Extract text from GIS raster files (BSQ)
To convert BSQ Raster files to another format, you need ArcGIS or other GIS software.
To convert other file formats to the "Raster Data Format" file type, you need software like ArcGIS or a similar tool.
The .BSQ file primarily serves as a Band Sequential raster image format heavily used in remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These files hold uncompressed multi-band satellite or hyperspectral imagery. A secondary but notable use case is the Backing Sequence format, created by Korg to store proprietary sequence and audio data for its electronic keyboards.
For GIS professionals, .BSQ files are managed with industry-standard software like ArcGIS, QGIS, or Golden Software Surfer.
The major disadvantage of the .BSQ format is its complete lack of internal structure. It is essentially a raw, binary dump of pixel data. Because it lacks an internal header, it must always be accompanied by an external HDR text file that defines the grid dimensions, coordinate systems, and bit depth. If you lose the HDR file, the .BSQ file becomes completely unreadable by standard GIS tools. Furthermore, standard web browsers and basic image viewers simply cannot read this format.
Users frequently convert .BSQ files to widely supported formats like TIFF or .GeoTIFF to lock the geographic metadata inside a single file. Converting to standard JPG or PNG formats is common for quick sharing, but this flattens the multi-band data and permanently deletes the hidden multispectral layers.
Converting a raw .BSQ file without its header is practically impossible for basic online converters. However, you can drag and drop your file into convert.guru to safely inspect it. If our analysis detects the embedded Korg sequence data or a supported underlying grid structure, viewing or conversion may still be possible.
Convert.Guru analyzes your BSQ file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted $B5, BUNDLE and AAE files.
If you want to convert BSQ file to SHP, KML, KMZ, GPX, GEOJSON, TOPOJSON, TIF, TIFF, ECW, SID, IMG or DEM, you can use ArcGIS or similar software from the "Multispectral GIS Raster Storage" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert LAZ, KMZ, DTM, CSV, DEM, PRJ, LAS, GPX, DSM, SHP, DBF or KML files to BSQ, try ArcGIS or another comparable tool in the "Multispectral GIS Raster Storage" category.
The history of Convert.Guru began over 25 years ago in California with Tom Simondi’s file-format database. A former contributor to Space Shuttle development and a software pioneer of the 1980s, Simondi established a trusted resource for file type analysis that was even referenced by Microsoft Windows XP. Today, we use modern technology to process and convert thousands of file formats while continually improving our BSQ converter.