Free online USM to 3GP converter

What the USM format is

USM is a video container developed by CRI Middleware for the Sofdec playback system. Game publishers use it for cutscenes, menus, tutorials, and other pre-rendered footage; files commonly appear in a game's data or movie directory rather than in normal camera or editing software.

USM files can contain interleaved video, audio, subtitles, and metadata. Some are encrypted or use CRI-specific audio such as HCA, so changing the filename extension to .3gp does not convert the contents. CRI middleware tools and game build pipelines create USM files; ordinary players and editors may not recognize them directly.

What the 3GP format is

3GP is a compact ISO Base Media container designed for older 3G mobile networks and phones. It commonly stores H.263 or MPEG-4 Part 2 video with AMR-NB or AAC audio.

Its restricted codec and resolution combinations can produce small files that work on legacy phones and simple embedded players. Modern phones generally support MP4 more reliably, so 3GP is appropriate mainly when a specific device, application, or older messaging system requires it.

How to actually convert USM to 3GP

Use the built-in online converter

1. Open the USM-to-3GP converter on 101convert.com.
2. Upload the .usm file and choose 3GP as the output format.
3. Start the conversion and download the generated .3gp file when processing finishes.

This method requires no installation, but it will work only if the converter supports the particular USM variant. Encrypted files or files with unsupported CRI audio may fail or produce video without audio.

Convert with FFmpeg

Recent FFmpeg builds can read many unencrypted CRI Sofdec USM files. Test the input first:

ffprobe input.usm

If FFmpeg lists a video stream and an audio stream, use a broadly compatible MPEG-4 Part 2/AAC 3GP output:

ffmpeg -i input.usm -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0? -c:v mpeg4 -tag:v mp4v -b:v 500k -c:a aac -b:a 64k -ar 44100 output.3gp

For older phones that specifically require H.263 video and AMR-NB audio, use an FFmpeg build containing the OpenCORE AMR encoder:

ffmpeg -i input.usm -map 0:v:0 -map 0:a:0? -vf scale=trunc(iw/4)*4:trunc(ih/4)*4 -c:v h263 -b:v 400k -c:a libopencore_amrnb -ar 8000 -ac 1 -b:a 12.2k output.3gp

If the first command reports that the USM demuxer, codec, or audio stream is unsupported, extract the streams with a CRI/USM extraction utility that matches the file's game and then convert the extracted video and audio with FFmpeg. Encrypted USM files require the correct decryption key; without it, a normal format converter cannot recover the media.

Quality, compatibility, and limitations

3GP conversion re-encodes the video and normally reduces quality. Lower -b:v values reduce file size but increase blocking and blur; raise the bitrate for larger screens or fast motion.

USM-specific subtitles, alternate audio tracks, encryption, and game metadata are not guaranteed to survive. Check the output with ffprobe output.3gp and test it on the actual target device. If the device accepts MP4, H.264 video in an MP4 container is usually more compatible and gives better quality than 3GP.