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FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec)

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is, like Mp3, an encoding for digital audio. In fact, FLAC is even a high definition version of MP3. In this article, you can read what this means in terms of sound quality and why you should consider adding a FLAC file to your digital music collection.

FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. Let’s start with the ‘Free’ part of the name: FLAC works with royalty-free licenses and an open format. To better understand the “lossless” part of the name, it is important to explain how a standard MP3 file stores data.

The standard encoding format for digital audio: mp3

MP3 is a proprietary encoding format that compresses standard CD audio. Note that for most CDs, the average 3-minute track occupies approximately 30 Mb of storage capacity. This is quite a lot. In the days of the first MP3 players, when storage space was still quite exclusive, this was too much. Additionally, limited broadband Internet access was also a limiting factor in file sharing. One logical consequence was that smaller files became increasingly popular. The birth of the mp3.

An MP3 file with a 128 kbps bit rate requires no more than 3 Mb of capacity to store the aforementioned 3-minute track. This is possible using a mathematical model, which removes the parts of the track that are invisible to the human ear. This results in a more compact and even more complete file.

Because MP3s use a type of compression in which part of a track is permanently removed, we also speak of a ‘lossy’ format. A mathematical model chooses which parts are not relevant, based on the science of psychoacoustics or the study of how the human ear perceives sound.

For example, the maximum range of hearing in a young adult is between 20 and 20,000 Hz. Track values ​​outside this range are removed from the MP3 and so are very low tones that match the loudest sounds. This ensures that a track can be played at 128 kbps, or 128 thousand bits per second, which is the perfect format for easy streaming and downloading.

The trade-off: convenience versus quality

The flaw with an MP3 file, however, is that this form of compression is done at the expense of the quality of the track. That is the commitment to create such a small and easily transferable file. A good pair of speakers is sure to put a finger on the sore spot here: cymbals that sound pretty clean, duller bass tones, and less clear track reproduction than the CD or vinyl version.

However, MP3 bit rates can also vary between 96 and 320 kbps with different quality levels. During CD to MP3 conversion, a process also known as “ripping”, most software offers the ability to set the bit rate to be converted. 128 kbps is synonymous with radio quality, 160 kbps looks pretty much what it sounds like on a CD in terms of playback and 320 kbps is close to the original.

However, many people doubt that the difference between the various bit rates is really audible. Quite old people, who listen to music through MP3 players or headphones, even prefer the sound of MP3 files with low bit rates. You can hear the difference?

When good is not good enough

For those who crave perfect sound, with lively power, clear clicks and rich resonance in high resolution, even 320kbps will be below average. This is where FLAC offers a solution. Although FLAC files are only 50% smaller than their CD counterparts, they are capable of an impressive feat: compressing with the same quality as the original. For example, a 30 Mb file like FLAC would only be 15 Mb, but it would sound at the same level as the original in terms of sound quality.

By applying a different compression technique, in which psychoacoustics is ignored, FLAC manages to preserve all the original data. So unlike MP3, nothing is removed to reduce the file size. Therefore, FLAC is labeled a “lossless format”. Instead, the FLAC algorithm reduces unnecessary information in the file. To speak in terms of listening experience, this means that the entire dynamics of the music file is maintained throughout its width. Sudden increases in sound level, known as transients, are also avoided. The sound of cymbals and drums is always brilliant. Headphone Mute BT with aptX codec

The clearer reproduction of tones is also due to the absence of sonic elements, which often cause problems with lossy files (MP3, etc.). These elements are formed when insufficient data was collected during compression to display the original file after decompression. This results in hissing or hissing noise or a grainy appearance.

Is FLAC worth it?

The answer to that question basically depends on your wishes, as MP3 files can also sound particularly good on a high-end speaker set. Especially when it comes to files with a high bit rate. Although most hi-fi speakers often exhibit a flaw or lack of dynamics in the sound. Have you invested in better speakers and want to make sure you don’t miss any details in the sound? In that case, it’s definitely worth listening to music through FLAC files.