because DVD video only has those two. A set-top DVD player also needs 720 by 576 (PAL) or 720 by 480 (NTSC) inside a disc structure, so to burn a DVD, give the VOB to DVD authoring software such as DVDStyler.
How to convert TS to VOB online
- Press "Choose TS files" and select one or more files, or drag them onto the box. You can add files of any size your device can hold in memory.
- Adjust the settings if you need to: resolution and quality control the size of the result. The defaults suit most people.
- Press "Convert to VOB". The first audio or video conversion downloads the converter engine, about 32 MB, which your browser then keeps for next time.
- Save each VOB with its download button. Close the tab and every trace of the files is gone from memory.
Why convert TS to VOB?
TS files usually come from TV recordings, IPTV streams and HLS video segments. People convert them to VOB because VOB is the file type DVD authoring software and DVD players work with.
In short, TS is good at what it was made for, and VOB is the more practical choice when the file has to play, upload or edit somewhere else. TS does not play in most browsers directly; plays in VLC, while VOB does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software.
How to convert TS to VOB on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android
On Windows
Open this page in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, drag your TS files in from File Explorer, and press Convert. Each VOB is saved to your Downloads folder. If you prefer a desktop program, VLC can also convert TS to VOB: choose Media, then Convert / Save.
On a Mac
Safari, Chrome and Firefox all work. Drag the TS files from Finder onto the drop zone and the VOB files land in Downloads.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the page in Safari and tap Choose TS files. You can pick from Photos or from the Files app. The converted VOB appears in Files, in the Downloads folder; to put it in your photo library, open it there, tap Share and choose Save Video.
On Android
Open the page in Chrome, tap Choose TS files and pick them from Files or your gallery. The VOB is saved to the Download folder, where any file manager can find it. Keep the screen on while a long video converts, because Android may pause a tab in the background.
Best settings for TS to VOB
VOB is written as MPEG-2 video with Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio at 48 kHz, the streams a DVD uses. The Resolution setting is the one to reach for: 1080p keeps full HD detail, 720p is plenty for phones and laptops and roughly halves the size, and 480p suits email and old devices. Leave Resolution on Keep original and Quality on Standard, and a TS whose video is already MPEG-2 is copied into the VOB rather than re-encoded, which is fast and loses nothing.
The quality levels map to the H.264 CRF scale where the target uses H.264, and to fixed high-quality settings for older codecs such as MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Part 2, WMV and Theora. Re-encoding always costs a little detail, so convert from the best copy of the TS you have.
TS vs VOB: the differences
| TS | VOB | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | MPEG transport stream | DVD Video Object |
| Type | video | video |
| Created by | the Moving Picture Experts Group | the DVD Forum |
| First released | 1995 | 1996 |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Usually contains | H.264 or MPEG-2 video with AAC, AC3 or MP2 audio | MPEG-2 video with AC3, MP2 or PCM audio |
| In a browser | does not play in most browsers directly; plays in VLC | does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software |
| Common uses | TV recordings, IPTV streams and HLS video segments | the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD |
| MIME type | video/mp2t | video/dvd |
About TS and VOB files
What is a TS file?
TS was designed for broadcast, where signal can drop at any moment, so it repeats headers constantly. That makes it robust but larger than MP4, and moving the same streams into MP4 usually needs no re-encoding.
What is a VOB file?
VOB files are the video chunks inside a DVD's VIDEO_TS folder, each capped at 1 GB, so one film is split across several. Commercial DVDs are encrypted and will not convert; home-burned discs will.
TS to VOB not working? Common problems
- The conversion is slow. Audio and container changes take seconds, but re-encoding video runs on your own processor. Lower the resolution to 720p, close other tabs, and keep the device plugged in.
- The tab stops or reloads on a very large file. Browsers limit how much memory one tab can use, around 2 GB and less on phones. Split long recordings or convert them on a computer.
- The VOB will not play on an old device. Try the other formats offered for TS, or choose 720p, which older players handle more reliably.
Convert TS to VOB with ffmpeg
This converter runs ffmpeg inside your browser. If you would rather use the ffmpeg command line on your own computer, this command produces an equivalent VOB with the same kind of settings:
ffmpeg -i input.ts -c:v mpeg2video -q:v 3 -c:a ac3 -b:a 192k -ar 48000 -f vob output.vobReplace input.ts with the name of your file. For a whole folder of TS files, run the command in a loop, or drop them all on the converter above, which processes them one after another.
TS to VOB converter FAQ
Will I lose quality converting TS to VOB?
A little. Both formats are lossy, so re-encoding compounds the loss slightly. Keep the default quality or higher and the difference is rarely noticeable.
Why is the VOB a different size from the TS?
If the video inside the TS is already MPEG-2, it is copied and the VOB comes out about the same size. Otherwise, compared with video made with a modern codec such as H.264, the VOB is usually two to four times larger, because MPEG-2 needs more data for the same picture. Choose 720p or 480p for a smaller file.
Are my TS files uploaded anywhere?
No. The conversion runs inside this browser tab using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, so your files stay on your device. You can disconnect from the internet after the page and converter engine have loaded and it still works.
Can I convert several TS files to VOB at once?
Yes. Select or drop as many files as you like; they are converted one after another and each gets its own download button.
How do I open a VOB file?
VOB does not play in browsers; plays in VLC and DVD software. VOB is common for the VIDEO_TS folder of a DVD.
Is this TS to VOB converter free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many files you convert. The site is paid for by advertising, and because conversions run on your device there is no server cost per file.
Can I convert TS to VOB on my phone?
Yes. The converter works in Safari on iPhone and iPad and in Chrome on Android. Long HD videos convert more slowly on a phone than on a computer.