Why convert REC to AVI?
AVI is worth choosing when an older TV, media player, or editing application does not accept MP4 or TS files; it has been a widely supported container for decades. For modern devices, MP4 offers smaller files and better codec support.
How to convert REC to AVI
ffmpeg OPEN-SOURCE
If VLC plays the .rec, run ffmpeg -i input.rec output.avi directly. If VLC cannot play it, strip the header first with tfrec2ts, then run ffmpeg -i input.ts output.avi.
HandBrake FREE
Open HandBrake, click Open Source and select the .rec or a de-headered .mpg/.ts, set the container to AVI, and click Start Encode.
VLC media player FREE
If VLC plays the .rec, use Media > Convert/Save, choose an AVI output profile, set the filename, and click Start.
About these formats
.REC
Topfield PVR Recording
A REC file is a TV recording saved by a Topfield personal video recorder. Try VLC first - it plays many of them directly. If VLC fails, strip the Topfield header with rec2mpg or tfrec2ts to…
Open .REC details →
.AVI
Audio Video Interleave
An AVI file is a video container created by Microsoft in 1992. To open one, use VLC media player - it includes the DivX/Xvid codecs old AVIs need and works on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android…
Open .AVI details →Quality & what to watch
- Header stripping with rec2mpg or tfrec2ts is often the required first step before any converter can read the
.recfile. - AVI is a legacy container; MP4 handles the same video codec with smaller files and better compatibility on modern devices.
- CCTV
.recfiles use a different proprietary structure and are not compatible with Topfield de-headering tools.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use AVI or MP4?
Do I need to strip the header before converting?
.rec, ffmpeg or HandBrake may read it directly without de-headering.
