Convert ALAC Format Free
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Supported Formats
Convert between all major file formats with high quality
Common Formats
MPEG-1 Audio Layer III - the most universal audio format worldwide, using lossy compression to reduce file sizes by 90% while maintaining excellent perceived quality. Perfect for music libraries, podcasts, portable devices, and any scenario requiring broad compatibility. Supports bitrates from 32-320kbps. Standard for digital music since 1993, playable on virtually every device and platform.
Waveform Audio File Format - uncompressed PCM audio providing perfect quality preservation. Standard Windows audio format with universal compatibility. Large file sizes (10MB per minute of stereo CD-quality). Perfect for audio production, professional recording, mastering, and situations requiring zero quality loss. Supports various bit depths (16, 24, 32-bit) and sample rates. Industry standard for professional audio work.
Ogg Vorbis - open-source lossy audio codec offering quality comparable to MP3/AAC at similar bitrates. Free from patents and licensing restrictions. Smaller file sizes than MP3 at equivalent quality. Used in gaming, open-source software, and streaming. Supports variable bitrate (VBR) for optimal quality. Perfect for applications requiring free codecs and good quality. Growing support in media players and platforms.
Advanced Audio Coding - successor to MP3 offering better quality at same bitrate (or same quality at lower bitrate). Standard audio codec for Apple devices, YouTube, and many streaming services. Supports up to 48 channels and 96kHz sample rate. Improved frequency response and handling of complex audio. Perfect for iTunes, iOS devices, video streaming, and modern audio applications. Part of MPEG-4 standard widely supported across platforms.
Free Lossless Audio Codec - compresses audio 40-60% without any quality loss. Perfect bit-for-bit preservation of original audio. Open-source format with no patents or licensing fees. Supports high-resolution audio (192kHz/24-bit). Perfect for archiving music collections, audiophile listening, and scenarios where quality is paramount. Widely supported by media players and streaming services. Ideal balance between quality and file size.
MPEG-4 Audio - AAC or ALAC audio in MP4 container. Standard audio format for Apple ecosystem (iTunes, iPhone, iPad). Supports both lossy (AAC) and lossless (ALAC) compression. Better quality than MP3 at same file size. Includes metadata support for artwork, lyrics, and rich tags. Perfect for iTunes library, iOS devices, and Apple software. Widely compatible across platforms despite Apple association. Common format for purchased music and audiobooks.
Windows Media Audio - Microsoft's proprietary audio codec with good compression and quality. Standard Windows audio format with native OS support. Supports DRM for protected content. Various profiles (WMA Standard, WMA Pro, WMA Lossless). Comparable quality to AAC at similar bitrates. Perfect for Windows ecosystem and legacy Windows Media Player. Being superseded by AAC and other formats. Still encountered in Windows-centric environments and older audio collections.
Lossless Formats
Apple Lossless Audio Codec - Apple's lossless compression reducing file size 40-60% with zero quality loss. Perfect preservation of original audio like FLAC but in Apple ecosystem. Standard lossless format for iTunes and iOS. Supports high-resolution audio up to 384kHz/32-bit. Smaller than uncompressed but larger than lossy formats. Perfect for iTunes library, audiophile iOS listening, and maintaining perfect quality in Apple ecosystem. Comparable to FLAC but with better Apple integration.
Monkey's Audio - high-efficiency lossless compression achieving better ratios than FLAC (typically 55-60% of original). Perfect quality preservation with zero loss. Free format with open specification. Slower compression/decompression than FLAC. Popular in audiophile communities. Limited player support compared to FLAC. Perfect for archiving when maximum space savings desired while maintaining perfect quality. Best for scenarios where storage space is critical and processing speed is not.
WavPack - hybrid lossless/lossy audio codec with unique correction file feature. Can create lossy file with separate correction file for lossless reconstruction. Excellent compression efficiency. Perfect for flexible audio archiving. Less common than FLAC. Supports high-resolution audio and DSD. Convert to FLAC for universal compatibility.
True Audio - lossless audio compression with fast encoding/decoding. Similar compression to FLAC with simpler algorithm. Open-source and free format. Perfect quality preservation. Less common than FLAC with limited player support. Perfect for audio archiving when FLAC compatibility not required. Convert to FLAC for broader compatibility.
Audio Interchange File Format - Apple's uncompressed audio format, equivalent to WAV but for Mac. Stores PCM audio with perfect quality. Standard audio format for macOS and professional Mac audio applications. Supports metadata tags better than WAV. Large file sizes like WAV (10MB per minute). Perfect for Mac-based audio production, professional recording, and scenarios requiring uncompressed audio on Apple platforms. Interchangeable with WAV for most purposes.
Modern Formats
Opus Audio Codec - modern open-source codec (2012) offering best quality at all bitrates from 6kbps to 510kbps. Excels at both speech and music. Lowest latency of modern codecs making it perfect for VoIP and real-time communication. Superior to MP3, AAC, and Vorbis at equivalent bitrates. Used by WhatsApp, Discord, and WebRTC. Ideal for streaming, voice calls, podcasts, and music. Becoming the universal audio codec for internet audio.
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Matroska Audio - audio-only Matroska container supporting any audio codec. Flexible format with metadata support. Can contain multiple audio tracks. Perfect for audio albums with chapters and metadata. Part of Matroska multimedia framework. Used for audiobooks and multi-track audio. Convert to FLAC or MP3 for universal compatibility.
Legacy Formats
MPEG-1 Audio Layer II - predecessor to MP3 used in broadcasting and DVDs. Better quality than MP3 at high bitrates. Standard audio codec for DVB (digital TV) and DVD-Video. Lower compression efficiency than MP3. Perfect for broadcast applications and DVD authoring. Legacy format being replaced by AAC in modern broadcasting. Still encountered in digital TV and video production workflows.
Dolby Digital (AC-3) - surround sound audio codec for DVD, Blu-ray, and digital broadcasting. Supports up to 5.1 channels. Standard audio format for DVDs and HDTV. Good compression with multichannel support. Perfect for home theater and video production. Used in cinema and broadcast. Requires Dolby license for encoding.
Adaptive Multi-Rate - speech codec optimized for mobile voice calls. Excellent voice quality at very low bitrates (4.75-12.2 kbps). Standard for GSM and 3G phone calls. Designed specifically for speech, not music. Perfect for voice recordings, voicemail, and speech applications. Used in WhatsApp voice messages and mobile voice recording. Efficient for voice but inadequate for music.
Sun/NeXT Audio - simple audio format from Sun Microsystems and NeXT Computer. Uncompressed or μ-law/A-law compressed audio. Common on Unix systems. Simple header with audio data. Perfect for Unix audio applications and legacy system compatibility. Found in system sounds and Unix audio files. Convert to WAV or MP3 for modern use.
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RealAudio - legacy streaming audio format from RealNetworks (1990s-2000s). Pioneered internet audio streaming with low-bitrate compression. Obsolete format replaced by modern streaming technologies. Poor quality by today's standards. Convert to MP3 or AAC for modern use. Historical importance in early internet audio streaming.
Specialized Formats
DTS Coherent Acoustics - surround sound codec competing with Dolby Digital. Higher bitrates than AC-3 with potentially better quality. Used in DVD, Blu-ray, and cinema. Supports up to 7.1 channels and object-based audio. Perfect for high-quality home theater. Premium audio format for video distribution. Convert to AC-3 or AAC for broader compatibility.
Core Audio Format - Apple's container for audio data on iOS and macOS. Supports any audio codec and unlimited file sizes. Modern replacement for AIFF on Apple platforms. Perfect for iOS app development and professional Mac audio. No size limitations (unlike WAV). Can store multiple audio streams. Convert to M4A or MP3 for broader compatibility outside Apple ecosystem.
VOC (Creative Voice File) - audio format from Creative Labs Sound Blaster cards. Popular in DOS era (1989-1995) for games and multimedia. Supports multiple compression formats and blocks. Legacy PC audio format. Common in retro gaming. Convert to WAV or MP3 for modern use. Important for DOS game audio preservation.
Speex - open-source speech codec designed for VoIP and internet audio streaming. Variable bitrate from 2-44 kbps. Optimized for speech with low latency. Better than MP3 for voice at low bitrates. Being superseded by Opus. Perfect for voice chat, VoIP, and speech podcasts. Legacy format replaced by Opus in modern applications.
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How to Convert Files
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is ALAC and how does it compare to FLAC?
ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) is Apple's lossless compression format from 2004, basically Apple's answer to FLAC. Both compress audio without losing any quality - perfect archival formats. ALAC gives you 40-60% size reduction vs uncompressed files while preserving bit-perfect audio. It's like ZIP for music, except the decompression happens in real-time during playback.
ALAC vs FLAC comparison: FLAC compresses slightly better (usually 5-10% smaller files). FLAC has more advanced features (better error checking, metadata handling). But ALAC has one huge advantage - native Apple support. iPhone, iPad, Mac, iTunes play ALAC perfectly out of the box. FLAC requires third-party apps on Apple devices.
Why should I convert FLAC to ALAC?
Convert FLAC to ALAC for these Apple-specific benefits:
Native iOS Support
ALAC plays directly in iPhone Music app, no third-party software needed. FLAC requires VLC or other apps. Native = convenience.
iTunes Integration
ALAC files import seamlessly to iTunes/Music app. Album art, playlists, smart features all work. FLAC is second-class citizen in Apple ecosystem.
HomePod Compatibility
HomePod and AirPlay support ALAC lossless streaming. FLAC doesn't work with Apple smart speakers. Streaming high quality needs ALAC.
Mac Native Decoding
macOS includes hardware-accelerated ALAC decoding. Better battery life on MacBooks. FLAC requires software decoding (more CPU usage).
If you use Apple products extensively, converting FLAC library to ALAC makes everything work smoother. No quality loss converting between lossless formats.
Does converting to ALAC lose quality?
ALAC quality depends on source:
From Lossless (FLAC/WAV/AIFF)
Zero quality loss. Bit-perfect conversion. ALAC preserves every bit of original audio data. Mathematically identical audio.
From Lossy (MP3/AAC/OGG)
No quality improvement! Lossy files stay lossy quality. ALAC wrapper doesn't restore lost data. Just wastes space converting MP3 to ALAC.
From CD Rips
Perfect quality if ripped properly. ALAC captures full CD audio. Excellent archival format for physical media digitization.
From High-Res Audio
ALAC supports 24-bit/192kHz and beyond. Preserves high-resolution audio perfectly. No resolution limitations.
Quality Verification
Use audio analysis tools (spek, Audacity) to verify lossless conversion. Waveforms should match exactly before/after.
Conversion Rule
Lossless to lossless = perfect. Lossy to ALAC = pointless waste. Always convert from best available source.
Apple's Implementation
ALAC encoder/decoder is open-source and well-tested. Apple's implementation is reliable and preserves quality perfectly.
ALAC is true lossless format. Converting from lossless sources preserves perfect quality. Converting from lossy sources doesn't improve anything.
Is ALAC better than 320kbps MP3?
Absolutely yes from quality perspective! ALAC is lossless - it preserves 100% of original audio data. 320kbps MP3 discards tons of audio information to achieve compression. For golden ears and high-end equipment, the difference can be audible (better transients, wider soundstage, no high-frequency roll-off). For most listeners on consumer gear, the difference is subtle or imperceptible.
Trade-offs: ALAC files are 5-6x larger than 320kbps MP3 (about 300-600MB per album vs 100MB). ALAC drains battery faster (decompression requires CPU). ALAC doesn't work on all devices (Apple-centric). MP3 works absolutely everywhere. So ALAC is better quality but less convenient.
When to use ALAC: Home library on Mac/iPhone with plenty of storage. Critical listening with good headphones/speakers. Archival masters you'll edit later. When to use MP3: Limited device storage, maximum compatibility, casual listening, car stereo. Many people keep ALAC at home, convert to MP3/AAC for portable devices.
Can Android phones play ALAC files?
Android doesn't support ALAC natively - it's Apple's proprietary format. Google favors open standards (FLAC) and universal formats (MP3). You can install third-party music players that support ALAC (VLC, Poweramp, Neutron) but it's not built into Android OS. Playback works but isn't as smooth as native formats.
Better solution: Use FLAC on Android. FLAC has native Android support, same lossless quality as ALAC, often compresses 5-10% better. Converting ALAC to FLAC is bit-perfect (no quality loss). If you have mixed ecosystem (iPhone + Android tablet, or switching phones), consider FLAC as your lossless format.
Ecosystem reality: ALAC = Apple world. FLAC = everywhere else. Choose your lossless format based on primary devices. If you're committed to Apple ecosystem, ALAC makes sense. If you use multiple platforms or might switch, FLAC is safer long-term investment.
How much space does ALAC save compared to WAV?
ALAC typically achieves 40-60% size reduction vs uncompressed WAV. So a 10MB/minute WAV becomes 4-6MB/minute ALAC. Exact compression depends on audio content: simple classical music compresses better (60% reduction), complex heavy metal compresses less (40% reduction). But it's always substantial space savings.
Math example: 1000-song library in WAV = ~4GB. Same library in ALAC = ~2GB. You save 2GB (50%) while keeping perfect audio quality. For large music collections, the savings add up significantly. Your iPhone/Mac holds more music without sacrificing quality.
Compare to lossy: 320kbps MP3 would be ~400MB (90% smaller than WAV). AAC 256kbps ~300MB. So ALAC sits between uncompressed and lossy - significant space savings (50%) while maintaining perfect quality. Great middle ground for Apple users with decent storage capacity.
Should I rip my CD collection to ALAC or AAC?
ALAC if: you have plenty of storage (500GB+ available), want perfect CD quality for future-proofing, have good audio equipment, plan to do audio editing, don't want generation loss. ALAC preserves everything from CD - you can always convert to AAC later without needing CDs again.
AAC if: storage is limited (phone with 64GB), primarily use earbuds/portable speakers, value convenience over perfection, want smaller backups. AAC 256kbps sounds excellent (transparent for most listeners) and files are 5-6x smaller than ALAC. For casual listening, AAC is practical choice.
Best approach: Rip to ALAC as master archive (external drive or NAS). Create AAC copies for iPhone/portable use. Gives you lossless masters for archival while having efficient copies for daily listening. Storage is cheap - preserve quality in masters, optimize for convenience in portable copies.
What are ALAC technical specifications?
ALAC format key specifications:
Compression Type
Lossless (bit-perfect). Uses linear prediction and rice coding. Decompression is fast (real-time playback on phones).
Supported Sample Rates
8kHz to 384kHz. Common: 44.1kHz (CD), 48kHz (video), 96/192kHz (high-res). Flexible standard.
Bit Depths
16-bit (CD quality), 24-bit (high-res), 32-bit. All common bit depths supported for lossless encoding.
File Size
40-60% of uncompressed size. 44.1kHz/16-bit ALAC = ~4-6MB per minute (vs 10MB WAV). Compression ratio varies by content.
Container
Typically stored in .m4a container (MP4 audio). Same container as AAC but different codec. Extension doesn't indicate lossless/lossy.
ALAC balances compression efficiency with fast decoding. Designed for mobile devices, so CPU efficiency was priority over maximum compression.
Can I convert ALAC to AAC without losing more quality?
Yes, converting ALAC to AAC is clean generation - you're encoding from lossless source to lossy, not re-compressing already-lossy audio. Starting from ALAC (perfect quality) means AAC encoder has full audio data to work with. Result is best possible AAC quality for chosen bitrate.
This is exactly why keeping lossless masters (ALAC/FLAC) is smart! You can create new lossy versions anytime without quality stacking. Convert ALAC to AAC 256kbps for iPhone, AAC 128kbps for smaller devices, or Opus for web streaming - all from same lossless source. Each conversion is optimal quality for its bitrate.
Avoid this: Never convert AAC to MP3 or MP3 to AAC (lossy to lossy = quality stacking). Always keep lossless masters and encode lossy formats fresh from masters. This workflow preserves quality across your audio ecosystem without complicated format juggling.
Why is ALAC not as popular as FLAC?
FLAC dominates lossless for several reasons:
Earlier Release
FLAC launched 2001, ALAC in 2004. FLAC had 3-year head start building ecosystem and adoption. First-mover advantage.
Open Source vs Proprietary
FLAC was always open-source. ALAC was proprietary until 2011. Open-source formats gain wider software support faster.
Better Compression
FLAC achieves 5-10% better compression than ALAC. For large collections, FLAC saves noticeably more space.
Platform Neutrality
FLAC isn't tied to any ecosystem. ALAC is Apple-centric. Platform-neutral formats get broader adoption.
Linux/Unix Standard
FLAC became standard lossless format on Linux. Android adopted it. ALAC remained Apple-only for years.
Metadata Advantages
FLAC has superior tagging system (Vorbis comments). ALAC uses MP4 tags (more limited). Matters for large libraries.
Community Support
Open-source FLAC has huge community developing tools, libraries, players. ALAC ecosystem is smaller.
Wider Hardware Support
Audiophile equipment, network players, DACs support FLAC universally. ALAC support is less common.
Apple's Priorities
Apple never pushed ALAC hard. They prefer AAC (smaller, good enough). ALAC is niche even in Apple world.
Web/Streaming
Web audio doesn't support ALAC (no browser implementation). FLAC has some web support. ALAC is download-only format.
Does Apple Music support ALAC streaming?
Yes! Apple Music introduced lossless streaming in June 2021, using ALAC codec. Subscribers get lossless (up to 24-bit/48kHz) at no extra cost, and hi-res lossless (up to 24-bit/192kHz) for supported devices. It's ALAC streaming, same codec used in your downloaded files. Finally brings lossless to mainstream streaming.
Requirements: Need Apple Music subscription (not just iTunes Match). Works on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Android. Doesn't work on HomePod (limited to 256kbps AAC) or AirPods (Bluetooth limitations). Requires decent internet (lossless uses 6x more data than AAC). Enable in Settings > Music > Audio Quality.
Practical reality: Most people won't hear difference between AAC 256kbps and lossless on mobile devices with Bluetooth headphones. Lossless shines on wired headphones, good speakers, or critical listening. It's nice to have the option, but for casual streaming, AAC quality is already excellent. ALAC streaming is for audiophiles and placebo effect!
Can I edit ALAC files or do I need to convert first?
Professional audio software (Logic Pro, Adobe Audition, Audacity) can import ALAC and edit directly - software decodes ALAC to PCM for processing, then re-encodes output. However, most pros prefer editing in uncompressed formats (AIFF/WAV) for maximum compatibility and zero decode overhead. Convert ALAC to WAV for editing, then back to ALAC for storage.
Why uncompressed for editing: Faster processing (no decompression), universal DAW compatibility, no potential decode artifacts affecting edits. ALAC is designed for playback/storage, not production workflow. Uncompressed formats are industry standard for audio production for good reasons.
Recommended workflow: Keep ALAC masters for archival storage. When editing, convert to WAV/AIFF (lossless conversion). Edit in uncompressed format. Export final result as ALAC for storage, AAC for distribution. This workflow ensures quality throughout production while optimizing storage efficiency.
Is .m4a ALAC or AAC?
Both! .m4a is just a container (MP4 audio container), not a codec indicator. Files with .m4a extension can contain either AAC (lossy) or ALAC (lossless) audio. You can't tell from filename alone - need to check file properties. Right-click > Get Info (Mac) or Properties (Windows) to see codec.
This confuses people constantly. iTunes/Music app uses .m4a for both AAC purchases (lossy) and ALAC rips (lossless). Same extension, completely different compression and quality. ALAC .m4a files are 5-6x larger than AAC .m4a files - file size is usually giveaway.
Organizing your library: Many people rename ALAC files to have 'ALAC' in filename or separate into folders ('Music/ALAC' vs 'Music/AAC'). Helps avoid confusion when managing mixed library. Media players show codec in metadata, but filenames alone don't indicate lossless vs lossy.
Should I switch from FLAC to ALAC for my library?
Only if you're primarily Apple ecosystem user and want native support advantages. Converting FLAC to ALAC is lossless (no quality change) but takes time for large libraries. Benefits: native iOS/Mac playback, iTunes integration, HomePod support, hardware-accelerated decoding on Apple devices.
Keep FLAC if: you use mixed devices (Android + iPhone), value open-source formats, want slightly better compression, use Linux, have audiophile equipment (FLAC support is more common). Or if current setup works fine - don't fix what isn't broken. Format wars don't matter if you're satisfied with current workflow.
Middle ground: Keep existing FLAC library, use ALAC for new rips if you've switched to Apple ecosystem. Or convert gradually (prioritize most-played albums first). Both formats are lossless, so you can convert back and forth without quality concerns. Choose based on convenience, not quality.
What's the best bitrate for converting ALAC to AAC?
256kbps AAC is the sweet spot - transparent (indistinguishable from lossless) for most listeners on most equipment. Apple uses 256kbps for iTunes Store purchases, which tells you they consider it high quality. Files are reasonable size (1MB per minute) while delivering excellent audio quality.
Other options: 192kbps AAC for space-constrained devices (still very good quality). 320kbps AAC for maximum quality (overkill for most people but guarantees transparency). 128kbps AAC for streaming/bandwidth-limited scenarios (noticeably lower quality but acceptable for background listening).
Encoding tip: Use iTunes/Music app AAC encoder (high quality), or ffmpeg with qaac (best quality). Enable VBR (variable bitrate) for better quality at same average bitrate. Don't obsess over bitrate - 256kbps AAC from ALAC source sounds great. Diminishing returns above 256kbps unless you're trained audiophile with high-end gear.