HDZero Box Pro+ - Converting ts files to mp4
The HDZero Box Pro+ Goggles record your flight footage in a Transport Stream (.ts) format. While this format is great for capturing video reliably during a race or freestyle session, many video-editing tools don’t accept .ts files directly. The good news: you can convert these files into a more editor-friendly format without re-encoding and therefore without losing any quality.
HDZero uses the Transport Stream (TS) format because it is far more robust and reliable than MP4, especially in environments where data may be incomplete or arrive irregularly — which is exactly what happens in real-time FPV video recording. TS is designed for broadcast use and handles dropped packets, unstable bitrates, and unexpected interruptions without corrupting the entire file. MP4, on the other hand, relies on structured metadata and final indexing written at the end of the file. If recording is interrupted or the device loses power, the MP4 file can easily become unreadable. TS requires far less processing power, is easier for embedded hardware to write safely, and ensures that even if something goes wrong mid-flight, most or all of the footage remains usable.
The good news: Just use ffmpeg to convert the ts format into a mp4 container
ffmpeg -i input.ts -c copy output.mp4
If you prefer a tool with a graphical user interface instead of working on the command line, the Windows and macOS application Shutter Encoder is an excellent choice. It handles the conversion of .ts files effortlessly and without re-encoding, and it also offers a wide range of additional features such as format conversions, batch processing, filtering, and basic video cleanup tools.
You can install the tool from it’s website or use (if you are on a mac) homebrew to install it:
brew install shutter-encoder
