Convert MP4 to MP2

MP2 may seem outdated, but it still serves specific purposes. It's primarily used in broadcasting - many digital TV broadcasts, satellite transmissions, and radio stations use MP2 for its reliability and standardized implementation. If you're extracting audio for use with broadcast equipment, creating content for certain types of media players, or working with older professional audio gear, MP2 provides better compatibility than newer formats. It's a specialized choice for particular technical environments rather than general consumer use.

At equal bitrates, MP2 doesn't sound as good as MP3 or AAC - it's an older compression technology. However, MP2 is typically used at higher bitrates (192kbps and above) in professional environments, which compensates for its less efficient compression. At these higher bitrates, MP2 provides very good audio quality suitable for broadcast purposes. Our converter defaults to these higher quality settings when creating MP2 files to ensure professional-grade output.

MP2 has mixed compatibility with consumer devices. Professional broadcast equipment and specialized media systems support it natively, but many mainstream consumer players may require additional codecs. VLC and other comprehensive media players handle MP2 without issues, while mobile devices often have limited support. Before choosing MP2, consider your specific playback environment. Our converter includes guidance on which devices and software are known to work well with the format.

For broadcast-quality audio, 192kbps to 384kbps is standard for stereo content. Radio broadcasts typically use 192-256kbps, while television often uses higher rates. For mono content like voice recordings, 96-128kbps provides good quality. These higher bitrates are part of why MP2 remains in use - the broadcast industry established these standards years ago, and changing them would require updating equipment and workflows across the entire broadcast chain.

MP2 is most appropriate when extracting audio from broadcast-related content like TV captures, satellite recordings, or professional video feeds. If you're working with these types of sources and need to maintain format consistency for rebroadcast or professional use, extracting to MP2 maintains compatibility with broadcast workflows. For most consumer video sources like YouTube videos, movies, or personal recordings, more modern formats generally make more sense unless you have specific MP2 compatibility requirements.