Convert downloaded DAT files to AVI or MPEG

[mjvgiese]

I have a couple .DAT files that I want to convert to avi or mpeg to put on a dvd. How would I go about doing this? I've already tried just renaming the files to .avi or .mpg, but that didn't work.

I know alot of .DAT files are VCD files, but I'm not sure that is the case with these, as I got the .DAT files from my temporary internet files folder. They are videos that I saw online at a site (stargatesg1.com), and I want to put some of them on DVD. Here's a link to an example video: http://stargatesg1.com/MediaPlayer.aspx?contentItemId=32852&channelContentItemID=32849

Can anyone tell me how I can do this? I'd prefer to be able to use a free program.
Thanks!

[Snowcrystal]

If these DAT are really video files then use vcdgear.

[psx_pirate]

Use vcdgear as suggested above (use the 'dat to mpeg' setting) to extract the mpeg video from the .dat files....

In order to put them on dvd you will need to demux the audio from the mpeg files and resample it to 48.000hz (if the dat files are infact vcd files the audio will be 44.100hz ... this is not compatitable with dvd) .... you will then need to remux the audio with the video (see tools section for apps to do both these)

Once this is done you will need to author the mpeg files for use on a dvd ... tda will do this but for a free option try guifordvdauthor (or look in the tools section for other authoring tools)

[yoda313]

actually one more note programs like tmpgenc dvd author can do the audio conversion for you while you make your dvd. But again its not free but does have a trial period. Fyi.

[psx_pirate]

actually one more note programs like tmpgenc dvd author can do the audio conversion for you while you make your dvd. But again its not free but does have a trial period. Fyi.

Yep i realised this after i posted ....but well pointed out yoda313 ..... i don't think guifordvdauthor can do this though

[yoda313]

No problem psx_pirate we are all here to lend a helping hand.

I'm pretty sure gda doesn't do it. I'd be suprised if a freeware app like that would - it's basically a author program that doesn't have a whole lot of bells and whistles. It seems to look to be a great free program but not a full robust author app. Though I must admit to only exploring the program briefly so I don't know its full potential - thats only a first impression really.

[psx_pirate]

I can't comment on gda either as i don't use it ... i have tda and always author with that