Convert CRI USM game cutscenes to MP4 online, with every audio track and subtitle kept. Upload files up to 20GB and download the converted result in a few clicks.
Drag & Drop your USM file here
USM files, up to 20GB
Files stay private.
Automatically deleted after 24 hours.
Link
20GB upload limit.
4.8/5
Trusted for 1,827,796+ conversions
HOW IT WORKS
Three steps, no account, nothing to install.
01
Upload your USM file
Drag and drop a .usm cutscene from a game's movie folder, or select it from your device.
02
Convert to MP4
Keep MP4 as the output format and start. The video is re-encoded to H.264 and each audio track to AAC, with every frame kept.
03
Download the MP4
Download one MP4 per USM file. It plays in browsers, on phones, in VLC and in video editors.
USM
USM is CRI Middleware's Sofdec video container, used for intros, cutscenes and trailers in many console and PC games. It holds MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.264 or VP9 video with CRI ADX, AHX or HCA audio, sometimes with subtitles or a transparency layer. Most media players and video editors can't open it.
MP4
MP4 is a widely supported multimedia container used for video, audio, subtitles, and metadata. It is common on the web, phones, social platforms, presentations, and everyday media players.
FILE FORMATS
SOURCE
USM is the CRI Sofdec video format used for cutscenes in many Japanese and console games. A USM can hold MPEG-1, MPEG-2, H.264 or VP9 video with ADX, AHX or HCA sound, several audio languages, subtitle text and an alpha layer. Some games encrypt it with their own key, and normal players can't open it.
TARGET
MPEG-4 Part 14 is the default container for phone recordings, web video and streaming. MP4 with H.264 video and AAC sound plays on iPhone and Android, in every browser, on smart TVs and in Windows and Mac players without extra codecs. It holds text subtitles and chapters, but not picture-based subtitles.
| Feature | USM | MP4 |
|---|---|---|
| Developed by | CRI Middleware | MPEG (ISO) |
| File extension | .usm | .mp4 |
| Usual video codec | MPEG-1/2, H.264, VP9 | H.264, HEVC, AV1 |
| Usual audio codec | ADX, HCA, AHX | AAC |
| Subtitles | Text streams | Text only |
| Best for | Game cutscenes | Sharing and playback anywhere |
| Plays on phones and browsers | Game engines and tools | Yes |
USE CASES
Practical workflows where USM to MP4 conversion is useful.
Watch a game cutscene on any device
Play an extracted USM cutscene in a browser, on a phone or on a TV, none of which open CRI's format.
Edit cutscene footage into a video
Bring story scenes into Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or CapCut as H.264 MP4 for a review, recap or video essay.
Share a scene on Discord
Post a favorite cutscene in a Discord chat, where an MP4 plays inline instead of showing up as an unknown file.
Switch between voice language tracks
When a USM carries several voice tracks, such as Japanese and English, each becomes its own AAC track in the MP4, so you can switch between them in VLC or MPC-HC.
Read original subtitles for a fan translation
Fan translators can watch a cutscene with its original subtitles, which become selectable MP4 subtitle tracks, one per language, with Japanese text kept.
Hear 5.1 cutscene audio on a surround system
5.1 ADX and HCA tracks are put into standard 5.1 order, so dialogue comes from the center speaker and bass from the subwoofer on a home theater setup.
Keep watchable copies of a game's movies
Convert a game's intro, ending and trailer USMs into MP4 files that open on any computer or phone.
Compare cutscenes between releases
Convert the same cutscene from two regions, or from an original release and a remaster, then compare the MP4s side by side in a video editor.
Check a modded or rebuilt USM
Modders who build replacement USM cutscenes can convert them back to MP4 to check the picture, audio and subtitles before packing the mod.
Salvage a partly downloaded cutscene
A USM that was cut short, such as an interrupted download, still converts. You get the part that is present, with ADX and HCA audio ending where its data ends.
SUPPORTED FILES
Unencrypted Sofdec and Sofdec2 USM cutscenes are supported.
Re-encoded to H.264 at the original size and frame rate.
Every track becomes its own AAC track.
Reordered into standard 5.1 so dialogue comes from the center.
Become selectable MP4 subtitles, including Japanese text.
Not supported, except ADX or HCA audio from games with built-in keys.
Only convert videos from games you own or have permission to use.
TROUBLESHOOTING
These explain most surprises with game cutscenes.
01
If the video or audio is encrypted with the game's key, the conversion stops. Keys can't be supplied.
02
The alpha layer is dropped, because the MP4 holds a normal opaque video.
03
The first audio track plays by default. Choose another in your player's audio menu.
04
A USM without video can't become an MP4 video.
05
Interlaced MPEG-2 is deinterlaced for smooth playback.
06
Check that the file is a CRI USM and not another format with a .usm name.
Emulators, FFmpeg builds and tools such as VGMToolbox can play or dump game videos once set up. dragdropdo turns USM into MP4 in the browser, ready to watch or edit.
| What matters | dragdropdo | Emulators and Game Video Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing to install | ✓Yes. Runs in any modern browser. | ~Yes, emulators or command-line tools. |
| Works on phones and tablets | ✓Yes. Desktop, Android, iPhone and iPad. | ~No. Desktop only. |
| Batch conversion | ✓Yes. Add many files and download one ZIP. | ~Scripts can; most tools go one file at a time. |
| Share finished files | ✓Yes. Send a unique link from the result page. | ~You upload and share the files yourself. |
| Pricing | ✓Free with daily limits. $2.99 or $6.99 passes for unlimited use, no monthly plan. | ~Free. |
| Supplying a game's decryption key | ✓No. Encrypted files can't be converted. | ~Some tools accept keys you look up yourself. |
Other tools use different pricing, limits and workflows. This comparison describes dragdropdo's own features without assuming every other tool works the same way.
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WHY DRAGDROPDO
Convert USM to MP4 in your browser, with nothing to install and nothing kept after 24 hours.
Private by default
Files are encrypted in transit and deleted from our servers automatically after 24 hours.
No install required
Convert in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone or iPad. No app and no sign-up wall.
Big files and batches
Upload files up to 20GB each, add several at once, and download the results one by one or as a ZIP.
Share & download
Save finished files to your device or pass them on with a share link from the result page.
FAQ
Answers to common questions about dragdropdo's USM to MP4 converter.
