A compression technique that decompresses data back to its original form without any loss. The decompressed file and the original are identical. All compression methods used to compress text, databases and other business data are lossless. For example, the ZIP archiving technology (PKZIP, WinZip, etc.) is a widely used lossless method (see ZIP file).
Lossless Audio
Although most compression methods used for audio and video are "lossy" and discard bits deemed unnecessary, there are also lossless audio methods. Apple Lossless, WMA Lossless and FLAC are examples of lossless compression applied to CD audio. Such methods reduce a full audio CD only to about half its original size rather than 1/10th the original as with MP3; however, no bits are discarded. See lossy compression, Apple Lossless, WMA Lossless, FLAC and codec examples.
Lossless Audio
Although most compression methods used for audio and video are "lossy" and discard bits deemed unnecessary, there are also lossless audio methods. Apple Lossless, WMA Lossless and FLAC are examples of lossless compression applied to CD audio. Such methods reduce a full audio CD only to about half its original size rather than 1/10th the original as with MP3; however, no bits are discarded. See lossy compression, Apple Lossless, WMA Lossless, FLAC and codec examples.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- FLAC frontend 1.7 (Windows)
- FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec, an audio format similar to MP3, but lossless, meaning that audio is compressed in FLAC without any loss in quality. This is similar to how Zip works, except with FLAC you will get much better compression because it is designed specifically for audio,...
- Software downloads 2009-11-25
- WireTap Studio 1.1.0 (Mac)
- WireTap Studio is a professional audio recording, editing, and management solution, allowing you to manage and manipulate your audio with ease. Discretely record from a specific application, record all of your Mac system audio simultaneously, or even record from any hardware/line-in device of your choice.After recording, edit your clips with...
- Software downloads 2009-11-24
- KandaluLiteViewer 1.0.4 (Mac)
- Visualize your images in the incredible lossy format JPD and lossless GPD, CPD... CPD: a new lossless compression format for professional storage, exchange, vision and print. JPD: lossy compression is most commonly used to compress multimedia data (audio, video, still images), especially in applications such as streaming media. GPD: lossless...
- Software downloads 2009-11-13
- AMV Video Codec (VCM) 3.00g (Windows)
- This is lossless and lossy video codec for windows by original new technology "AMV". It is High-speed of both Encode and Decode. *Color Format: - Input: RGB32, RGB24, RGB16(565), YUY2, UYVY, HDYC, YV12 - Output: RGB32, RGB24, YUY2, YV12 - Compression: RGB24, YUY2, YV12 *Optioin - Multithread control. - HalfsizeResizing.
- Software downloads 2009-10-18
- WavPack 4.60 (Windows)
- WavPack is a completely open audio compression format providing lossless, high-quality lossy, and a unique hybrid compression mode. Although the technology is loosely based on previous versions of WavPack, the new version 4 format has been designed from the ground up to offer unparalleled performance and functionality. In the default...
- Software downloads 2009-09-27
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- Software downloads 2009-09-14
- TechSmith EnSharpen 1.2 (Windows)
- TechSmith EnSharpen video codec for QuickTime is a codec for the MOV file format. It produces high-quality lossless QuickTime movies with a high compression ratio. It is especially well suited for screen recording videos, software training, and animations, including animated text. The encoder integrates seamlessly with current video editing and...
- Software downloads 2009-09-09
- CDs still sell: Who are these people?!?
- who buys cds? why buy cds?own/control music no DRM issues!control quality/type of rip (mp3, wma, bit speed etc)!if you want the entire cd's music why buy track by track?RE: CDs still sell: Who are these people?!?I buy um. Always nice to have the real thing around. They often have...
- Discussion threads 2009-08-18
- Eufony Free FLAC MP3 Converter 1.02 (Windows)
- Eufony Free FLAC MP3 Converter is a powerful audio converter for FLAC to MP3 conversion. Convert FLAC to MP3, change MP3 to FLAC. High speed and high quality sound conversion. Build-in free flac, mp3 audio player. Resample between different sampling rates, bits per sample, stereo/ mono channels, bitrate and volume....
- Software downloads 2009-07-06
- Eufony Free APE MP3 Converter 1.02 (Windows)
- Eufony Free APE MP3 Converter is a powerful audio converter for APE to MP3 conversion. Convert APE to MP3, Change MP3 to APE. High speed and high quality sound conversion. Build-in free ape, mp3 audio player. Resample between different sampling rates, bits per sample, stereo/ mono channels, bitrate and volume....
- Software downloads 2009-07-06
- Swift Optimizer 3.0 (Windows)
- Swift Optimizer is an optimization tool for Flash files. We published our first version in 2002, it stands alone in the Flash development environment as a lossless optimization tool. It can greatly improve the speed of access to the file through compression and structure optimization, which reduces the time of...
- Software downloads 2009-06-03
- KandaluLite 0270 (Mac)
- Enables you to convert any video file to the new compression pre-filter codec JPDMovie JPDM and saving up to 30% on memory space Enhancing your picture definition and saving up to 15-25% on memory space : lossless images CPD and GPD compression or lossy images JPD compression. After the approach...
- Software downloads 2009-04-11
- WireTap Studio 1.0.11 (Mac)
- WireTap Studio is a professional audio recording, editing, and management solution, allowing you to manage and manipulate your audio with ease. Discretely record from a specific application, record all of your Mac system audio simultaneously, or even record from any hardware/line-in device of your choice.After recording, edit your clips with...
- Software downloads 2009-04-09
- Long-term personal data storage
- Long-term personal data storageHow about flash memory?How does flash memory compare to optical and HDD storage, as far as longevity is concerned?I think our ears were ringing yesterday, Robinhttp://blogs.zdnet.com/perlow/?p=9364RE: Long-term personal data storageI signed up to Carbonite - offsite backup over the internet which makes me feel much more secure...
- Discussion threads 2009-01-05
- Alpine iDA-X100 digital media receiver
- When was the last time you walked into a store and purchased a CD? If it takes you a few moments to come up with an answer, you've probably made the jump to digitally distributed and stored audio. If so, Alpine may have the car stereo for you, the...
- Product reviews 2008-12-18
- Autorun Maestro 7.0 (Windows)
- Autorun Maestro is highly configurable CD Autorun menu software. With a fully graphical interface including tooltips and wizards, the menu's appearance and shape can be completely user configured quickly with independently placed buttons, various screen positions, the ability to show the current time or date, skinnability and transparency, settable tab...
- Software downloads 2008-10-30
- Blu-ray is dead - heckuva job, Sony!
- Blu-ray is dead - heckuva job, Sony!AgreedThey really have priced themselves out of the "Average Joe" market. Why should I pay to get all of my DVDs on BDs again when they're usually at least 10$ more expensive?Downloaded video can't even compete with DVD, look at the MB/s rateDVD's...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-28
- Access Virtualization - Which protocol is the best?
- Access Virtualization - Which protocol is the best?More Protocols Out ThereI agree that protocol is a big part of the "access virtualization" picture. There are more protocols out there though:ICA - you already listed this one but there's also PortICA which Citrix uses for XenDesktop. It's a ground up re-write...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-17
- Apple TV: End of an error?
- Apple TV: End of an error?Microsoft crushed Apple in the living room.First off, AppleTV was only called a hobby by Jobs AFTER it was clear that it was going to be an unmitigated disaster. Has he EVER released any sales figures on this thing? Second, the combination of Windows Media...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-29
- MP3FLV Lossless Converter 3 (Windows)
- MP3FLV Lossless Converter can convert MP3 files into Flash streaming video FLV format (audiotrack-only FLV files), apply a new audio track to FLV videos, extract audiotrack from FLV files and save it in uncompressed WAV or MP3 format. Convert FLV files into SWF format and convert SWF files with embedded...
- Software downloads 2008-09-23
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