Re: Converting FLAC to m4a

Re: Converting FLAC files to m4a:  I understand that Apple's m4a files generally sound better than mp3s. First of all, is this true? And what is the best program to convert lossless FLAC files to m4a (AAC) files? Sound quality is the most important thing to me. (I'm sorry if I have repeated this question - I'm a newbie here.) Thanks.

If you want to play files in iTunes without using a plug in, you will need to convert to M4A.  M4A will probably give you the best quality conversion as it is far less compressed than MP3, so yes to answer your question, it is better quality. 
However you can play your FLAC files outside of iTunes via programs like PLAY http://sbooth.org/Play/ (its free)  I would tend to say from a shear quality of playback, PLAY is probably better than iTunes.  However there are a lot of missing features like album art and such, but it does work very well.
There are other programs such as Pure Music which use iTunes as a GUI and allow you to play FLAC through iTunes as well, but they are not free programs. http://www.channld.com/puremusic/  Pure Music is often noted as the best in that it allows you to use iTunes as your interface and will accept virtually all types of music file formats.

Similar Messages

  • How to convert FLAC to Apple Lossless Encoder

    hi
    How can I convert FLAC audio files to Apple Lossless Encoder in order to be able to import them into itunes and listen them in my ipod at maximum quality.
    If you know a way to make the ipod read FLAC files it would be better but I'm not confident that this exist. I have just install fluke so itunes now reads FLAC. but not the ipod
    thanks

    What Are FLAC and ALAC?
    FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), as its name suggested, is a free lossless audio codec. FLAC can compress audio to about 50~60% without any quality loss. This format has been widely accepted by many Hi-Fi systems and audiophiles.
    Apple Lossless, also known as Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC), or Apple Lossless Encoder (ALE), is an audio compressing format, developed by Apple Inc. for lossless data compression of digital music. After initially keeping it proprietary from its inception in 2004, in late 2011 Apple made the codec available open source and royalty-free. Traditionally, Apple has referred to the codec as Apple Lossless, though more recently they have begun to use the abbreviated term ALAC when referring to the codec.
    Here is a step by step guide on how to convert FLAC to ALAC. It also introduces a way to convert FLAC to many other audio formats like MP3, WAV, AAC, AC3, M4A, etc and vice versa.

  • How can I convert FLAC to ALAC with no loss?

    I am looking for a reliable and relatively easy to use software or app to convert FLAC to Apple lossless so I can import into ITunes.  I have searched far and wide and cannot get a straight answer.  I am  using an IMac and I just want something that will do this relatively simply without blowing up my shiny new Mac.

    Hi Dave,
    I am starting my second or third round of research on how to convert a large library of FLAC formated album into some high fidelity format specifically to sync to an iPod for use while on the road ( my car, my cabin, my other house, etc. - these are just ideas but you get the idea ).
    Just now I tried Max again.... I can figure out which of the format is actually a lossless format that will work with iTunes. I don't see ALAC in the list of formats.
    I have also tried XLD which throws an error as it converts each track.
    Flax seems to be broken with iTunes 10.1.1
    I am not a technical audiophile but I am pretty much a computer expert, certainly a very experienced Mac users for a decade or more.
    This is really making me crazy. Can you or some other user who has done FLAC conversion to iTunes very recently please let me know what trick is to get one or the other app to do the right things.... 1) convert to lossless format ( either directly compatible with iPods or 2) also automatically creates a compatible format for iPods, iPads, iPhone, iETC....
    I would like to do this mass conversion right the first time - commercial software is fine ..... doesn't have to be freeware or shareware. I just need it to do the busy work and do it well.

  • Converting mp3 to m4a(AAC)

    If I convert mp3 to m4a(AAC) will the quality of the song be better or the same as a mp3? Does converting it really even do anything?

    Well, it makes it so those files won't play on anything but an ipod.
    I am in the process of converting 5000+ songs from Apple lossless to mp3. What a pain. I wish I'd ripped them as mp3s to begin with.
    Anyway - it is personal preference. Convert a song or two and see if you can tell the difference, is my advice.

  • Converting FLAC to itunes

    Folks,
    I've purchased a Grateful Dead album, one of Dick's Picks, and downloaded them as FLAC files. I've converted the FLAC files to AIFF files using a program called XACT. Now I want to import these AIFF files into itunes and burn the tunes onto a CD.
    Here's the question. How do I keep the TAGS from the original FLAC files when I burn the CD? I don't want to have to retype all the tags, but I can't figure out how to retain the tags. Any help greatly appreciated.
    Thanks,
    Bond

    actually there's a shell script that will convert FLAC directly to MP3 using LAME. It will preserve the FLAC metadata and put them in the MP3 tags if there is metadata.
    It does depend on having certain libraries installed, so it can be kind of advanced. But it works well once you get it working.
    http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040323004759816
    Another version of this idea is here (haven't tried this one):
    http://www.gurulabs.com/goodies/downloads.php
    You definitely need LAME installed. once you get it working and in your path, you just cd to the directory of the flac files and then type:
    flacmp3 *.flac
    (I am using a modificaiton of the Chris R's FLACMP3 script to use LAME preset standard encoding. Here is what I'm using.)
    #!/bin/sh
    # flacmp3 - convert a flac file and its tag data to mp3/id3 format
    # Thisscript takes in FLAC files and spits out MP3 files. If youÕve assigned
    # metadata to a FLAC file (usingvctool, for example), it carries that information over to the MP3:
    # % flacmp3 *.flac
    # ThatÕs all it takes to do the job.
    # other settings for the lame line:
    #      lame -h -m s -b 192 \
    # this also has the lame command deliberately put on one line
    if [ "$1" ]
    then
      for file
        do
        if [ -e "$file" ]
        then
          flac -c -d "$file" |
          lame --preset standard --tt "$(metaflac --show-tag=TITLE "$file" | sed 's/^TITLE=\(.*\)/\1/')" --ta "$(metaflac --show-tag=ARTIST "$file" | sed 's/^ARTIST=\(.*\)/\1/')" --tl "$(metaflac --show-tag=ALBUM "$file" | sed 's/^ALBUM=\(.*\)/\1/')" --ty "$(metaflac --show-tag=DATE "$file" | sed 's/^DATE=\(.*\)/\1/')" --tn "$(metaflac --show-tag=TRACKNUMBER "$file" | sed 's/^TRACKNUMBER=\(.*\)/\1/')" --tg "$(metaflac --show-tag=GENRE "$file" | sed 's/^GENRE=\(.*\)/\1/')" - "$(basename "$file" .flac).mp3"
          mv "$file" /.Trashes/501/ 
        else
          echo >&2 "No such file: "$file" -- skipping."
        fi
      done
    else
      echo >&2 "Usage: "$(basename "$0")" FLACFILE [...]"
      exit 1
    fi

  • How to convert FLAC to Apple Lossless

    how to convert FLAC to Apple Lossless

    Handbrake really is only for converting video and the audio attached to that video. With that said, there are many efficient ways to do this, personally, I am perfectly content just converting the file into a .wav files (it has the same 1411kbps), however you will have to re-tag everything. If you don't want to re-tag everything you can aslo just convert to .alac using Foobar2000 (Windows).
    Also, if the reason that you don't want to keep it as a .flac files is because your iPod doesn't support it, if it is a Classic, then you can just install Rockbox and it supports .flac natively.

  • How to convert FLAC 24bit 96hHz to AIFF 24 96kHz on a mac ?

    I'd like to convert FLAC files to AIFF files so i can import them to my iTunes Libraby without any quality loss.

    Sarasota Joe wrote:
    Thank you ed2345 for HDTracks.com. iTrax.com.  They are both excellent!
    I have downloaded hi-def formats at Linn Records; the quality is outstanding, but their selection is limited. I'm also a member of B&W's Society of Sound; A Peter Gabriel curated Music club that get's me one London Symphony Orchestra download and one "Whatever Peter thinks is ineteresting this month" download. For $60 a year I get 24 plus hi-def albums, most of which I like a lot. But the selection at HDTracks and iTrax is excellent - Thank You!
    Sarasota Joe,
    You are welcome.  Enjoy the music!
    Ed

  • What is best way to convert flac to alac and use metadata

    I wish to convert my FLAC collection to a lac so as to use on my iPod etc. Have tried using numerous App Store apps - all truncate tracks and will not use track etc data in the conversion to be usable in iTunes
    Any advice appreciated.
    Olmzi

    Ignore the last line!! I've no idea where that came from!

  • How can I convert the download.m4a and Info.plist into the right audio file

    The topic is actually the problem that I have.
    I have bought music and it was downloaded successful (all of it) but iTunes had a strange freeze while converting the files into the right audio file. Some files were converted but after the freeze no more.
    I'm now left with these .tmp folders in the downloads folder which have the download.m4a and Info.plist files.
    My iTunes is able to play these download.m4a files, but they show no information and covers and this is really annoying. I could write and change it all by myself, but than I would still miss some information (and covers).
    Is there any way for me to convert or combine these files?
    Note: I'm not able to restart any downloads, because they were successful.

    Hello ed2345,
    Thanks for the help, but this is not the problem.
    It's hard to describe the problem, but I'll try it again, this time with pictures.
    I was left with the following folders in the iTunes Downloads folder.
    http://www.picfront.org/d/7yb3
    These TMP Folders have a download.m4a and a Info.plist file.
    After moving the audio files in iTunes a bit I get this.
    http://www.picfront.org/d/7yb2
    As you can see no other Information for the download.m4a than the length.
    That's how the .m4p file looks like
    http://www.picfront.org/d/7yb1
    And this is how the same .m4a file currently looks
    http://www.picfront.org/d/7yb0
    Like I said, I could edit all these download.m4a files by myself but that would leave some information out.
    Note: Sorry, I hope the links do not spam you with annoying ads. I don't get any but I was told that there can be some annoying one.

  • Opening an .rar file and converting flac files

    I am not sure this belongs in this topic area but since iTunes is the ultimate destination of this file I posted here.
    I have a .rar file. It is a compressed file when unzipped will have FLAC audio files in the folder. I need to know how I unzip the .rar file and then how to convert the FLAC file to AIFF or ALAC for use in iTunes.

    OK, you have 2 jobs ahead of you.
    First you need to uncompress the RAR archive. Find a tool that will do this on the Mac. Although I have not personally used it, UnRARx would be a possibility.
    When it is unpacked, you will see a folder containing the FLAC files. FLAC is the number one format for lossless audio, but iTunes is unable to handle it. So, use a conversion tool such as Switch for the Mac, and convert the files to AIFF, ALAC, or AAC. Add the converted files to your iTunes library.
    Then unless you need them for some non-iTunes purpose, you can discard the RAR archive and the FLACs.

  • Is there an application that can batch convert wma to m4a and save the output files to their respective original file location?

    I need to convert thousands (yes, really) of wma files to m4a.  The wma files are all located in different folders and each converted m4a file needs to end up in the same folder as its respective original wma file.  Does anyone know of an application that can do this?
    Thanks,
    Will

    I'm not completely sure that MPEG Streamclip can convert AVCHD footage (.mts files).  If MPEG Streamclip doesn't do the job, then get a copy of Clipwrap, which was designed for transcoding .mts files to QuickTime/Apple Intermediate Codec (that's the format/codec you need to convert the .mts files to for use in FCE).

  • Downloading then converting FLAC files to Mac compatible formats

    Hi all...
    I've been downloading music from archive.org and I always go for the mp3 files for one simple reason: I just don't know how to deal with the FLAC files. I've read dozens of posts here and still don't get it... so I live with the compressed mp3's. When I do try to access the FLAC's they appear in my Safari browser window through the Quicktime plug in. But how do I get them to my hard drive.... and then convert to one of the Mac compatible formats. The latter part seems pretty straightforward with the proper converter. But I can't seem to get my hands on the FLAC's themselves.
    So.... 2 questions: getting the FLAC's on board and .... a user friendly converter.
    Thanks!

    What kind of file is it really?
    It's a FLAC file. FLAC is its own format just like mp3 or AAC. I don't know the details of what is going on with iTunes. Fluke is making iTunes do something it wasn't designed to do so it isn't too surprising that iTunes may not be able to identify the files correctly. Likewise, when you tried to open a FLAC file in a browser window that browser application contains a list of applications to try to use to open files of various formats, but that doesn't mean it will always work. I could tell my browser to open Excel spreadsheet files in iTunes, but that doesn't mean iTunes will be able to do that. Since FLAC is an audio format the browser probably is set to toss all audio files at Quicktime in the hopes it can open them. I don't know if FLAC plugins exist for browsers. I use VLC to play individual FLAC files, or COG if I have a bunch (both free). You ccould set up your browser to fire up VLC if you download a FLAC file.

  • Converting from a .m4a to a .mp3?

    Is there any degredation of audio quality if a .m4a file is converted through iTunes
    to a .mp3 file?

    Michael:
    Yes. .m4a (or AAC) is a compressed and lossy format. When you convert to another compressed and lossy format, such as .mp3, there is bound to be a degredation in quality. If, however; you are planning on using those tracks to burn discs played in a car, you probably won't hear the difference. Most automobile acoustics are pretty poor. You will definitely hear the difference in an iPod or on a decent set of speakers.
    Lita

  • How do i convert m4p to m4a so I can use in serato dj?

    I just purchased a pioneer ddj-sx and serato dj. I'm trying to import some songs from iTunes and serato will only import m4a files and not m4p.  Can I convert my purchased iTunes songs from m4p to m4a?

    ctownlance wrote:
    Thanks for your quick reply.  It worked for most of the tracks I wanted.  I have one album that only one out of eight tracks would download as m4a the rest came back m4p.  Thanks again for your help. 
    For those few remaining ones, use iTunes to burn them to audio CD, and then rip back from the CD to MP3 or AAC.

  • Converting flac films into iTunes format ?

    I have a series of films that are in flac format, and wish to put them into iTunes and on my iPad. I have searched on other forums but all of the converters are only for music (flac into mp3). Is there a free converter to put flac into mp4 or another format iTunes would be happy to play? Thanks :)

    FLAC is an audio codec only (FLAC stands for "free lossless audio codec"), so that's all you'll find are audio converters. Your movies may use FLAC as the audio track, but the video will be in some other format. You'll need to find a converter that can handle that video format, whatever it is, and also audio tracks in FLAC format.
    Regards.

Maybe you are looking for