Free online 264 to DAT converter

What the 264 format is

.264 usually contains an elementary H.264/AVC video stream without a container. Surveillance cameras, DVR exports, video encoders, and developer tools commonly produce it. Because the file may contain no frame-rate, resolution, audio, or timestamp metadata, a player or converter may require those values separately.

What the DAT format is

In the Video category, .dat normally refers to the MPEG program-stream files stored in the MPEGAV directory of Video CDs. A VCD DAT generally uses MPEG-1 video, often at 352×288 pixels for PAL or 352×240 for NTSC, with MPEG-1 Layer II audio at 44.1 kHz. The extension alone does not define the codec: some unrelated programs also use .dat, and generic MPEG files can be renamed to that extension without becoming VCD-compliant.

How to convert 264 to DAT

You can convert the file for free on 101convert.com without installing software. Select the Video converter, upload the .264 file, choose DAT or MPEG/VCD output when available, set the correct PAL or NTSC standard, and download the result. If the service asks for a frame rate, use the value from the camera or export settings; raw H.264 files often do not contain it.

For repeatable local conversion, FFmpeg provides more control. With a PAL source and a separate audio file, use:

ffmpeg -f h264 -r 25 -i input.264 -i audio.wav -c:v mpeg1video -b:v 1150k -s 352x288 -r 25 -c:a mp2 -b:a 224k -ar 44100 -ac 2 -f vcd output.dat

For NTSC, replace -r 25 with -r 29.97 and -s 352x288 with -s 352x240. If the source already contains audio in a container rather than as a separate file, use that file as the second input and map its audio stream explicitly:

ffmpeg -f h264 -r 25 -i input.264 -i source_audio.mka -map 0:v:0 -map 1:a:0 -c:v mpeg1video -b:v 1150k -s 352x288 -r 25 -c:a mp2 -b:a 224k -ar 44100 -ac 2 -f vcd output.dat

When no audio exists, create a video-only MPEG program stream and give it the requested extension:

ffmpeg -f h264 -r 25 -i input.264 -c:v mpeg1video -b:v 1150k -s 352x288 -r 25 -an -f mpeg output.dat

This last file may play as MPEG video but may not satisfy authoring software that requires a complete VCD stream with MPEG audio. A VCD authoring application may need to perform the final compliance check and disc layout instead of accepting the file directly.

Quality and compatibility limits

H.264-to-MPEG-1 conversion is a lossy re-encode. The lower VCD resolution and bitrate can remove detail, and increasing the DAT bitrate cannot restore information from the source. Choose PAL or NTSC to match the intended player; using the wrong standard can cause rejected files, incorrect dimensions, or playback problems.

Raw .264 input requires the correct frame rate. An incorrect value changes playback speed and audio synchronization, while an incorrect resolution can distort the image. Test the output with a media player and, for disc use, with the intended VCD authoring software.