Convert your audio files to the MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II) format using our free online converter. MP2 is an older lossy audio codec, a predecessor to MP3, still used in some digital radio (DAB) and television (DVB) broadcasting standards, and formerly on Video CDs. Convert from WAV, MP3, FLAC, etc., to MP2. Our service is secure (files removed within about an hour), free, and requires no registration. Our converter writes MP2 at 192 kbps, 44.1 kHz stereo.
Creating MP2 audio files is straightforward:
MP2 from the 'Convert to:' dropdown menu.MP2 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer II, sometimes incorrectly called Musicam) is a lossy audio compression format defined by the ISO/IEC 11172-3 standard, alongside MP1 and MP3. It was a dominant standard for audio perceptual coding in the early 1990s before MP3 gained widespread popularity for consumer applications.
MP2 achieves compression by exploiting perceptual limitations of human hearing, similar to MP3 but using a simpler algorithm. While less efficient than MP3 (requiring higher bitrates for similar quality, e.g., 256 kbps or 384 kbps for high quality), its lower complexity made it suitable for broadcasting hardware of the era. It remains a standard codec for DAB digital radio and DVB digital television systems in many regions. Files typically use the .mp2 extension.
MP2 files can be played by many software media players:
While not as common as MP3 for personal music collections, playback support on desktop software players is generally quite good.
| Full name | MPEG-1 Audio Layer II |
|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy |
| Developed by | MPEG (ISO/IEC) |
| Introduced | 1993 |
| File extension | .mp2 |
| Typically used for | Digital radio (DAB), broadcast, Video CD and DVD audio |
| Plays on | VLC, broadcast tools, most desktop players; rare on phones |
| Our output | MPEG-1 Layer II, 192 kbps, 44.1 kHz stereo |
We encode MPEG-1 Audio Layer II at 192 kbps, 44.1 kHz, in stereo. Every MP2 file uses these settings, whatever the source. A 48 kHz source is resampled to 44.1 kHz, and surround or mono audio is written as two-channel stereo. There are no bitrate or sample rate options.
MP2 is still found in broadcasting, including DAB digital radio, DVB television and radio playout systems, and in MPEG video files, older DVD and Video CD material and some video editing tools. Its simple, robust design made it a broadcast favorite. For personal music listening, MP3 or M4A are much more common.
It may need adjusting. Our MP2 is always 44.1 kHz stereo at 192 kbps, while DVD-Video and most broadcast systems expect 48 kHz, and Video CD authoring normally expects 224 kbps. Many authoring and playout programs resample on import, but check your software's requirements before relying on it.
MP2 is the older, simpler codec from the same MPEG-1 standard. It needs a higher bitrate than MP3 to sound as good, so at the same 192 kbps an MP3 is generally the more efficient choice. Both files are the same size, about 1.44 MB per minute. MP2's advantage is low complexity and resilience in broadcast chains.
No, and the names cause a lot of confusion. An .mp2 file is audio encoded with MPEG-1 Audio Layer II. MPEG-2 video usually comes in .mpg, .m2v or .ts files, which may carry MP2 audio inside. If you have an MPEG video, you can upload it here and get just its audio as MP2 or another format.
VLC, foobar2000, Windows Media Player and FFmpeg-based players open .mp2 files, as do broadcast and video editing applications. Phone music apps are less predictable and some won't list .mp2 files at all. If the person you're sending it to only needs to listen, an MP3 will be simpler for them.
Need detailed information or want to set a different default format? Visit our specific converter pages: