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Can I import .dat files into FInal Cut Pro?

Hi..I received 2 .dat files which play in Quicktime. They are pieces of 2 movies which were converted from Video and given to me on a cd disc with a wesite.
I want to edit the movies and also lighten them up, because they is very dark.
I am wondering if I can do it in FCP? And how would I get them in there, make a duplicate (in order to save these originals) and then do editing and use them both for the website, as a mpeg4 or 3 and also as files for output to cd's? Can I get them out of the .dat file format? I have FCP 4.5.
Obviously, I know nothing about this. And I have posted this also in QT and iMovie..to see what I can do. Thank you.

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.3.5), 1.25 gig ram

Posted on Jul 29, 2006 9:17 AM

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7 replies

Jul 29, 2006 9:44 AM in response to Chandidevi

I'd convert them to an editable format (like a DV codec quicktime movie) by exporting them from QT Player...

Also, FCP does non-destructive editing, so there's no need to duplicate the originals. Just load them into QT Player, export, select DV as the codec. Then load the converted files into FCP and edit.

If you're still working in 4.5, you might consider the current upgrade offer from Apple to go to Final Cut Studio 5.1 - there's no telling how long they'll keep the offer open.

Patrick

User uploaded file

Jul 30, 2006 3:48 AM in response to Patrick Sheffield

Thank you.
I will try this.
I cut a cd on Toast 7 and it plays on my DVD player, but still in the DAT format.
I was also given this link
You may want to try this freeware and use it to convert the dat file to a DV Stream which you will be able to open in iMovie, do your editing, and then export or "Share" to a .mov file. Mpeg StreamClip < </div>
http://www.squared5.com/

I will try what u have written first, as it seems simplist.
I also found out that these clips are in PAL format. Will that matter?
Thanks for the info from Apple. I am in India and will see how I can do this.

Jul 30, 2006 8:21 AM in response to Chandidevi

You can find the details for crossgrade ( Upgrade to Final Cut Studio 5.1 ) here: http://www.apple.com/universal/crossgrade/ and with your local Apple reseller. What I can't understand is how come you don't have Quick Time Pro - it's incorporated to Final Cut. Open up Quick Time and click on the menu bar for expansion. If you don't see "grey boxes" writing Pro next to some actions then you do have QTPro.

Jul 31, 2006 8:30 AM in response to Patrick Sheffield

How time passes by...I didn't realise the option of QT 6. Anyway, since you are still 10.3.5 you can use this option too to get back to Quick Time 6.5.2 ( if you also update to 10.3.9 ) :
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/quicktime652reinstallerforquicktime7 01.html

PS: At a later stage there was also a 7.0.1 from 7.03, if it helps.

Can I import .dat files into FInal Cut Pro?

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