What is the TOD file format?
A .tod file is a video recording produced by JVC Everio hard-disk camcorders, introduced in 2007 with the GZ-HD7 model. The format is a proprietary variant of the MPEG-2 Transport Stream standard, using extended 192-byte packets: each packet prepends a 4-byte timecode to the standard 188-byte MPEG-2 TS payload identified by sync byte 0x47. Video is encoded in MPEG-2 (H.262) at resolutions up to 1920×1080 (HD), while audio uses AC-3 or MPEG-1 Layer II at 48 kHz.
On the same JVC camcorders, standard-definition recordings were saved as .mod files - a distinct MPEG-2 Program Stream format. The .tod extension covers HD recordings only. Files follow a sequential naming convention such as PRG001.TOD and are split into segments of 1-4 GB.
.tod files are broadly compatible with media players and editors that support MPEG-2 Transport Streams. Many applications accept the files after renaming them to .m2ts. Tools such as VLC, FFmpeg, HandBrake, and DaVinci Resolve can handle .tod directly. The format was superseded in post-2010 JVC Everio models by AVCHD (.mts) and MP4 containers.
Security & safety
RISK: LOWStandard MPEG-2 TS video file from a camcorder; no macro or script capability. Safe to open in any video player.
Format details
in a nutshellPrograms that open TOD files
Windows8 apps
VLC media player
Open-source File > Open File - VLC handles MPEG-2 TS natively; TOD plays without codecs. 
DaVinci Resolve
Freemium File > Import Media - DaVinci Resolve reads MPEG-2 TS; may need codec pack. 
macOS4 apps
Apple Final Cut Pro
Paid Import .tod after converting to compatible format (MOV/MP4) with HandBrake. 
Linux2 apps
Android1 app
VLC for Android
Open-source Browse to the .tod file and tap to play; VLC handles MPEG-2 TS on Android. Technical details
deep spec| Container | MPEG-2 Transport Stream, extended 192-byte packets |
| Packet structure | 4-byte timecode prefix + 188-byte MPEG-2 TS packet |
| Sync byte | `0x47` ('G') at the start of each 188-byte TS payload |
| Video codec | MPEG-2 (H.262) |
| Audio codec | AC-3 or MPEG-1 Layer II |
| Maximum resolution | 1920×1080 (full HD); also 1440×1080 HDV-style |
| Audio sample rate | 48,000 Hz (48 kHz) |
| Byte order | Big-endian (MPEG-2 TS standard) |
| Color depth | 24-bit YCbCr (8 bits per component) |
| Typical segment size | 1 GB - 4 GB per file |
| File naming convention | Sequential pattern, e.g. `PRG001.TOD` |
| MIME type | `video/MP2T` |
| Companion SD format | `.mod` (MPEG-2 Program Stream, standard definition, same camcorder) |
| Encoding | Binary |
| Released | 2007 (JVC Everio GZ-HD7 HDD camcorder) |
| Latest version | N/A (proprietary camcorder format, no versioning) |
TOD conversions
Community Q&A
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