(Free Lossless Audio Codec) An audio compression technology from the Xiph.Org Foundation (www.xiph.org). It is a royalty-free codec used to compress CD audio files to at least 50% of their original size (2:1 ratio). Unlike MP3, which provides much greater compression but eliminates content, FLAC restores the music to the original PCM 44kHz, 16-bit audio stream of CD audio.
A Solid Foundation
Although a 2:1 ratio is not extraordinary, the same disk holds twice as much music while maintaining the original quality. For example, if CDs are ripped to MP3s, the MP3s cannot be converted to take advantage of better quality using a different compression method, and if converted, they may very well lose some quality. However, FLAC files could be decompressed to the original format and compressed with the new method. See Ogg Vorbis and digital media server.
FLAC Support
These high-end digital media servers include hard disk and optical drives for ripping and storing in the FLAC format, as well as MP3. Both McIntosh (top) and Escient (bottom) units hold thousands of FLAC files. See digital media server. (Equipment courtesy of World Wide Stereo, www.wwstereo.com)
A Solid Foundation
Although a 2:1 ratio is not extraordinary, the same disk holds twice as much music while maintaining the original quality. For example, if CDs are ripped to MP3s, the MP3s cannot be converted to take advantage of better quality using a different compression method, and if converted, they may very well lose some quality. However, FLAC files could be decompressed to the original format and compressed with the new method. See Ogg Vorbis and digital media server.
FLAC Support
These high-end digital media servers include hard disk and optical drives for ripping and storing in the FLAC format, as well as MP3. Both McIntosh (top) and Escient (bottom) units hold thousands of FLAC files. See digital media server. (Equipment courtesy of World Wide Stereo, www.wwstereo.com)
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2008 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
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- My Media Converter is a powerful and easy-to-use media converter for popular videos and audios. It can convert almost all media format, such as iPod / iPhone / AppleTV, PSP / PS3, Zune, Mobile Phone / Smart Phone / Pocket PC, Flash Video, VCD / SVCD / DVD / DV...
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- MP4 MP3 Converter (exe)
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- Convert audio from CD to MP3 and other digital audio formats in a click right from your Desktop without launching the application. One-click CD to MP3 Converter can rip and convert audio CD into MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, APE, FLAC files on your hard drive. Just select whole CD or...
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- Philips NP1100/37
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- Discussion threads 2008-08-27
- AudioVideoSoft RapidRip (exe)
- RapidRip offers powerful CD ripping and conversion among nearly all audio formats (CD, MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, AAC, AC3, AIFF, AU, VOX, ADPCM, A-LAW, u-LAW, FLAC, ALAC, M4A, MP4, or WavPack) with ease. Full FreeDB support, configurable CDDB auto-save filenames (using album, artist, title, and/or track) and path creation from...
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- Music Collection Reporter (zip)
- Music Collection Reporter scans your computer for music files, indexes them, and assembles a printable PDF file of your music library. When scanning, Music Collection Reports locates MP3, AAC, WMA, WMA lossless, and FLAC. During the indexing process, the files are read for artist, genre, year, album, song title and...
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- DJ-Serv 2.0 (zip)
- Budget non-stop music software. Suitable for mobile Djs, parties. Also for Internet radio stations on a tight budget. Plays MP3, WAV, WMA, and OGG. Includes built-in playlist creator and has full automation scheduling capabilities. Suitable for live assist mode, or will run completely unattended without any user interaction. Includes virtual...
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- One-click Ringtone Converter (exe)
- Convert any of your audio files and CD tracks to compact-sized WAV, MP3, MMF, AMR, QCP ringtones for your mobile phone. All you need to do is to select audio files directly in "My computer" or Windows Explorer and right-click to convert them to polyphonic tones. You can select whole...
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- Spesoft Free Audio Converter (exe)
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- Abdio AVI Video Converter (exe)
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- Abdio FLV Video Converter (exe)
- Abdio FLV Video Converter is a quickly convert Media file formats to FLV including searchable FLV to FLV,AVI to FLV,ASF to FLV,WMV to FLV,AVS to FLV,MKV to FLV,MOV to FLV,3GP to FLV,MP4 to FLV,MPG to FLV,MPEG to FLV,DAT to FLV, OGM to FLV,RM to FLV,RMVB to FLV,TS to FLV,TP to...
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- Abdio iPod Video Converter (exe)
- Abdio WMV Video Converter is a quickly convert Media file formats to WMV including searchable FLV to WMV,AVI to WMV,ASF to WMV,WMV to WMV,AVS to WMV,MKV to WMV,MOV to WMV,3GP to WMV,MP4 to WMV,MPG to WMV,MPEG to WMV,DAT to WMV, OGM to WMV,RM to WMV,RMVB to WMV,TS to WMV,TP to...
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- Abdio MKV Video Converter (exe)
- Abdio MKV Video Converter is a quickly convert Media file formats to MKV including searchable FLV to MKV,AVI to MKV,ASF to MKV,WMV to MKV,AVS to MKV,MKV to MKV,MOV to MKV,3GP to MKV,MP4 to MKV,MPG to MKV,MPEG to MKV,DAT to MKV, OGM to MKV,RM to MKV,RMVB to MKV,TS to MKV,TP to...
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- Abdio MOV Video Converter (exe)
- Abdio MOV Video Converter is a quickly convert Media file formats to MOV including searchable FLV to MOV,AVI to MOV,ASF to MOV,WMV to MOV,AVS to MOV,MKV to MOV,MOV to MOV,3GP to MOV,MP4 to MOV,MPG to MOV,MPEG to MOV,DAT to MOV, OGM to MOV,RM to MOV,RMVB to MOV,TS to MOV,TP to...
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