.dat file conversion using QuickTime Pro

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Level 1

1 points

.dat file conversion using QuickTime Pro

Hi

I have been given a VCD with a .dat file. Although I can open and play this through QuickTime, I would prefer to be able to view it on my TV as it's a teaching video for my son. Therefore, I would like to convert it to a format that could be written to a DVD.

Would QuickTime Pro be the answer?

If so, what would be the best format to convert it to, and could I burn that straight to DVD or would I need to run it through iDVD first?

Cheers.

Mac Mini, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Aug 28, 2008 10:07 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 28, 2008 10:11 AM in response to Steve_Carr

Have you tried to play the VCD in your dvd player that' hooked up to your tv. Some dvd players (if not all) can play VCD's.

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Answer 2

Steve_Carr Author

Level 1

1 points

Aug 28, 2008 10:20 AM in response to David M Brewer

I have.

Unfortunately, although what looks like a menu page appears, I cannot get it to progress past that!

So I'm looking for alternatives. Thanks anyway.

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Answer 3

Klaus1

Level 9

52,879 points

Aug 29, 2008 9:19 AM in response to Steve_Carr

Possibly this might be of use to you:

http://www.dvd-tool.com/dat-file-converter.html

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Answer 4

Ricktoronto

Level 6

11,560 points

Aug 29, 2008 4:53 PM in response to Steve_Carr

Today seems to be DAT file day.

VCD's contain MPEG-1 muxed video. Almost always named AVSEQ001.DAT

Drag the DAT file off the VCD. Rename with an MPG extension. Play the MPEG file or if you want to edit use MPEG Streamclip to edit and export to another format or reconvert to MPEG with the corrections.

What you cannot do is export MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 to QT formats with QT Pro as you lose the audio. Hence the need for Streamclip which costs zero and is a lot easier to use as well.

The DAT file may be used directly in Toast to author a DVD however keep in mind about VCD's two things - they are only 320X240 vs. 640X480 so they have to be upscaled and the bitrates are often VERY low and thus look quite awful when written to a Video DVD format.

Don't have Toast? Export in Streamclip to a high bitrate QT format - for example the iTunes preset under export to MPEG-4 and Apple TV SD. Then use that file in iDVD.

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