Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPod How to convert FLAC to AAC...
- Thread starter thegrandmaster
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Anyone you guys?
Max is able to rip to FLAC. I started with Max but am now exclusively using XLD. I feel more comfortable with my rips when using some of the advanced features you get with XLD—especially the ability to save a log of each rip. If you prefer Max over XLD, you might want to check out Rip. It is still a beta, but looks promising.
I have also had limited success with converting flac files directly in iTunes in the past.
I cannot, however, offer an explanation as to how iTunes managed this, or confirm whether you may, or may not, be going mad
+1. Max is an excellent program. Completely free (beer AND speech) as well. It supports multiple threads, which makes mass conversions much faster.
in the past I converted my music collection from Flac to AAC so it'd play on my first iPod. It was a while ago but I remember it being a very good application. you may download it for a try
Another Option for Flac to MP3, MP4, OGG, WMV, WAV, SPX on Mac, Windows and Linux
You could get this newer free media player called Clementine, which is written in python, if I am not mistaken. Its very quick and converts stuff nicely. Great companion to iTunes if you just want something that starts fast to listen to music in a folder without adding it to your main library.
Get it here
best wishes
--macmadness86
You could get this newer free media player called Clementine, which is written in python, if I am not mistaken. Its very quick and converts stuff nicely. Great companion to iTunes if you just want something that starts fast to listen to music in a folder without adding it to your main library.
Get it here
best wishes
--macmadness86
Use XLD to convert FLAC to ALAC that way you lose no quality.
lossless = lossless
You can listen through your stereo losslessly and enjoy pure bliss and then sync to your iPod while downconverting to save space.
If you're comfortable with the command line, you can use the official FLAC tool to decode to WAV or AIFF, then use something like neroaacenc to encode it to AAC. You can make that in to one command by telling flac to output to stdout, and telling neroaacenc to read in from stdout, and piping the two together.
Does any one know Max works with Mountain Lion? I searched "convert FLAC to Apple Lossless mountain lion" and found this FLAC Converter can convert FLAC to Apple Lossless directly. It also can work to convert FLAC to MP3, AAC, WAV, even 24bit WAV.
Another vote for XLD
I have been using XLD ever since iTunes stopped reading FLAC files a few years ago. I convert to ALAC. My only beef is that it would be nice to have a drop file dialog box open when you first open the app. It is all still quite menu driven.
I have been using XLD ever since iTunes stopped reading FLAC files a few years ago. I convert to ALAC. My only beef is that it would be nice to have a drop file dialog box open when you first open the app. It is all still quite menu driven.
Yes, you lose quality because AAC is a lossy codec.
It depends. I use Apple Lossless since iTunes natively supports it and it makes it easier to manage all my music that way. My Sansa Clip Zip also supports it and AAC (through Rockbox). Usually I just cut all my stuff down to 256 AAC anyway for both my iPod and Sansa since it sounds good enough to my ears.
I use dBpoweramp and import to WAV first, then I drag/drop the WAV files into iTunes and create Apple Lossless versions, rename the songs, add artwork/metadata.
Why on earth would you convert FLAC to aac? Everything Apple can play Apple lossless (ALAC, .m4a extension)... so there's no point of using AAC other than maybe saving some space.
Yeah, i don't understand why you'd go to AAC. Converting to AAC you go from lossless > lossy (therefore losing quality, and yes it's noticeable). Going from FLAC to ALAC you don't lose any quality because you're going from lossless > lossless. Only possible plus to AAC is smaller file size I guess (35mb+ vs 6-12mb).
Thanks for that link. Faasoft looks better than XLD or Max, which I have been using.
FLAC to AAC, ALAC, and others.
I use Toast Titanum, the current version is 11, it will convert media to/from all the formats you can think of with an easy interface. the only negative is it's at least $75 to purchase, though you may be able to get Toast 10 for cheaper off Amazon, it works on 10.7-10.9 with minor stability issues.
I use Toast Titanum, the current version is 11, it will convert media to/from all the formats you can think of with an easy interface. the only negative is it's at least $75 to purchase, though you may be able to get Toast 10 for cheaper off Amazon, it works on 10.7-10.9 with minor stability issues.
I play everything through iTunes. So, I go with Apple Lossless. It's the easiest, best option for me. If you use other players, though, you would want to go with FLAC.
As for quality, both are lossless, so I would assume the music would sound the same in either format. I'm not an expert, here, so I am only guessing...lossless is lossess.
By the way, did you know you don't have to convert? There are a lot of apps, which are able to play FLAC files on iPhone/iPad/iPod.
I prefer using an app called "FLAC Player" (by Dan Leehr L.L.C.). More Infos, FAQs and support at hammockdistrict.com/flacplayer
Did you know, dBpoweramp is able to create simultaneously two formats during ripping a CD. For example, you rip once and get both a FLAC file and a AAC file.
Renaming songs and tags and changing artwork: that all I do inside of dBpoweramp, because you may compare several providers of tag infos and you change between tag versions with only one click. Very easy and time-saving.
Furthermore I make sure of 100% rip quality by watching AccurateRip results of other people. dBpoweramp is the best way to rip and convert music. Drawback: though they are preparing a Mac version, at the moment the stable version is only Windows.
Last edited: