To convert MPEG to MP3 for free, drop the .mpeg or .mpg file above and click Convert: the first audio track is extracted and encoded to MP3 at the bitrate you choose (96 to 320 kb/s, 192 by default). The video is ignored. Files up to 95 MB are converted on our compute server (native ffmpeg) and erased as soon as the result is sent; larger files, or when the server cannot take the job, are converted in your browser and never leave your device. Files up to 1 GB are accepted.
What an MPEG file usually contains
| Where it comes from | Video | Sound inside |
|---|---|---|
| Video CDs, early digital cameras, old web videos | MPEG-1 | MPEG-1 Layer II (MP2) |
| DVD recorders, TV recordings, DVD rips (.mpg) | MPEG-2 | MP2 or Dolby Digital (AC-3) |
| Some camcorders and capture cards | MPEG-2 | MP2, AC-3 or PCM |
Whatever the sound format, it is decoded and re-encoded to MP3, which every phone, car stereo and music app plays.
Which MP3 bitrate to pick
| Bitrate | Size per minute | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 96 kb/s | About 0.7 MB | Speech, lectures, recorded meetings |
| 128 kb/s | About 1 MB | Podcasts and voice with background music |
| 192 kb/s (default) | About 1.4 MB | Music: the usual good balance |
| 256 to 320 kb/s | 1.9 to 2.4 MB | Music you will keep or play on good speakers |
A higher bitrate cannot restore what the source lacks: the MP2 sound of a VHS or TV recording sounds the same at 192 and 320 kb/s.
Common uses
- Keeping the soundtrack of a concert or a show recorded on a DVD recorder.
- Turning recorded lectures or sermons into audio for the phone or the car.
- Archiving family tapes digitised to MPEG by a capture service, when only the voices matter.
Need the video too, in a modern format? Video converter turns MPEG into MP4.