Glossary
What is FLAC?
MarkdownWhat it is
FLAC compresses audio without discarding anything, so you can turn it back into the exact original. It is popular for archiving music.
Why it matters on a Mac
Not every Mac app plays FLAC. Converting to M4A saves space, and converting to AIFF or WAV stays lossless.
How to check it on macOS
Select the file in Finder and press Command-I, or use Media Info in Toolbox to see its sample rate.
How Toolbox handles it
Convert Audio and Extract Audio can write FLAC, and Convert Audio can turn FLAC into M4A, AIFF or WAV. 24-bit sources stay 24-bit in lossless formats.
Frequently asked questions
Is FLAC better than MP3?
It has more detail, but files are larger.
Is FLAC the same as WAV?
Both are lossless. WAV is uncompressed, so it is larger.
Why convert FLAC at all?
Some apps and devices do not play it. M4A is smaller, and AIFF or WAV keep full quality.
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