Watching a video online is easy, but saving it can be tricky. Sometimes, what you get is not a complete video file but small chunks with a strange file name that ends in .m4s. These M4S files are part of how streaming sites send videos in pieces. But you cannot play them right away like an MP4. That is why learning how to turn M4S into MP4 is super helpful. It lets you watch the video smoothly anytime, even offline.
Let us teach you how to change and combine M4S to MP4 easily. We will also show you how to record streaming videos so you can save and watch them offline anytime.
Part 1: What Is M4S
An M4S file is a small part of a bigger video or audio file. It comes from a system called MPEG-DASH, which is used to stream videos on the internet.
Instead of sending the whole video at once, MPEG-DASH splits the video into small pieces. These pieces are saved as M4S files. Each M4S file is like a puzzle piece. When put together, they make the whole video or song.
M4S files follow the same file format rules as MP4 files. This format is called ISO Base Media Format. You download these files through HTTP, which is just the way your browser loads stuff from websites.
You will find M4S files used by streaming sites like YouTube, Facebook, or Netflix. They help the video load faster and play better. YouTube is mentioned; if you want to download music from YouTube, it is also possible.
Part 2: Directly Rename M4S to MP4
You download an M4S file and want to watch it like a regular MP4 video. You do not need to use a special converter or install any program to do that. One simple trick is just renaming the file. It does not always work, but it might if the M4S file holds a full audio or video stream. This method is super fast and works best when the M4S file comes from a whole or single stream segment.
Below are the simple steps to directly rename M4S to MP4:
Step 1First, go to the folder where your .m4s file is saved.
Step 2On top, click the View tab, then turn on File name extensions.
Step 3Now, right-click the .m4s file and choose Rename.
Step 4Carefully change .m4s to .mp4 at the end of the file name.
Step 5Hit Enter, and your file will now be an MP4; that is it!
Part 3: How to Combine M4S Files to MP4 in FFmpeg
When M4S files come in chunks, just renaming one file would not be enough. You will need to put them together the right way. FFmpeg is a powerful program that can do this for you. It can combine M4S files to MP4. You can also skip downloading each piece by using the playlist URL instead. With FFmpeg, you get complete control over the output video without losing clarity. It is excellent for saving or editing streamed videos.
Step 1Save all your M4S files (like video1.m4s, video2.m4s, etc.) in the same folder.
Step 2Open a plain text editor, like Notepad.
Step 3Type each file name in this format, one per line:
file 'video1.m4s'
file 'video2.m4s'
file 'video3.m4s'
Save the file as mylist.txt.
Step 4In the same folder, open CMD or Terminal and run:
ffmpeg -f concat -safe 0 -i mylist.txt -c copy output.mp4
Step 5Wait a bit. When it is done, you will have one MP4 file with all the pieces joined.
Part 4: Best Way to Record Streaming Videos to MP4
Sometimes, you just want to keep a copy of a streaming video you really like. It could be a live event, a movie, or a fun video that may be gone later. Watching it once is not enough. You want to save it and watch it again anytime you want. That is when you need something easy and smooth to use.
AVAide Screen Recorder is the best way to do that. You can record streaming videos with the best clarity and with no lag, even for a long time. You can store them as MP4 files and even use simple editing features after recording. Moreover, it is light, does not slow your computer, and works in the background while you do other stuff. It is super easy, and anyone can use it without trouble or difficulty!
- Snap a quick picture of the screen.
- Speak while recording; it is perfect for adding reactions.
- Save your videos in formats like MP4, WMV, MOV, or AVI.
- Choose to capture the whole screen or only a small section.
- Trim the start or end to remove ads, loading time, or mistakes.
Secure Download
Step 1Go to the main AVAide Screen Recorder website and hit the TRY IT FREE button. After downloading the file, install it on your desktop. Once installed, double-click the program to open it.
Step 2When the program opens, Screen Recorder is automatically set. This option lets you capture everything that plays on your screen, including streaming shows, movies, or live videos.
Click on the Custom or Full option to choose the screen area you want to record. Use Custom if the video only plays in a small window. Pick Full if the video is playing on the whole screen. Make sure the streaming video is ready to play before recording.
Step 3Make sure the System Sound is turned on. It records the audio from the video itself. You can turn the Microphone off if you do not want to record your voice. It helps get clean audio from the streaming video.
Step 4Click the REC button to begin recording. Let the video play without touching anything. While the video plays, AVAide Screen Recorder captures both the screen and sound. If needed, you can pause or take snapshots during the recording.
Step 5When the streaming video is over, press the Stop button. A preview screen will appear right away. Watch it to check your recording. If it looks good, click the Save button. AVAide Screen Recorder will save the file as an MP4 video by default.
There you go! How was your experience? You should know that AVAide Screen Recorder is not only for streaming videos, but it can also help you if you want to convert YouTube videos to MP3 by recording them. Try it now!
Trying to convert M4S files to MP4 by renaming them or using FFmpeg might work, but it is not always easy. You have to deal with commands, file paths, and sometimes errors that make no sense.
But here is a better way. You can just record what you see on your screen and save it as a real video file. AVAide Screen Recorder lets you record anything, streaming shows, games, and online lessons, and save it in formats like MP4, MOV, WMV, or even audio formats if you only want sound.
Record screen, audio, webcam, gameplay, online meetings, as well as iPhone/Android screen on your computer.
