DAT Converter Help

[PamJ]

I am trying desperately to find a program that will successfully convert a DAT audio only file to almost any other "regular" audio file type (MP3, WMA, WAV, etc.) Preferably free or at least a free trial or version so I can see if it works. I've tried several, including Ojosoft. None work. (Every time I tried Ojosoft I received a error message window, the one asking if you want to send them a report about the error.) The last one I tried I downloaded from CNET. It's from RealZealSoft, RZ MP3 Converter. Don't know if it will work or not because when I tried to install it avast recommended I open it in the sandbox, which I did. But apparently once you close the sandbox everything is gone. (I know NOTHING about the sandbox.)

The client I'm getting these files from has no idea how to change them to something else.

Does anyone know of a program that will actually work for this conversion?

In general--for anything not just this--how do you know if a program you open in the sandbox initially is okay to use outside the sandbox? I went through the whole install process with this last attempt, but of course it didn't install because I was doing it in the sandbox.

I sincerely appreciate any help!

Pam

[DavidR]

I thought that DAT (Digital Audio Tape) is the media type and not the audio codec used to record the audio ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Tape

One google later dat to mp3 gives lots of hits, so presumably replave mp3 with another audio format and you should get more hits.

http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=convert+DAT+to+mp3+format

[bob3160]

Pam,
If you have a sample, it would make it easier to recommend a decent free converter,

[PamJ]

David, I think I might have finally found one after trying about ten. The trial version converts about two minutes of the file so you can see how it works. I've tried two files and those have converted fine. I receive audio files as e-mail attachments and transcribe them. I have several companies I work with this way and the files are usually MP3, WAV, or WMA--even from this company. But for some reason that they can't even figure out some of their recordings are being saved with this .dat extension. (They play in WMP with the .dat extension, but not in my transcription software, which has a mile-long list of audio and video formats it DOES accept.)

Bob, I can't upload a sample file because all of these recordings have a lot of my client's customers' confidential info on them.

I was just getting extremely frustrated at trying so many that didn't work, wouldn't load, caused avast warnings, or wanted me to do the installation in the sandbox. This one isn't free, but under 20 bucks, which isn't bad. If nothing else entirely free works, I'll go with this one. (My only other choice is to play it in WMP and record it internally in another format, which is quite time consuming when you have several to do and will probably have more in the future.)

Thanks!

Pam

[DavidR]

Don't lose sight of the fact that the autosandbox pop-up is a recommendation. If the converter software is installed in the sandbox, I actually don't know if it would subsequently be able to work with your audio files located outside of the sandbox. But if it was able to do that, it would allow a brief trial to see if the application was able to convert the format without actually installing for real. Once the sandbox is closed the installation should be dropped from the sandbox.

####
The autosandbox process is controlled in the first instance by the file system shield (FSS), the suspect.exe file is scanned before it is allowed to run. If it were infected, it could/should be detected by the FSS, so one reasonable thing in its favour is it hasn't had a definitive detection.

However, the FSS checks other things amongst those a) is the file digitally signed, b) its location and what it does (this is done in the emulation check). these can trigger a suspicion and it is this suspicion that results in the recommendation to use the autosandbox.

Now the user can accept this decision and run it in the autosandbox or have it run normally and to Remember the answer for this program. Provided of course you are familiar with the program and that it is clean.