What is DAT file extension?

DAT file extension is used by generic data files. What is a DAT file? The file extension DAT is just a name telling nothing about the file and many applications use it to indicate a file that contains data. As there is no defined structure for DAT files, it can be very difficult to determine the application which originally created the file let alone open it and understand its contents. The only way to view or access the DAT files correctly will be to establish which software generated the file and then to use this to access it.

DAT (Digital Audio Tape) is a standard medium and technology for the digital recording of audio on tape at a professional level of quality. A DAT drive is a digital tape recorder with rotating heads similar to those found in a video deck. Most DAT drives can record at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, the CD audio standard, and 48 kHz. DAT has become the standard archiving technology in professional and semi-professional recording environments for master recordings. Digital inputs and outputs on professional DAT decks allow the user to transfer recordings from the DAT tape to an audio workstation for precise editing. The compact size and low cost of the DAT medium makes it an excellentway to compile the recordings that are going to be used to create a CD master.