There is two applications software that can decompile the MDL files :

Studio Compiler (recommended for that guide)
Crowbar 0.11

The two applications has good and bad sides, I do prefer myself, to use Studio Compiler.

Do not Use Crowbar if you wish to decompile :

1. an heroes models, cause the geometry will be incomplete
2. Animation is not supported, in crowbar

This tutorial will explain the decompilation process WITH Crowbar AND Studio Compiler, and will let the user to do the final choice .

Studio Compiler

First you have to download and install the application and launch it.

Configure studio compiler to work with SFM or any different engine branches.

1. Open the app and go on the Model decompile tab.
2. On the top you have to click on Configure button.
3. Set the SDK Tools directory but do not click on the folder icon on the right. Copy the path from the window explorer. ( X:\Steam\steamapps\common\SourceFilmmaker\game\bin )

The decompiler, will gets some trouble to decompile Dota2 models, saying it cannot find the Vtx data, so you have to apply a tweak on the file.

So now go where the MDL you want to decompile is located :

Example :

“G:\Steam\steamapps\common\SourceFilmmaker\game\dota_2\models\heroes\antimage\antimage_weapon.dx90.vtx”

Rename the file to “antimage_weapon.dx80.vtx”

Set the output directory manually as the browser looks to be buggy.

So simply copy and paste the path where you want to extract the files, I choose to decompile the smd and qc file directly into the MESA workspace so i can import the SMD Reference and Sequences directly from there.

Click on “Extract”

All the file are now extracted where you setted the output directory

Crowbar Decompiler

First you have to download and install the application and launch it.

1. MDL File : just click on Browse and select the mdl file you wish to decompile

2. Output folder : click on Browse… to select the output folder where the file will be decompiled.

I choose to decompile the smd and qc file directly into the MESA workspace so i can import the SMD Reference and Sequences directly from there.

Click on “Decompile MDL Files”

The output log :

Decompiling...

Decompiling ".\antimage_weapon.mdl"...

  Reading data...
    Checking for required files...
    ...All required files found.
    Reading mdl file...
    ...Reading mdl file finished.
    Reading vtx file...
    ...Reading vtx file finished.
    Reading vvd file...
    ...Reading vvd file finished.
  ...Reading data finished.
  Writing data...
    Writing qc file...
    ...Writing qc file finished.
    Writing reference and lod files...
    ...Writing reference and lod files finished.
    Writing collision file...
    ...Writing collision file finished.
    Writing animation ($sequence) smd files...
      Writing "@BindPose" file...
      ...Writing "@BindPose" file finished.
    ...Writing animation ($sequence) smd files finished.
    Writing animation ($animation) smd files...
      Writing "@BindPose" file...
      ...Writing "@BindPose" file finished.
    ...Writing animation ($animation) smd files finished.
  ...Writing data finished.

...Decompile of ".\antimage_weapon.mdl" succeeded.

...Decompile succeeded.

Decompilation has been successfully executed so you can check the files in Windows Explorer.

All the animation sequences are decompiled into the MDLName_anims directory.