What is FLAC?
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an audio coding format developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation. With FLAC files, you can make copies of CDs but at half the size. The biggest advantage FLAC has over MP3 and most other audio media file formats is that it can recreate files as large as 32 bits while reducing the size of the file by up to 70% — without losing quality.
Although FLAC files seem big when compared to other file types that use compression, like MP3 or AAC, they’re actually fairly small when you account for how much data they contain. You can play FLAC files on mobile devices or with media players like VLC and JetAudio.
What is MP3?
An MP3 is a digital audio file that’s compressed so it’s easy to store and transfer. It’s a lossy format, meaning it drops some of the audio’s sound when it’s compressed. Most of this dropped sound is inaudible when you play it back, however. MP3 files can be about one-tenth the size of lossless audio files, making them easy to share, store and play back on most devices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to convert FLAC to MP3 online?
- Choose a FLAC file from your computer or drag and drop it into Restream’s audio converter.
- Select Convert and the converter will start processing.
- Download your MP3 file when it’s ready.
Will my file lose quality when I convert FLAC to MP3?
Depending on which file type you’re starting with, you might lose a little bit of quality when converting to MP3, but it’s such a small amount that it’s not noticeable.
Is MP3 better than FLAC?
MP3 generally has a smaller file size than FLAC. The sound quality of FLAC files is typically better than that of MP3 files, however.