Video Converter
Many users tend to look for blog posts over the web to compare and contrast these two file formats – MPEG2 VS MPEG4. There are some people who are very fond of creating and editing video files but are not sure about the types of file formats and the perks of using those.
We will be delving into MPEG2 vs. MPEG4 in this article highlighting the major differences between the two arriving at a conclusion as to which one is better. There some factors that you may not be sure about yet affecting the comparison between these two, MPEG2 VS MPEG4, and we are going to discuss those here further.
If you happen to look for a method to transform the MPEG2 files that you have now to MPEG4 file format, we will also share how you can do it using a professional third-party application named iMyMac Video Converter. There is another article about the comparison between MPEG4 and MP4 and the use of iMyMac Video Converter for conversion.
Contents: Part 1. What Is The Difference Between MPEG2 And MPEG4?Part 2. Can You Convert MPEG2 To MPEG4 On Mac?Part 3. Conclusion
Part 1. What Is The Difference Between MPEG2 And MPEG4?
MPEG is actually an abbreviation for Moving Pictures Experts Group. This is a group that is responsible for the standards that are usually used in encoding videos. And, among those standards are these MPEG2 VS MPEG4.
The Definition
We have here what MPEG2 and MPEG4 actually mean.
Defining MPEG2
MPEG2 is being used as the file format for DVDs and videos that are being broadcasted. Those files in this format are having filenames with these extensions - .mp2, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp3, or .m2v. People also refer to this format as H.262.
MPEG2 was introduced to the public last 1994 as the successor of MPEG1 and was developed by Mitsubishi Electric, Sony, and Thomson. Ever since its release, this has been the format that was being utilized for digital television and even DVD.
With MPEG2, you can experience these advantages:
- A very great video quality that is somehow incomparable to the videos in other formats.
- Video compression with a simple method.
- Has the capability of handling video streams.
Defining MPEG4
The MPEG4, on the other hand, was created and finalized last 1998. This format has six parts – software, audio, visual, DMIF, systems, and conformance testing – making it easier to perform its designated functions. This is a video encoding standard that is capable of supporting both television and even web environments and can also do the integration of both in one multimedia environment.
With MPEG4, you can have:
- Amazing support both in 2D and 3D content.
- A great range of bit rates, applications, services, and resolutions.
- A format supporting all kinds of interactivity.
- Support when it comes to compatibility with already existing standards such as MPPG2 or H.263.
Which Is Better MPEG2 VS MPEG4?
With the definition provided, can you immediately tell which one is better - MPEG2 VS MPEG4?
Actually, it could be different to tell which is actually a better format just by relying on the definitions of MPEG2 and MPEG4. Well, especially for beginners, it would surely be a bit hard. To help you in some way, we got here this summary that you can check and use as a reference to decide.
- MPEG2 is the file format that is being used for DVD files whereas MPEG4 is for files that are playable on any portable devices or on online platforms.
- Those video files that are encoded in the MPEG2 format are much larger in size compared to those saved as an MPEG4 file. Thus, if you wish to save the files on your device, having those in MPEG2 format will surely take larger storage space. And, those in MPEG4 are much faster to download since they are in a smaller size.
- There is a need for more bandwidth for streaming MPEG2 files compared to MPEG4.
- MPEG2 files surely have a better video quality compared to the MPEG4 ones. You should know that both are compression methods and they lose data. However, MPEG4 tends to discard more information compared to MPEG2 resulting in the poorer image and video quality.
- It was mentioned that both are compression methods. However, it can be said that MPEG2’s compression is simpler than that of the MPEG4 because MPEG4 requires algorithms in order to check and properly scan which to be discarded. Thus, reducing the data even further.
Both MPEG2 and MPEG4 have their only strengths. The decision as to which one is better - MPEG2 VS MPEG4 – could vary depending on the user’s agenda for using them.
But to further check on these two formats (just in case you are curious to know more), MPEG2 Vs. MPEG4, we also prepared a detailed comparison in this part of the article.
MPEG2 VS MPEG4: Detailed Comparison
We will be comparing MPEG2 vs. MPE4 here based on six factors.
Compression
During the encoding process, both the MPEG2 and MPEG4 maintain the same audio and video quality. While MPEG2 uses the H.262, the MPEG4 utilizes the H.264. Talking about the compression method, MPEG2 is simpler compared to MPEG4. MPEG4 has a more complex compression process.
File Size
As mentioned well previously, those files in MPEG2 format are larger in size and do not usually play on gadgets (that are portable or handy) that is why the MPEG4 files are mostly used on those devices and even on online platforms.
Quality Of The Output Files
Files in these formats, MPEG2 VS MPEG4, always have good quality but many are concluding that the MPEG4 files have better quality. MPEG4 has a more complex algorithm that aid in providing high-quality video files.
Bit Rate And Bandwidth
MPEG2 has a bit rate of 5 to 80 Mbits per second while MPEG4 has a bit rate that is in kilobytes per second. When talking about bandwidth, the MPEG2 requires more than that of MPEG4 that is about 40 MB per second compared to MPEG4 in 64 kbps.
File Extension
Both MPEG2 and MPEG4 have lots of filename extensions associated with them. Some of those for MPEG2 are .mp2, .mp3, and .m2v whereas for MPEG4, you can have files with extension of .m4b, .mp4, or .m4a, and more.
Application
MPEG2 files are more fitted to be used in DVD files and broadcasted television videos whereas MPEG4 format is more used on portable and handy gadgets and on online channels.
Knowing a lot of details about MPEG2 VS MPEG4 will surely give you a realization as to which file format to use in several instances. If it happens that you are looking to convert MPEG2 files to MPEG4 format on your Mac computer, we have a good recommendation in the second part which you might want to check out.
Part 2. Can You Convert MPEG2 To MPEG4 On Mac?
If you would want to keep your MPEG2 file in MPEG4 format on your Mac computer, it is best to check out some applications that would be vital to do it. And, we got here the iMyMac Video Converter that you can use.
The iMyMac Video Converter is a good tool that lets you convert your MPEG2 files into MPEG4 format and conversion between many other formats, such as change AMR to MP3.
It can also process audio files. Added to that, this has a video enhancement feature that makes it easy for users to improve or correct their videos in case there is a need (editing can be done). The conversion speed is 6 times faster than usual which guarantees you great output. And, you can easily use it. Here is a procedure for your reference.
Step 1. Launch The iMyMac Video Converter On Your Mac
Once you have your iMyMac Video Converter on your Mac computer, you can easily add the MPEG2 files to convert by dragging and dropping them onto the platform.
Step 2. Look For MPEG4 In The Output Selection Menu
From the list of the Convert Format, choose the MPEG4. It is also recommended to specify a folder where you can access the output afterward.
Step 3. Wait Until The Conversion Is Over
Once you had set everything in the app, you can just click the “Convert” button and wait until the process is over. After a few minutes, you can have the new video in MPEG4 format that you can enjoy.
Part 3. Conclusion
It might be hard to really compare and decide on which one is better between MPEG2 VS MPEG4. There are surely a lot of considerations to look into. However, it will still be based on the agenda of using each.
So just in case in the future, you would need a tool to convert the MPEG2 files that you have especially used on your Mac computer, you can always try this iMyMac Video Converter.
