You know that feeling you get when you listen to your favorite song and it sounds good. The highs and lows of the instruments are perfect and the vocals are crisp and clear. That kind of sound quality is what music fans look for in digital audio, including FLAC files.
But how do you get the perfect sound of a FLAC file in a smaller file size? MP3 is the answer.
Converting FLAC files to MP3 is easy with the right software. In this tutorial, we’ll show you several simple and effective tools to convert your entire FLAC album library into convenient, great-sounding MP3s. We’ll also talk about what the move to MP3 means in terms of quality and storage volume.
FLAC versus MP3: What’s the difference?
A long-standing debate in the music industry is about which file format is better for listening to music: FLAC or MP3. Here’s what you need to know.
FLAC stands for “Free Lossless Audio Codec” file format. Being a lossless audio format, the encoding process does not affect the quality of the recording. On the other hand, MP3 (MPEG-1, Audio Layer III) is a proprietary digital audio encoding format that uses a form of lossy data compression. The MP3 algorithm compresses sound data to 1/10 of its original size (or less).
That said, FLAC files are higher quality than MP3s because they use less data compression to store sound information at audio CD-quality resolution (44100 Hz). This results in a more accurate reproduction of the original recordings. However, this also means that FLAC files take up much more storage space on your device. FLAC files can be up to five times larger than their equivalent MP3 version.
The main drawback of an MP3 is that it cannot reproduce sound waves in as much detail as FLAC, which means your listening experience will be less enhanced. If you listen to a FLAC file and its MP3 equivalent, there will be a noticeable difference in sharpness and clarity. However, depending on the listener, what you miss may not ruin the experience.
How to convert FLAC to MP3
The tools used to convert FLAC files to MP3 fall into two main categories: downloadable tools and web-based options. Let’s now see how our top picks perform in each category.
(a) MediaHuman Audio Converter Application
MediaHuman Audio Converter presents one of the easiest ways to create your MP3 collection from your FLAC playlist. Whether you convert FLAC to MP3 or other audio formats, it maintains the original sound quality without added artifacts. The program’s interface features a tabbed layout that can be easily navigated. It’s also 100% free.
To convert FLC files to MP3:
- Download MediaHuman Audio Converter.
- Open the converter and click the “Add File(s)” icon in the upper corner of the window.
- Choose a FLAC track or folder that needs to be converted from your hard drive.
- Select an output format (MP3).
- Specify a destination folder to save all converted files.
- Start converting by clicking the “Convert” button.
There are a couple of features that set MediaHuman Audio Converter apart from other converters. In particular, it supports batch processing with multiple file formats in the same conversion step. This means you can convert your favorite track from FLAC to MP3 and at the same time convert another file from MP4 to WAV. You also have the option to change the audio quality up to 320 kbps.
(b) Audacity
Audacity It is both an audio editor and a digital audio workstation. As an audio editor, it allows you to edit audio using cut/copy/paste techniques. As a digital audio workstation, it allows you to convert audio files between various formats. It is compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux and other operating systems.
This is how you can use the program to convert FLAC to MP3:
- Download and install the program on your computer.
- Select “File” in the toolbar and then select “Open” from the drop-down menu.
- Navigate to the file you want to convert and then click “Open.”
- Click “File” once more and select “Export” from the drop-down menu.
- Select “Export as MP3” from the Export submenu.
- Type a name for the file you are about to create, and then click “Save.”
With Audacity, you can further edit the newly converted MP3 file, for example by trimming certain parts without compromising quality.
2. Web-based tools
(a) Docspal
Docspal Converts your favorite media files to the desired format and allows you to make the change on the fly. Supports all audio formats including FLAC, MP4, MP3, WAV, AU, WMA and ALAC.
To convert your favorite FLAC music track to MP3 using Docspal:
- Visit the Docspal website and upload the file you want to convert.
- Select the original file format (FLAC) from a drop-down list.
- Select the destination format (MP3) from the list of options in the left panel.
- Click “Convert.” You can also enter your email address to receive a download link in your inbox.
Docspal excels in three areas. First of all, it has a clean, simple and direct interface. Even if you have little experience with computers, you will be able to use the program easily. Secondly, it can handle almost any conversion request without the need to install additional codecs or other programs on your computer. Finally, it works well on various operating systems, including Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
(b) CloudConvert
CloudConvert is a handy web application that will eliminate the hassle of converting files from one format to another. It allows you to convert anything from MP3, AAC, WAV and many more formats so you can share your favorite files on any device with a cloud storage service. That includes Dropbox, Google Drive, and email.
To convert FLAC to MP3 using CloudConvert:
- Navigate to the CloudConvert website and upload the file you want to convert.
- Click “Open.”
- Select “MP3” as the final format in the left panel. You can also set your preferred output settings by clicking the wrench icon.
- Click “Convert.”
Unlike some of the options on this list, CloudConvert is a free service.
(c) Zamzar
Zamzar is one of the few conversion resources on the internet that gives subscription-based platforms a run for their money. It’s a wonderful service that converts files to various formats for free and provides excellent customer support if you have problems. In addition, its conversion process is very reliable, fast and simple.
This is how you can convert FLAC to MP3 using Zamzar:
- Visit the official Zamzar platform and click on “FLAC Converter”.
- Upload the file you want to convert and click “Open.”
- Select “MP3” as the destination format.
- Click “Convert Now.”
Additional FAQs
Can I convert FLAC files to MP3 in Windows Media Player?
Windows Media Player is suitable for many things, but it can’t convert FLAC music files, at least not directly. To do that, you’ll first need to burn the file to a CD and then use Windows Media Player to rip the CD to MP3 format:
1. Start by inserting a blank CD into your PC’s DVD drive.
2. Open Windows Media Player.
3. Click “Files” and then select “Open.”
4. Add the FLAC audio files you want to convert.
5. Click “Record.”
6. After burning the CD, click “Organize” and then select “Options.”
7. Select “Copy music”.
8. Set the destination folder and select “MP3” as the desired format.
9. Click “OK.”
Can I use VLC to convert FLAC to MP3?
If you can. That is how:
1. Launch VLC media player.
2. Click “Media” and then select “Convert/Save” from the resulting drop-down list. This will open the “Open Media” window.
3. Click “Add”.
4. Add the FLAC audio files you want to convert.
5. Click “Convert/Save”
6. Select “MP3” from the options in the “Convert” box.
7. Set the destination folder.
8. Click “Start.”
Embrace MP3s and Expand Your Collection
If you are a music enthusiast, your ears have probably been spoiled by the high-quality sound of FLAC files. But converting them to MP3 will become more and more necessary as your playlist grows and more portable devices like smartphones or tablets with limited storage space are adopted. Converting FLAC to MP3 is not only an easy task but also a useful one that can save you from having to delete all the songs you’ve spent hours collecting on your device. And thanks to this article, you now know the tools you should use.
