Among the best audio files, you will find FLAC and AIFF audio formats. Both of these have their similarities and differences. In this article you will learn which is one is best for you.
Most audiophiles are accustomed to listening to the best audio file formats out there. If you don't consider yourself an audiophile, don't worry! We are here to make things easier for you and clear the fog around this topic. As you may already know, lossless audio formats have captivated the fascinating minds of millions of audio professionals.
You find the dynamic ones among popular lossless audio formats: FLAC and AIFF. For the sake of your listening experience, you discover a complete comparison between FLAC vs AIFF. Also, you learn the best free audio converter for conversion.
Both of them are lossless audio formats. FLAC and AIFF are different from each other in ways that you can't imagine. Initially a strictly compression-based audio format. Here you know the difference in terms of the below aspects.
Compatibility: AIFF is an audio format with limited compatibility as it is mainly used in Apple devices. On the other hand, FLAC has broader compatibility, and it can work across several operating systems.
Space: AIFF file space is similar to large WAV files meaning that it can be heavy. FLAC outperforms AIFF when it comes to storage space as it takes up less space on the device.
Usability: FLAC is quick to download. Also, AIFF is designed to save music and other audio-related projects in original form.
Sound quality: FLAC loses control of keeping the original audio data once processed by audio editing software. AIFF does not disappoint in this regard, and it works well when processed in audio editing programs without sacrificing audio quality.
Availability: AIFF is not usually available for download online. But FLAC can be easily downloaded from the Internet.
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In fact, to an inexperienced ear, there is little difference between these two audio formats, as they sound almost the same. However, what might interest a typical listener and music lover is the ease of access and compatibility of these audio formats. Since FLAC files are compressed, they can be easily downloaded from the Internet and stored on any device. Also, its relatively small size makes the download process faster and more efficient, just like MP3.
On the other hand, a great advantage of AIFF files is that they are uncompressed and retain all original audio information, ideal for audio engineers. There is no loss of quality when editing, mixing and mastering.
For converting audio files, you can try the Windows converting software like EaseUS Video Converter. Also, you can set the encoder, sample rate, channel, and bitrate for audio files. You can import FLAC audio files from the computer and convert them into other audio formats like AIFF, MP3, OGG, etc.
Apart from being an audio converter, it can also convert video files as a best free video converter.
Key Features:
How to convert AIFF to FLAC:
Step 1. Download and install EaseUS Video Converter on your computer. Launch it and go to the "Audio Converter" option. Then you will find a "Choose Files" button for you to import the source audio file.
Step 2. After importing the audio, click on the "Settings" button. The "More Options" window will pop up, and you can select FLAC or MP3 or other audio files as the output format from the list of optional audio formats.
Step 3. Next, tap on the "Convert" button when you want to convert the imported file. The "Convert All" button is also available for processing a batch of files. Don't forget to set a suitable save path.
Step 4. Soon, you will get the converted audio file after the conversion. The file can be found in the "Finished" tab.
FLAC, or Free Lossless Audio Codec, was released back in 2001. It is often viewed as the high-definition version of an MP3 file. Still, FLAC has the added benefit of a compression codec that reduces the file size by more than 50% than the original audio file without losing any audio information or quality. The only difference is that it has a superior compression process and is specially designed for audio files.
A FLAC file is an exact copy of the original music file. If the original track is lost or damaged, you don't have to worry about losing your music. FLAC is a file format with several advantages over the other lossless audio.
For example, FLAC takes up less space than a WAV file. It can also store additional metadata such as artist name, album name, lyrics, etc. Unlike Apple Lossless Audio Code files, FLAC has the upper hand in sound quality and compression rate. FLAC files can also be played on various audio media and multimedia players.
In short, for Audio Interchange File Format, AIFF was developed by Apple and is one of the most widely used audio file formats in the mac OS. It can also be called the Apple version of WAV files. The great thing about an AIFF file is that it contains the original audio data, plus several pieces of uncompressed metadata.
Furthermore, an AIFF audio file has CD-like audio settings, which results in increased quality. Because AIFF files have the same sample rate and size as WAV files, the storage space of these two audio formats is nearly the same. Compared to an MP3 file, it takes up five times the storage space. Each minute of audio in an AIFF file is approximately 10MB. So, for a 10-minute song, the AIFF file is 100MB or more. This is perhaps one of the most significant disadvantages of AIFF files.
Although AIFF is a lossless audio format, it does not compress audio. As an alternative, Apple has developed another format called AIFFC, which is similar to an original AIFF file, but with an additional audio compression feature.
That's all about FLAC vs AIFF. To conclude, it is your decision when FLAC and AIFF. It all depends entirely on the purpose it serves you. Choose FLAC files if you want to save, share, and stream, and choose AIFF files if you're working on a music project. If you're going to convert these two files, try EaseUS Video Converter to get it done!
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