DSF File

What are DSF files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a DSF file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your DSF files.

What is a DSF file?

DSF files have multiple uses, and D-lusion/XTracker Digital Sound is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

D-lusion/XTracker Digital Sound File

The .dsf file extension was created for an audio and sound file format used by the D-lusion/XTracker software. This is a digital audio composing and music generation program for Windows PCs and is more popularly known as Audio Tracker.

Other digital audio composing tools, music players, and editing programs can be used to open and play the audio data in these .dsf files.

The content of a .dsf file may include digital samples and audio clips that are saved in 8 or 16-bit mono formats. Other pieces of data like metadata details, loops, and recorded or simulated instrument tracks and sound effects may also be stored in these DSF files.

How to open DSF files

Important: Different programs may use files with the DSF file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your DSF file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different DSF openers which you will find listed below.

Last updated: August 6, 2026

All known file formats using extension .DSF

While D-lusion/XTracker Digital Sound File is a popular type of DSF-file, we know of 10 different uses of the .DSF file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

Daz Studio Asset File

We know that one DSF format is Daz Studio Asset File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

DosStart Font

We know that one DSF format is DosStart Font. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Dramatica Story

We know that one DSF format is Dramatica Story. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Dreamcast Sound Format Audio File

We know that one DSF format is Dreamcast Sound Format Audio File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

DSD Storage Facility Audio File

We know that one DSF format is DSD Storage Facility Audio File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Dune Service File

We know that one DSF format is Dune Service File. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

Micrografx Designer Drawing

Micrografx Designer Drawing (.DSF) stores 2-D vector drawings created by Micrografx Designer (versions 6 through 9), later maintained under Corel as Corel Designer. These files are used for technical illustration, diagrams, and other scalable graphic works where precision and editable vector content are required ▶︎ this format predates the switch to a newer extension (.des) that Corel Designer would use thereafter.

When Micrografx Designer (or Corel Designer up to version 9) writes a drawing file, it packs vector objects - lines, fills, text, dimensions - into a proprietary container using Microsoft's Compound Document format (sometimes called OLE2). The resulting .DSF file keeps content editable (objects aren't "flattened" to pixels), so future editing, scaling, and conversion to formats like PDF, EPS, or more modern vector formats is possible. Corel Designer versions after 9 default to a different file extension but retain support for importing .DSF files so legacy drawings can still be read.

Files of this format begin with the standard 8-byte signature for Microsoft Compound Document files (0xD0CF11E0A1B11AE1) at offset zero, and also include embedded strings such as DESIGNERDOC, ROOT ENTRY, etc., which indicate the internal structure used by Micrografx Designer Drawing v.9.0.

DSF opener for Windows

We have identified one DSF opener that is compatible with this specific type of DSF file.

PotPlayer Skin

We know that one DSF format is PotPlayer Skin. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

X-Plane Distribution Scenery Format

The X-Plane Distribution Scenery Format (.DSF) is a scenery-tile file used by the X-Plane flight simulator to represent one 1°×1° section of the Earth (or other supported planet). It describes terrain shape, objects, roads, and surface data so that virtual scenery is rendered correctly in the simulator. You find DSF files inside scenery packages, each tile laying out what appears in a particular geographic degree-tile on the globe.

The DSF format is produced by X-Plane or scenery tools (such as the WorldEditor) when creating terrain or custom scenery for the simulator. It does not include the texture images, object models, or road definitions themselves; those are stored separately and referenced by the DSF. At runtime, X-Plane loads DSF tiles along with the art asset files to display scenery, using the DSF to know where and how to place elevation meshes, vegetation, buildings, vector networks, and texture layers.

DSF is a binary container format organized into "atoms" (or chunks). Each file starts with a fixed header signature ("XPLNEDSF") and a version number. Then a series of atoms each with an ID and size, including metadata, definition lists (terrain types, objects, polygon and network definitions), geometry point pools, raster elevation layers, and commands that instantiate those definitions (place objects, build meshes, draw forests or roads). At the end of the file is a 128-bit MD5 hash of the preceding content.

Programs that open these DSF files

We have identified one DSF opener that is compatible with this specific type of DSF file.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of DSF files. Remember, different programs may use DSF files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about DSF file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.