Extract text from Firmware and media files (SA1)
To convert SA1 files to another format, you need ArCon or other System software.
To convert other file formats to the "Firmware & 3D Data" file type, you need software like ArCon or a similar tool.
The .SA1 extension is a classic example of file format reuse, leading to significant user confusion. It primarily serves as a firmware update container for digital set-top boxes utilizing ALI Corporation chipsets. In this context, the file is a proprietary binary blob designed strictly for hardware flashing; it is not meant to be opened, edited, or viewed on a standard PC, and trying to do so often results in garbled text.
However, users seeking conversion are typically dealing with one of two secondary formats. First, in architectural design, .SA1 can represent 3D objects created by ArCon (Architectural Construction) software. These files are locked into the ArCon ecosystem, making it difficult to share designs with clients or collaborators who don't own the software. Users in this scenario urgently need to convert these proprietary 3D models into interoperable formats like OBJ, DXF, or DWG for use in Blender or AutoCAD.
Secondly, the extension appears in the retro-gaming community, specifically as audio sample arrays for Nintendo 64 games like Super Mario 64. These are raw audio dumps that will not play in standard media players like VLC. To make this audio usable, it must be converted into standard streams like WAV or MP3. Determining which type of .SA1 file you possess is the critical first step before attempting any conversion.
Convert.Guru analyzes your SA1 file, detects the exact format, and lets you read the text inside.
Users also converted AUP, WAV, APN and SAV files.
If you want to convert SA1 file to SAV, you can use ArCon or similar software from the "Firmware Update / 3D Object" category. In the File menu, look for Save As… or Export….
To convert files to SA1, try ArCon or another comparable tool in the "Firmware Update / 3D Object" 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 SA1 converter.