TS to CAF Converter

TS (MPEG Transport Stream) is a standard container format specified as part of the MPEG-2 systems layer (ISO/IEC 13818-1), standardized by the Moving Picture Experts Group in 1995. Transport streams are designed for communication and storage environments where data loss or corruption is possible, such as broadcast television, satellite transmission, and network streaming. The format divides content into fixed-size 188-byte packets, each carrying a 4-byte header with synchronization, error indication, and stream identification information. This packet structure enables receivers to rapidly resynchronize after signal interruptions, a critical capability for real-time broadcast delivery that distinguishes transport streams from program streams designed for reliable storage media. TS can multiplex multiple programs into a single stream, with Program Specific Information (PSI) tables describing the structure and content of each program. The format supports virtually any audio and video codec, though it most commonly carries MPEG-2 video, H.264, or HEVC alongside AAC, AC-3, or MPEG audio. TS is the backbone of digital television delivery worldwide, used by DVB, ATSC, and ISDB broadcasting standards as well as IPTV and OTT streaming services utilizing HTTP Live Streaming (HLS). Resilience, standardized structure, and broad codec support make TS equally at home in live broadcast chains and file-based recording workflows.

CAF (Core Audio Format) is a flexible audio container developed by Apple and introduced with Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger in 2005. Built to overcome limitations of older formats, CAF eliminates the 4 GB file size ceiling that constrains WAV and AIFF, theoretically supporting unlimited length. The container accommodates virtually any codec — AAC, ALAC, MP3, linear PCM, IMA ADPCM, and more — within a unified wrapper. Its chunk-based architecture stores audio alongside rich metadata including channel layouts, marker regions, annotations, and MIDI data. A defining advantage is handling extremely long recordings: broadcasters and field recordists can capture hours of continuous audio without size boundaries. Flexible codec support is another strength, as one container works whether the content is high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz lossless audio or compressed speech. Apple's Core Audio framework provides native support on macOS and iOS, ensuring low-latency playback in professional applications like Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro. For Apple ecosystem workflows requiring both versatility and scale, CAF is an exceptionally capable choice.