What is FLAC and its advantages?

FLAC is an audio codec and the abbreviation stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec (Lossless Audio Compressor / Decompressor) and is a format similar to MP3, but infinitely superior in terms of quality as there is no loss. FLAC is comparable to WAV format in terms of quality and still has some advantages, as you will see below.

flac

The compression performed by the FLAC codec does not delete any information in the data, as it happens with codecs such as MP3, AAC, Vorbis and others, which cut frequencies (they are understood as musical instruments) and eliminate information in the audio, thus discarding important data of the music.

FLAC uses a process similar to that used by WinZip, WinRAR and many other programs that compress data without discarding any information, except that with FLAC the compression is much better because it has been specifically programmed for audio and can be heard on many devices and software, such as Windows Media Player, Winamp or any other application that uses the Directshow filter. And it happens in real time and without forcing your system, like an MP3.

flac
lossless

Comparing FLAC to a format like WAV, the main advantage is reducing the file size, which provides better storage, which is usually 40% to 50% smaller. Additionally, FLAC has the ability to embed MetaData or tags (data in data) within the audio file, which are similar to MP3 IDE3 tags, which is not possible in WAV. These tags or labels are used to store important information such as artist name, song, font, year, cover image, etc. You should include these labels or tags every time you burn (rip) a CD, so you can easily organize and find music in your digital libraries. Click here to see how FLAC behaves in Windows Media Player compared to WAV.

If the FLAC codec is compared to MP3, the biggest difference is in the integrity of the audio source, which is maintained in FLAC, which is not the case in MP3. And as I mentioned, you can use your songs encoded with the FLAC codec normally on your computer, just like MP3.

FLAC is the most popular and efficient format used by CD owners who want to preserve their collections or make their digital library perfect. If the original CD is lost or scratched, a FLAC copy of the tracks on the CD will ensure exact duplication of the CD at any time. Restoring from a file like MP3 is impossible. If Exact Audio Copy (EAC) is used to extract tracks from the CD, as shown in the How to Copy CD Properly with Exact Audio Copy (EAC) guide, which you can read by clicking here, a CUE file will be created that will allow, among others things, burn a CD that will be identical to the original, including song order, CD text, and more, much like a very small ISO image.

Click here to see a page that compares codecs that don’t discard song data or information (lossless codecs). This page was created by the HYDROGEN AUDIO website, highly respected by professionals, in terms of audio information.

Don’t forget that there are many programs that convert FLAC to MP3 or another format. But do the conversion to a copy, so that the FLAC file is kept for future conversions and / or archived, after all it is the master file. And for this work I suggest an excellent utility, which is the dBpowerAmp Music Converter R12.4 REFERENCE, which in addition to being super light and working in any version of Windows, is very easy to use. For those who use DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), the FLAC codec can be used normally with the help of plugins or filters.

It is interesting to mention that a file encoded with a high bit rate allows reducing the sample, which in Portuguese means reducing the bit rate and, consequently, the size of the file without generating such obvious compression devices, and a song encoded with a low bit rate does not allow upstream sampling, that is, increasing the bit rate without losing audio quality and without generating compression devices. Technical information and details about encodings For those who like technical information, I will be brief in the examples and explanations about the compression process of music files. Many encoders use a low pass filter to encode (from now on I will use the abbreviation LPF) The filter is configured to cut frequencies above a certain point and let other frequencies pass. The reason they were programmed to do this is that high frequencies are more difficult to encode, and since most computers in the last decade (decade of the advent of MP3) were slow, the only solution was this.

Lossless music: where do you find content?

With MP3 a few more years away, there’s no doubt that it will increasingly be abandoned in favor of lossless or, in the Molière language, lossless formats. At a time when even the iPhone is becoming FLAC compatible, let’s see how it is maintained by default and where to find content.

flac format

MP3 is a big step back in terms of audio quality. The success is mainly due to its practicality, as it took up little space on our thin hard drives and portable players (something that sometimes looked like a smartphone but was only used for music!). easily traded on a very slow website.

The format has evolved over the years, increasing the bit rate previously limited to 128 kbps to 320 kbps. Compression still overwrites the details of the sound and increasing the bit rate increases the file size, but the rendering is “almost satisfactory”.

Therefore, MP3 and other compression formats (AAC, Ogg Vorbis, etc.) are not the absolute evil, but lag behind CD quality.

Compared to them, FLAC and ALAC, among others, offer compressed lossless playback. Music files are 3-5 times larger than MP3, but offer minimal CD quality (16 bit, 44.1 kHz). Better yet, they are capable of playing high-resolution music (see our high-resolution article), the encoding of which is traditionally 24-bit / 96 kHz or even 192 kHz. At a time when Internet speed and storage are less of a concern, losses are bound to gain the upper hand and make the good news easier to find.

Walkman compatible with high-resolution files includes a DAC. They are a great way to have an audiophile player at home and on the go.

Lossless purchase and streaming

The non-exhaustive list below will lead you to certain platforms where you can drink without loss. Do not hesitate to tell us your good plans, we will integrate them into the article!

Quobuz: One of the ardent pioneers and advocates of high-resolution lossless formats is the French site Quobuz. Offers the purchase of FLAC files on CD or in high resolution. Subscribing to your entire catalog on FLAC 16bits / 44.1 kHz equates to $ 19.99 per month.

7digital: from CD-quality FLAC with 24-bit high resolution via MP3 at 320 kbps; 7digital offers the format option in its impressive catalog. No subscription, just buy, but on top.

Tidal: This streaming site is the answer of the artists on Spotify and Deezer. More concerned about the rendering because titles are encoded lossless, it pays the authors more. FLAC’s CD quality subscription formula is € 19.99, but the site is also starting to offer 24-bit transmission on 44.1 or 48 kHz thanks to an encoding format called MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) that can be encapsulated in a FLAC file .

Spotify and Deezer: The two music streaming giants are gradually switching to lossless music. A CD-quality Spotify Hi-Fi offer (16-bit / 44.1 kHz) instead of the 320 kbps Vorbis codec is being tested with some privileged subscribers. There is no official announcement or award yet, but it is only a matter of time. Deezer, for its part, offers a Hi-Fi formula with CD quality as part of a partnership with Sonos.

Homemade: FLAC is so emerging that we almost forget the obvious. And if we want to get files as CD, we start … buying the CD! Sometimes they are cheaper than their dematerialized equivalent. Then you can convert with software like CDex, Foobar 2000, Exact Audio Copy, etc.

Many other more specialized sites sell high resolution music: Super HiRez, HDtracks, ProStudioMasters. Some are not even concerned with compression, they offer record masters digital masters. A way to get closer to the artist’s intentions!

The equipment to enjoy lossless music.

The public is increasingly moving towards audiophile products.
Anywhere, iOS 11 or Android smartphones can decode a FLAC file. Some present their sound quality as the Honor 9, the Meizu Pro 6 Plus, the HTC U11, but in order to restore the sound scale and naturalness, it is recommended to use an analog converter.

The DAC, both portable and integrated into your stereo system, reproduces the sound spectrum better. More faithful, better defined, refines the spaciousness and richness of the details of each instrument.

These DACs, as they are called, come in a variety of sizes. Some are mobile phones, such as Audioquest’s DragonFly, which can be connected to a mobile (using an adapter) or a computer.

What are Flac files?

For some time now, people have been hearing about Flac files. But what are these ghost files and what are they for? If you read the following, you will have a clearer idea and the basis to delve into the matter.

mp3 vs flac

Music, especially for the needs of broadcasting through the Internet, has been subjected to compressions, sometimes even violent, with specific algorithms, of which the best known and most used is MP3. This compression is capable of dramatically reducing the size of the part and unfortunately also counteracts the quality, while ensuring an acceptable quality reproduction. This sound treatment is called “lossy”, that is, with loss of information compared to the original.

best audio format
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waveform mp3 and flac

The search for the quality of listening shocks with this treatment ensures that you can store large amounts of musical pieces in small spaces, but at the same time makes listening less “exciting” and mortifies the commitment of musicians and sound engineers. So what can we do to have listening quality, easy storage and archiving? just use Flac encoding.

Flac stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. By reading the definition well, we learn that it is:

Free: means it can be used at zero cost; The specifications of this format are open source, that is, free to use and are not covered by a patent that would impose the payment of royalties to the owner.
Lossless: Compression with this system is free from loss of audio information, therefore it means that the copy is gradually identical to the original and therefore the listening quality is preserved.
Files encoded in this way can be played on a wide variety of platforms, including PCs, home hi-fi systems, portable players (often called DAPs, short for Digital Audio Player), in the car, and more. Currently, DRM is not implemented, that is, there is no copy prevention method. This standard also supports labels that include cover images.

At this point a series of questions arise:

How can I create Flac files?

Files can be created from a software encoder installed on your computer. The best known is Mp4Gain, a program that additionally allows you to normalize the audio volume.

Can I buy Flac files?

Yes, you can buy Flac files online on the web at specific sites. The feature of these sites is that it can provide some artists with high-resolution encodings that can be up to 4 times higher than a CD – virtually the quality of the original Master recording!

How can I play Flac files?

Files can be played with devices that support this encoding: personal computers, hi-fi systems, portable digital players, and car audio sources. You should read the product specifications and make sure they are compatible.

What are the advantages over an MP3 file?

The quality, above all, equal to that of the original CD from which you made the “Audio Recording” to the high resolution similar to the original master of the recording room.

What are my disadvantages compared to MP3?

The file size, clearly larger. The limited diffusion to date of compatible players with the Flac.

Compared to a CD, what are the strengths and weaknesses of Flac files?

The strengths compared to a CD are the consistency of the quality of the file encoded in Flac, the CD is influenced by a series of variables, the state of wear of the reading lens, vibrations, humidity of the environment determine an intervention Systems to correct errors that affect listening quality. The Flac file, once carefully encoded, will always offer the same listening quality after listening as it cannot be influenced by the factors mentioned above. Storing a large number of tracks is very easy: portable HDs are small in size and very easy to transport. The same number of tracks stored on CDs would be difficult to handle, especially in the car. The weak point is undoubtedly the ease of use: CD players are widespread in all environments, home.