What is FLAC?

A FLAC file is a file that is used for personal digital audio purposes. Most of the time, audio files are saved as compressed, lossy files that are not as high in audio quality, but they achieve very small file sizes as a result. Examples of file formats of this type are MP3, AAC, and OGG.

While these file formats are better for smaller hard drives, where storage space is a huge concern, they do lose some of their audio quality during conversion. However, as hard-drives get characteristically bigger, and more and more space becomes available to people through newer, better digital devices, non-lossy files like Compact Disc files are gaining popularity. As audio that is non-lossy in nature becomes more popular, so does the FLAC file, which is one of the most popular file types of non-lossy audio.

FLAC actually stands for Free Lossless Audio Code. It is a completely open sourced platform, meaning that patent problems are not a concern when converting audio to a FLAC. Even MP3 files can give trouble when it comes to patent concerns, which is why FLAC is so unique and useful.

These file types can retain 100% of the audio quality, while saving on about 50% of the original hard-drive space. That results in files that are even smaller than the popular WAV file format, which is also lossless.

There are a lot of ways to encode into FLAC. Some free programs will do it automatically and right out of the box, while others require plug ins to do it. A simple internet search will reveal a number of options for FLAC to MP3 converter, and you should be able to find what you need without spending any money.