How does one go about either converting a DM file to a standard AVI/MPEG, or record the screen in such a format?

I want to record some stuff in game and then put it up in a format that other people can see it. 

you can use NVIDIA's built in recorder
https://www.geforce.com/geforce-experience/download

i use this Quite a bit now when recording BF1 etc etc

Search on YouTube, How to download Fraps full version free 2017. Fraps records at the highest quality settings, it's simple and easy to use and once you've finished your recording the files are automatically in video format. AVI ect.

Thanks Apoc, Ben and Mits via Skype.

Mits and Apoc were right on the money I now have the ability to record directly from the graphics card and it creates an MPG file.  I'll post some video in the next week or so

Awesome happy recording mate

Sweet :D