┌─ FILE ANALYSIS ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┐
│ DEVELOPER : Moving Picture Experts Group
│ CATEGORY : Video
│ MIME TYPE : video/mpeg
│ MAGIC BYTES : 000001B3
└ ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── ┘
What is an MPG file?
MPG (also MPEG) is a video file format that uses MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 compression standards developed by the Moving Picture Experts Group. It was one of the first widely adopted digital video formats, introduced in the early 1990s. While largely superseded by MP4 and MKV, MPG files are still encountered in legacy content and DVD recordings.
How to open MPG files
- VLC Media Player (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Free, open-source
- Windows Media Player (Windows) — Built-in support
- QuickTime Player (macOS) — With MPEG-2 plugin
- MPV (Windows, macOS, Linux) — Lightweight
Technical specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Compression | MPEG-1, MPEG-2 |
| Video Codec | MPEG-1 Part 2, MPEG-2 Part 2 |
| Audio Codecs | MP2, MP3 |
| Resolution | Up to 720x576 (MPEG-1: 352x288) |
| Bit Rate | Variable, typically 1.5-15 Mbps |
Common use cases
- Legacy video: Older digital video collections and recordings.
- VCD/SVCD: Video CD and Super Video CD formats.
- Surveillance: Older CCTV and security camera recordings.
- DVD source: Intermediate format from DVD ripping.