Convert DAT (mpeg) to AVI

**redneck** · #1 10-22-2005, 11:45 AM

I read through the forum and found that many people are having the same problem like me: what program to use to convert DAT to avi. I need some expert opinion for this.

I tried Imtoo converter, River Past video cleaner, Advanced X video converter, Win avi converter and several other software to convert Dat to avi but in all cases, there was synchonization problem between video and audio. Then I tried Virtual Daub and it worked fine but the file size was very large, larger than the original dat file

So, can anyone suggest how to resolve the issue? I appreciate your help.

ferdous_23 · #2 10-22-2005, 02:07 PM

Thanx Redneck bhai for raising this issue. Ya, it's a common problem. I'm also facing this. If anyone can give a valuable suggestion, many of us will be happy.

**TeolABM** · #3 10-22-2005, 03:15 PM

Dat format itself is a MPEG-1 format. If you want to convert it into avi with DIVX or XVID codecs you can do it with VirtualDubMod. It is a nice program but quite complicated to use. I will later write a tutorial on it. Pls give me some time.

Furhtermore, you may get smaller file size by using XVID codec, on the other hand, using DIVX codec will give you almost same size. If you dont use any codec file size will enormously big that is uncompressed video, almost 15 GB for 1 hour video. So dont forget to choose codec, both for video and audio.

Wait until I write a tutorial on how to conver Dat/MPG to avi.

**Baker Bhai** · #4 10-22-2005, 04:36 PM

there is a program I used which was very convenient and easy to use...

its called AVS Video Converter...it can convert btwn any format...avi, wmv, mpeg, even real media formats...

I can't guarantee the quality because it will be double encoding, but u guys can try it out...and if u do, pls give us feedback.

--
Baker

**mehdianis** · #5 10-22-2005, 10:36 PM

I really disagree converting a .DAT/mpeg file into Divx/xVid .avi file. Divx/Xvid got so popular in last few years because they compress a 4.47GB (2hr video) dvd into 700MB to 1GB avi file, while the quality is reduced only 10% to 20%. This is a huge space gain trading off small quality. One cane reduce the size to 300MB, but quality will drop to 20%, not watchable. There is an optimal limit on how smaller you can make a certain video file without compromising the quality.

In DVD movie format, video contains much more detail video data for each frame. Data-structure is not that complex to support regular Home DVD players. Divx/xVid discards redundant frame information and uses complex algorithm to store the same video in compact form. Thus resulting video file size is so small.

In VCD or mpeg, video is already compressed AND/OR optimized for playing in DVD/VCD/PC. An mpeg file does not contain extra information for every frame, it is already using compact data-structure to save space. If we apply divx/xvid on a .dat/.mpg file, file size will be smaller but, it will loose many potential information about each frame. Resulting in bad quality avi. NO conversion can produce better quality than the source video.

There can be cases where a xvid/divx file of a dat/mpeg is much smaller size and quality is not too bad. It can happen if the scenes are less changed, like two person just talking, nothing else is moving. But if any other kind of video, like action or 69/51 borti where scene changes frequently, divx/xvid conversion won't be able to preserve quality if file size is reduced.

What I said is my opinion based on my knowledge and practical experiments. I always look forward to watch good video, good quality video. It may be few hundreds Megabyte more, would take few more hours to complete download, but once I download the video, I have it for lifetime. Converting an 1Hr dat/mpeg file (600MB) would take around 2hours, resulting in around 450MB avi file (File size can be lowered but quality will be absent). @15KB/S speed it would take me 2.8HRs more to download 600MB file instead of 450MB.

Divx/Xvid is not a magic that makes the file smaller. It's simple computer program that discards redundant video information and saves the frames in compact data-structure. Now days some DVD contain 4/5HRs video in a 4.47GB disc. This video is already compressed, divx/xvid can't make it smaller and keep the same quality. Same goes with Dat/Mpeg, they are already kind of compressed. Making .avi we are just converting the format, not reducing file size maintaining the quality. Moreover, if it is released as DAT/mpg some user can make it VCD easily.

**redneck** · #6 10-23-2005, 12:25 AM

Thanks for your feedback friends.

ToelABM, I will be waiting for your tutorial, I would love to learn about VirtualDub which looks like the best conversion tool to me. I did use the codec you mentioned, but don't know why it came out larger than the original

Baker Bhai, I tried almost all of these converters, but the problem is the asynchorization between audio and video. How to get rid of it? That's the issue.

Mehdianis, You are right about the quality but I somewhat disagree with you in another sense. The reason I need to know this is that in case of 2-3 CD VCDs, I found it not convenient to share with having 4-6 different files with different names. I also found it no good to write a DVD for archiving. Rather 1 file is preferable to me. I normally don't watch VCD, as I don't have any players, I prefer to use computer in most cases...

**mehdianis** · #7 10-23-2005, 04:50 AM

Redneck, you are a trusted releaser. I count on your judgement. If it's multiple VCD disc then it would be economical to go for smaller avi. But for a 1hr natok, conversion is too much.

The file size in avi can get larger if you are increasing the resolution AND/OR putting more bit/pixel*frame ratio. Once again, if the source video doesn't contain any redundant/un-necessary data in each frame, it can't reduce the size drammatically. It's like the making zip of a file. If you take a regular word or text file and make a .zip file, size will be reduced. But you take an Mp3 file and zip it, file size won't be smaller. As the mp3 file is already compressed.

Let us know if you find a software to convert dat/mpeg to .avi.

**bromora** · #8 10-23-2005, 06:38 AM

I've used many tools to convert MPEG (1 & 2) to DivX/XviD and the best and simplest I've come across is AutoGK. AutoGK is the equivalent of your compact camera - doesn't have all the controls of an SLR but still gives good results.

AutoGK comes with all the necessary tools and codecs (XviD 1.1.0) to allow you to convert your MPEG1 & 2 to AVI format.

Check it out here: http://www.autogk.me.uk/

One thing to bear in mind though, is that .DAT files are not pure MPEG1 and therefore AutoGK will not be able to recognise it. You should use VCDGear to extract the MPEG1 stream into a .mpg file first.

**redneck** · #9 10-23-2005, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bromora

One thing to bear in mind though, is that .DAT files are not pure MPEG1 and therefore AutoGK will not be able to recognise it. You should use VCDGear to extract the MPEG1 stream into a .mpg file first.

hmmm...that might a be good suggestion. But unfortunately I already have the dat file, no vcd :Sad:. Anyway, I will try and let yu guys know how it went. Thanks for the info.

**bromora** · #10 10-24-2005, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneck

hmmm...that might a be good suggestion. But unfortunately I already have the dat file, no vcd :Sad:. Anyway, I will try and let yu guys know how it went. Thanks for the info.

I think you may have misunderstood, redneck bhai. You don't need the VCD to extract the MPEG1 stream - just the .DAT file. With AutoGK, you tell it the filesize you want and it will work out the bitrates etc. for you and do a 2-pass encode.

What I've found is a 300MB file gives high quality encode of a 1 hour video - or 5MB/min (including audio).

**redneck** · #11 10-24-2005, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bromora

I think you may have misunderstood, redneck bhai. You don't need the VCD to extract the MPEG1 stream - just the .DAT file. With AutoGK, you tell it the filesize you want and it will work out the bitrates etc. for you and do a 2-pass encode.

What I've found is a 300MB file gives high quality encode of a 1 hour video - or 5MB/min (including audio).

Can you encode Dat file with AutoGK? I tried but failed, it says cannot read dat file, some kind of errors...

**bromora** · #12 10-25-2005, 03:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneck

Can you encode Dat file with AutoGK? I tried but failed, it says cannot read dat file, some kind of errors...

You first need to process the .DAT through VCD Gear to generate a .MPG file from it. AutoGK can then process the .MPG into .AVI.

Hope that clarifies it.

**redneck** · #13 10-25-2005, 04:46 AM

Oh...now I got it. Thanks.

ferdous_23 · #14 10-25-2005, 01:23 PM

Digression:
I want to make a VCD by the video files (such as episodes of 69), which I downloaded from here. If I convert them to MPEG1 & burn them in a blank CD, will I be able to watch these in TV by a DVD player?
Or, any other methods? Can anyone give me a suggestion?
BTW, I've DVD writer in my laptop and I use "Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator 6" for burning CD. Will it work or I've to use another software? Plz, let me know in details.
Thanx in advance.

Tunan · #15 10-25-2005, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferdous_23

Digression:
I want to make a VCD by the video files (such as episodes of 69), which I downloaded from here. If I convert them to MPEG1 & burn them in a blank CD, will I be able to watch these in TV by a DVD player?
Or, any other methods? Can anyone give me a suggestion?
BTW, I've DVD writer in my laptop and I use "Roxio Easy CD & DVD Creator 6" for burning CD. Will it work or I've to use another software? Plz, let me know in details.
Thanx in advance.

vaiya apni mpeg1 dvd player a chalaita parban..... :p

**mehdianis** · #16 10-25-2005, 06:34 PM

Some DVD player supports direct mpeg1 video. You can just burn mpeg1 type file in a CD as DATA-CD and play it in regular home DVD player. Some DVD will only accept VCD. In this case you have to use Nero or other burning software to make a VCD type CD, not Data-CD. Check your DVD player's compatibility list. If it doesn't even mention VCD, then it may not play mpeg1 file or VCD.

Best would be burn couple of CDs, one as a Data CD with mpeg1 video file in it, another as a VCD. Then try to play them in your DVD player.

By the way in mpeg1/VCD each minute of video will take around 10MByte. A 700MByte xVid/Divx file might take 2/3 VCD discs depending on the duration of the video.

impactcrew · #17 11-11-2005, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redneck

I read through the forum and found that many people are having the same problem like me: what program to use to convert DAT to avi. I need some expert opinion for this.

I tried Imtoo converter, River Past video cleaner, Advanced X video converter, Win avi converter and several other software to convert Dat to avi but in all cases, there was synchonization problem between video and audio. Then I tried Virtual Daub and it worked fine but the file size was very large, larger than the original dat file

So, can anyone suggest how to resolve the issue? I appreciate your help.

I have found the best solution to this and I have done this in the past by using TMPGENC to encode the dat file into an avi!