Convert FLAC to MP3
Edited by Jay
Convert your FLAC music files to MP3s on a Windows PC, using free, open-source software. FLAC is a digital audio format that stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. Similar to .wav, FLAC files represent the original recording with no data loss. The main difference between wav and FLAC is compressed lossless versus uncompressed lossless. In short, FLAC files will be slightly smaller than wav files, but they should sound indistinguishable from each other when played back on the same device/system.
MP3, on the other hand, is a lossy form of audio compression that reduces file sizes by removing data that the algorithms deem negligible for audibility. Lower bitrate mp3 files (192 kbps or less) typically have lower sound quality. That said, mp3s encoded from a good source, compressed no smaller than 256 kbps (320 is best), sound great in nearly all playback scenarios.
Why Should I Convert My FLAC Files to MP3s?
The two main reasons are file size and playback support. If you have a massive music collection, compressing them using mp3 will significantly reduce the size of each song, even at 320 kbps. Playback options are more limited with the FLAC codec when compared to both mp3 and wav. Nearly all modern devices come equipped to play digital audio support mp3 and wav files, whereas, with FLAC, playback options are more limited.
In the following Visi tutorial, we'll cover how to convert FLAC audio files to Mp3s, using free, open-source software (fre:ac), VLC Media Player, in addition to Winamp on a Windows computer.
**Please Note*** Many free and paid programs are available to convert various forms of audio files. We encourage you to test as many as you can out.
Convert FLAC to MP3 With fre:ac
Convert FLAC to MP3 With VLC Media Player
VLC is another great way to convert your FLAC files to MP3. Follow the steps below to use your installation of VLC to convert your FLAC audio files to mp3s.
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Convert FLAC to MP3 With Winamp
Winamp for Windows is a great little free media player that also converts various audio formats.
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Tips, Tricks, and Warnings
- Always use the highest quality source material when encoding to mp3.
- Remember that you cannot add data or details to a file once it's compressed. So, if you have the hard disk space, keep you FLACs and WAVs backed up.
- Try to encode your audio files to at least 256 kbps (320 is better).
If you have problems with any of the steps in this article, please ask a question for more help, or post in the comments section below.