MPG vs MP4
MP4 is the modern replacement for MPG. MPG holds MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video, the compression of Video CDs and DVDs; MP4 usually holds H.264, which reaches the same quality in roughly half the space and plays on every phone and browser. Convert MPG to MP4 unless something specifically needs MPG.
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Choose MPG when
- Authoring a DVD or Video CD, which require MPEG-2 or MPEG-1.
- Old broadcast or editing systems that only accept MPEG-2.
- Leaving an archive exactly as it is.
Choose MP4 when
- Sharing, uploading, or playing on a phone or in a browser.
- Keeping camcorder or DVD footage at a fraction of the size.
- Editing in any current software.
What MPG actually is
An MPG file is an MPEG program stream, the format that carried video on Video CD, DVD and broadcast television for two decades. It is designed to be decoded by cheap fixed-function hardware, which means the compression is simple and the files are large.
An MPG from a DVD is interlaced, so it shows comb-like horizontal tearing on movement when played on a computer. Restore Old Video removes it while converting.
What MP4 actually is
MP4 is a container: it holds a video stream, usually H.264, an audio stream, usually AAC, and any subtitles or chapter data, and describes how they line up. Almost every device made in the last fifteen years plays that combination in hardware, which is why MP4 became the default.
Two MP4 files can behave completely differently depending on the codecs inside. A file that will not play is usually an unusual codec in an ordinary container, not a broken file.
MPG and MP4 side by side
| MPG | MP4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .mpg | .mp4 |
| Media type | video/mpeg | video/mp4 |
| Inside the file | MPEG-2 video with MP2 sound | H.264 video with AAC sound |
| Compression | Lossy | Lossy |
| Carries sound | Yes | Yes |
| Plays on | Windows Media Player, VLC and DVD authoring software | every phone, laptop, TV, browser and messaging app |
| We can write it | Yes | Yes |
Questions
Is MPG the same as MPEG?
Yes. .mpg and .mpeg are the same format, named after the Moving Picture Experts Group. The files hold MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 video.
Will converting MPG to MP4 lose quality?
Re-encoding always costs a little, but at a sensible quality setting it is not visible, and the MP4 is usually much smaller.