Audio file formats are one of the most commonly used files by users across the globe. Multiple file types support the storage of digital audio data on computers, some of the most common being MP3, WAV, OGG, WMA, and FLAC files.
Looking for a deeper insight into the FLAC audio file format? Head over to the article below to learn some meaningful information regarding the FLAC file format and what makes it different from other commonly used audio file formats.
Part 1: Introducing the Basic Concepts of the FLAC File
What is a flac file? The Free Lossless Audio Codec (or FLAC for short) is a file format used to store digital audio data. Similar to other audio file formats such as MP3 or WAV, FLAC files are open source and compress the user's audio data. The format itself is supported by almost all native multimedia players on all systems, including Android and iOS.
Unlike other formats, FLAC files are a type of lossless file, which gives them a significant advantage over other audio file types. FLAC files provide better sampling rates and wider ranges of depths that other file formats fail to provide. Due to this reason, FLAC files offer better quality and are preferred by users worldwide.
Greater details encoded in the FLAC file type ultimately render the file size much larger than normal, but it is a small price to pay most of the time. If you want high-resolution audio, FLAC is the way to go.
Part 2: Notable Features of FLAC File Format
There are several notable features of the FLAC file format that render it superior to other audio file types. Here are a few key characteristics that you should know about FLAC files:
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Features |
Introduction |
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Lossless Format |
The FLAC file format is essentially a lossless file type. This means that during the encoding and compressing of audio, no loss of data or information occurs. As no data is discarded, the resultant audio features an impressively high resolution as compared to other file formats. It is one of the main reasons why FLAC files are loved by many. |
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Multi-platform Support |
Previously, FLAC files were not supported on many platforms. But with recent updates, almost all platforms and multimedia players have extended support for the FLAC audio file format. The FLAC format is supported by Android 3.1 onwards and iPhone 5S and higher, in addition to Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. Even most of your portable speakers and car stereos can now play FLAC files without any trouble. |
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High Decoding Speed |
Another reason to love FLAC is that FLAC files offer a remarkably fast decoding speed. Even on a modest OS, you can achieve real-time decode performance easily and quickly. |
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Sturdy against Errors |
FLAC files are framed in such a manner that they are resistant to streaming errors and are less likely to go corrupt. Even if an error does occur, it only destroys a small portion of the audio, generally limited to the frame or a fraction of a second at which it occurred. In other lossless audio file types, a single error typically destroys the entire stream. |
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Archiving Convenience |
The FLAC format is an open-source audio file format, which renders it perfect for archiving needs. If you want to convert your FLAC file into another file type, you can do it with an almost zero generation loss. FLAC files also offer a verify option that works to decode the stream simultaneously as the encoding process is taking place. Thus, you can compare the two versions and even abort the process in the event of a mismatch. |
Part 3: FLAC vs. WAV, FLAC vs. MP3 - What's the Difference?
Audio files come in a variety of file types and formats that are supported by most platforms. But what are the key differences that set these formats apart? Here is an in-depth comparison of FLAC vs. WAV and FLAC vs. MP3 to let you know the variations that exist.
FLAC vs. MP3
MP3 is one of the most commonly used audio file formats. When talking about the FLAC vs. MP3 comparison, a significant difference exists between the two formats. While FLAC is a lossless format, MP3 is a lossy one, which means that you will lose data during compression.
The compression rates of the two file formats are also quite different. In terms of quality, the FLAC format is always for the win as it provides high-resolution audio. While MP3 is limited to 16-bit quality at 320 kbps, FLAC files can go up to 24-bit/1024 kbps. But if you are looking for a small and manageable file size, MP3 is the better choice.
FLAC vs. WAV
WAV is another commonly used lossless file format for audio file types. WAV files are usually preferred for their high-quality results. As opposed to FLAC, WAV files are uncompressed and thus can take almost twice the size of a FLAC file. WAV files are generally used by sound engineers and musicians for editing recordings.
In the FLAC vs. WAV battle, WAV files provide better audio quality as they are uncompressed files. But FLAC can serve as a middle ground if you are looking for good quality audios with smaller file sizes. Unlike WAV, the FLAC format is open-source and easily adaptable.
Part 4: How to Play FLAC Files in Easy Steps
Finding a FLAC player that can help you play your audio files is not a tough task. These days, FLAC is supported by almost all multimedia players, stereos, portable speakers, and all major operating systems. The easiest way you can open a FLAC file on your computer is through the VLC Media Player.
VLC is a native multimedia player for Windows that supports a range of media files, including audio and videos. You can easily play FLAC audio on your computer through VLC. In addition to being a free and open-source media player, VLC can also act as a file conversion tool and works on multiple platforms, including Mac and Linux.
Here is how you can make VLC into a FLAC player to listen to your FLAC audio file:
Step 1: Click on the "Search" button and type "VLC" in your system's search bar. Hit "Enter" to launch the VLC media player on your computer.
Step 2: Once inside the main interface of the program, go to the "Media" tab at the top. From the drop-down menu, click on the first option, "Open File." Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Ctrl + O" to directly open a file.
Step 3: From the pop-up window, browse to the location where your FLAC file is saved. Select the file and click on "Open," and VLC will play your file.
Part 5: How to Repair FLAC Audio File?
Are you facing the misfortunate event of a corrupted or otherwise damaged FLAC file? Although a rare incident, users can still face trouble when trying to play their FLAC audio files. If this is the case with you, we have the ultimate solution using which you can repair FLAC files in an instant.
Wondershare Repairit is a remarkable software program that can help you repair your corrupted files, including videos, images, and audio files. It is an efficient one-step solution for your damaged files. The program features a high accuracy rate and is useful in situations when your files are rendered inaccessible or unreadable.
You can follow the steps mentioned below to repair FLAC files quickly and effectively using the handy toolkit of Wondershare Repairit:
Step 1: Add FLAC Files
To begin with, install and launch Wondershare Repairit on your computer. From the main interface of the program, search for "Audio Repair" from the left panel and click on it. Now click on the blue "Add" button in the middle of the screen to browse to a location on your computer and add your FLAC files.
You will need to add your corrupted FLAC audio file and a sample audio file in the same format and source as the one you are trying to repair (in this case, the FLAC format).
Step 2: Repair FLAC File
Once you have added your files, click on the "Repair" button, and Repairit will start the repair process for your FLAC files.
Step 3: Preview and Save File
When the repair process is complete, Repairit will notify you. Click on "OK" on the window. You can now preview your files to check if the results are as desired. If you are satisfied with the results, click on "Save" to choose a path on your computer and save your repaired FLAC audio file.
See more methods for FLAC file repair
Conclusion
Now you know what a FLAC file is and what it can do for your audio data. You can play FLAC files easily on your computer using VLC, a commonly available media player for Windows. If your FLAC audio file encounters an error or fails to load due to corruption, you can repair it using the comprehensive toolkit of Wondershare Repairit.
