EA SCHl Audio

ASF, DCT, DAT, MUS

• Format Type : Audio
  
• Endian Order : Little Endian
  
• Signature : SCHl / SCHL
  

Format Specifications

// for each file

char {4}     - Signature (SCHl)

uint32 {4}   - Split Header Offset

byte {X}     - Unknown

// Split Header

char {4}     - Split Signature (SCCl)

uint32 {4}   - Chunk Data Offset (12) (relative to the start of the split header)

uint32 {4}   - Number Of Chunks

// for each chunk

char {4}     - Chunk Signature (SCDl)

uint32 {4}   - Compressed Size (of the chunk)

uint32 {4}   - Uncompressed Size (of the chunk)

byte {4}     - null Padding

byte {X}     - Chunk Data

char {4}     - File End Tag (SCEl)

uint32 {4}   - Unknown (8)

byte {X}     - Padding (filled with null)

Notes and Comments

• This format is also often referenced as "EA ASF file format" or "Electronic Arts SCxl"
• This format lists all files one after the other. Each file is split up into chunks, presumably to make for more efficient file buffering when playing audio.
• This file format supports several chunk types: SCHl (header chunk), PATl, TMxl, mTCD, SCCl, SCDl (data chunk?), GSTR, PT and SCEl (end chunk).

quickBMS Script

• MUS to WAVE script

Compatible Programs

• Electronic Arts Sound eXchange
• ealayer3 / EA Layer 3 Extractor/Decoder
• foobar2000 + vgmstream plugin (file extension needs to be changed to ASF or STR to play audio correctly)
• Game Audio Player (+ source code)
• Game Extractor
  
  

Games

List of games using this file format:

• Def Jam: Fight for NY (PS2) (*.MUS / *.ASF)
• FIFA 2000 (*.STR)
• FIFA 2002 (*.STR)
• FIFA 2004 *.dat
• FIFA 2005 *.dat
• FIFA 2006 *.sng
• Harry Potter And The Prizoner Of Azkaban (XBox) *.ast
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (*.AST)
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• MVP Baseball 2005 *.ast
• NBA Live 97 (PS1) (*.DCT / *.BIG / *.PBI)
• Need For Speed Underground *.ast
• Need For Speed Underground 2 *.ast
• NHL 2006 *.ast *.big *.vp6

See Also

• Electronic Arts Formats (multimedia.cx)
• Electronic Arts SCxl (multimedia.cx)
• SCHl Audio - Valery's document