Export/Convert to .MPC

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 8:38 AM

Hello, I'm afraid I wasn't sure which forum to post this in. There is this video format .MPC which is used in older video games. There are a bunch of online converters from .MPC to .MP4, but I actually want to achieve the opposite and convert .MP4 to .MPC. Vegas Pro 11 and the VLC player can both play .MPC files, but neither of them can export to .MPC (VLC doesn't provide an option to convert to .MPC). But since it's possible to convert from .MP4 to .MPC, it should be possible the other way round as well, shouldn't it? And since Vegas Pro is able to open and play the .MPC file, there must be the specific codec installed already? Or is somebody aware of a converter that converts a video format other than .MP4 to .MPC (so it mustn't necessarily be converting from .MP4, I just need it to convert to .MPC). Thanks!

Comments

Musicvid wrote on 3/12/2018, 9:43 AM

I thought MPC was an audio codec.

But if VLC won't do what you want, your choices may be pretty limited. Their ffmpeg encoding library pretty much rules.

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 1:26 PM

I thought MPC was an audio codec.

But if VLC won't do what you want, your choices may be pretty limited. Their ffmpeg encoding library pretty much rules.


Yes I've also read that MPC is an audio codec (and indeed stands for "Musepack Compressed Audio File"), but quite apparently EA used this format to store their Videos in older games (PS2 game in my case). When I try to open such a .MPC file with VLC or Vegas Pro, I can see the video but no audio, so quite the opposite of what the format is standing for :P

Musicvid wrote on 3/12/2018, 2:00 PM

That's an interesting theory, but before advising you further, the forum would like to see your complete file properties, as linked in section C1 of this post:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/important-information-required-to-help-you--110457/

 

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:03 PM

That's an interesting theory, but before advising you further, the forum would like to see your complete file properties, as linked in section C1 of this post:

https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/important-information-required-to-help-you--110457/

I'm using the default project settings (I guess?..) but here they are:

Video settings:

And audio settings:

Also sorry if some of the text is German but even though I've changed language to English it seems to show some text still in German.

I have GPU acceleration enabled in my preferences.

My pc is running on Windows 10 (the newest version as of this writing).

Vegas Pro is version 11, Build 701 (64-bit)

Also I'm afraid I'm not legally allowed to upload the file I tested it with, because while it's okay to use it for home use, you know, not everyone has buyed the game... or maybe it doesn't matter? Hm...

Oh and might also be worth mentioning that when looking at the file's contents, there is this information:
"Encoded with MPEG Gimex module"
That's the only text in there, the rest is just binary.

All I found on "MPEG Gimex" was this forum post at the VLC forum.

vkmast wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:07 PM

Section C 1. would be this one.

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:09 PM

And here's the MediaInfo result:

Format                                   : MPEG Video
Format version                           : Version 2
File size                                : 1,06 MiB
Duration                                 : 3s 600 ms
Overall bit rate mode                    : variabel
Overall bit rate                         : 2 472 kb/s
Writing library                          : Encoded with MPEG Gimex module
FileExtension_Invalid                    : mpgv mpv mp1v m1v mp2v m2v

Video
Format                                   : MPEG Video
Format version                           : Version 2
Format profile                           : Main@Main
Format settings                          : BVOP
Format settings, BVOP                    : Ja
Format settings, Matrix                  : üblich
Format settings, GOP                     : M=3, N=15
Duration                                 : 3s 600 ms
Bit rate mode                            : variabel
Bit rate                                 : 2 472 kb/s
Maximum bit rate                         : 5 000 kb/s
Width                                    : 640 Pixel
Height                                   : 480 Pixel
Display aspect ratio                     : 4:3
Frame rate                               : 25,000 FPS
Standard                                 : Component
Color space                              : YUV
Chroma subsampling                       : 4:2:0
Bit depth                                : 8 bits
Scan type                                : progressiv
Bits/(Pixel*Frame)                       : 0.322
Time code of first frame                 : 00:00:00:00
Stream size                              : 1,06 MiB (100%)
Writing library                          : Encoded with MPEG Gimex module
Color primaries                          : BT.601 PAL
Transfer characteristics                 : BT.470 System B, BT.470 System G
Matrix coefficients                      : FCC 73.682

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:09 PM

Section C 1. would be this one.


Yep sorry bout that

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:14 PM

Aaand here are the Vegas Pro File Properties:

General
  Name: EXAMPLE.MPC
  Folder: D:\Documents\Sony\Vegas Pro 11.0\Forum
  Type: MainConcept MPEG-1
  Size: 1,09 MB (1.112.544 bytes)
  Created: Dienstag, 13. März 2018, 00:12:41
  Modified: Donnerstag, 2. September 2010, 11:56:16
  Accessed: Dienstag, 13. März 2018, 00:12:41
  Attributes: Archive

Streams
  Video: 00:00:03,600, 25,000 fps progressive, 640x480x32, MPEG-2

ACID information
  ACID chunk: no
  Stretch chunk: no
  Stretch list: no
  Stretch info2: no
  Beat markers: no
  Detected beats: no

Other metadata
  Regions/markers: no
  Command markers: no

Media manager
  Media tags: no

Plug-In
  Name: mcplug2.dll
  Folder: D:\Programs\Sony\Vegas Pro 11.0\FileIO Plug-Ins\mcplug2
  Format: MainConcept MPEG-1
  Version: Version 11.0 (Build 701) 64-bit
  Company: Sony Creative Software Inc.

Marco. wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:16 PM

Did you try rendering to MPEG-2 and then simply renaming the resulting file to *.mpc?

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:25 PM

Did you try rendering to MPEG-2 and then simpy renaming the resulting file to *.mpc?

Yep it really worked... but if it's just a common file format, why would they need to change the extension? 😒

Maybe so that a page like this can list it under the EA media formats? Wow.

Marco. wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:31 PM

The extension can be used e.g. to ensure only a certain player would open the file when double-clicked, just like: "MPC? - Please go this way."

Also an own file format could hold special meta data and additional data which is not always required for a straight playback only but could be used by special tools for further services (like GPS data in photo files).

john_dennis wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:31 PM

“ but if it's just a common file format, why would they need to change the extension?”

...to discourage the “casual” pirate.

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:32 PM

The extension can be used e.g. to ensure only a certain player would open the file when double-clicked, just like: "MPC? - Please go this way."


Makes sence, thanks!

first-last wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:33 PM

“ but if it's just a common file format, why would they need to change the extension?”

...to discourage the “casual” pirate.


Well I wasn't going to pirate, just educate :P

john_dennis wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:48 PM

Lawyers can’t tell the difference from their offices.

Musicvid wrote on 3/12/2018, 6:49 PM

If there are TWO .mpc codecs out there, it's a safe bet one of them isn't registered; I suspect it's yours. And yes, renaming back and forth should work.