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MTV File - What is an .mtv file and how do I open it?
Learn about .MTV files and view a list of programs that open them.
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Overview
What is an MTV file? An MTV file is a video saved in a specialized format used by some Chinese portable "MP4" video players. It contains MP3 audio and a series of images that are shown during playback, at a rate of 12 frames per second. MTV files are similar to .AMV files but use slightly different formatting.
More Information Several inexpensive Chinese portable "MP4" players do not actually store or play MP4 videos. Instead, they play MTV videos. MTV videos are low resolution (a maximum of 128x128 pixels) and small in size (one minute of video is roughly 24 MB of data). Thus, media players can store and play many MTV videos without using much storage space or processing power. NOTE: While the MTV format is similar to the AMV format, which is also used by Chinese portable media players, the formats are different enough that not every AMV-compatible device or media player can play MTV files.
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DeveloperMark VandeWettering
Popularity2.0 | 2 Votes
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.MTV File Extension
2 file types use the .mtv file extension.
MTV Video Format File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
3.2 | 12 Votes |
NEW: Open your .MTV file online with File Helper . View Online
What is an MTV file?
An MTV file is a video saved in a specialized format used by some Chinese portable "MP4" video players. It contains MP3 audio and a series of images that are shown during playback, at a rate of 12 frames per second. MTV files are similar to .AMV files but use slightly different formatting.
More Information
Several inexpensive Chinese portable "MP4" players do not actually store or play MP4 videos. Instead, they play MTV videos. MTV videos are low resolution (a maximum of 128x128 pixels) and small in size (one minute of video is roughly 24 MB of data). Thus, media players can store and play many MTV videos without using much storage space or processing power.
NOTE: While the MTV format is similar to the AMV format, which is also used by Chinese portable media players, the formats are different enough that not every AMV-compatible device or media player can play MTV files.
How to open an MTV file
You can open and play MTV videos in VideoLAN VLC media player (cross-platform) or Online Media Technologies AVS Media Player (Windows), though the players may have difficulty playing some MTV files. For example, VLC is able to play only the audio portion of some MTV files.
If you want to convert an MTV video to a more standard video format, such as AVI or .MP4 , you can do so using FFmpeg (cross-platform), AnyMP4 Video Converter (Windows, Mac), or Online Media Technologies AVS Video Converter (Windows).
Programs that open MTV files
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Windows
VideoLAN VLC media player
Free
Online Media Technologies AVS Media Player
Free
Online Media Technologies AVS Video Converter
Free Trial
FFmpeg
Free
AnyMP4 Video Converter
Free Trial
Mac
VideoLAN VLC media player
Free
FFmpeg
Free
AnyMP4 Video Converter
Free Trial
MPlayerX
Free
ShedWorx Smart Converter
Free Trial
Linux
VideoLAN VLC media player
Free
FFmpeg
Free
Web
FileHelper.com
Free
Category: Video Files
Updated: June 30, 2021
MTV Raytracer Image
| Developer | Mark VandeWettering |
| Popularity |
2.0 | 2 Votes |
An MTV file may also be a raster image created by MTV Raytracer, a simple command-line ray-tracing program used to generate 3D-rendered images. It stores raw, uncompressed pixel color data in a straightforward RGB text format, with each line typically representing the color values of a single pixel. Students, hobbyists, and developers experimenting with early or lightweight 3D rendering techniques are the primary users of MTV files.
More Information
The MTV Raytracer uses plain text scene description files, often with .dat extensions, to define objects, materials, light sources, and camera parameters in a 3D scene. When the program renders the scene, it processes this information and outputs an image in the MTV format. The format's simplicity makes it helpful in demonstrating the fundamentals of ray tracing and 3D image synthesis.
How to open an MTV file
You can open and view MTV files with several cross-platform image viewers, including XnViewMP and ImageMagick . To open an MTV file with XnView MP, select File → Open .
Programs that open MTV files
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ImageMagick
Free
XnViewMP
Free
Windows
IrfanView
Free
Category: Raster Image Files
Updated: October 28, 2025