FLAC to M4A conversion

Scouring the interwebs, I found some methods of converting from FLAC to m4a if you don't mind using the command-line in Terminal. With both options make sure Homebrew is installed which is a package manager that will allow you to install the requisite tool.

Using ffmpeg

Make sure ffmpeg is installed (google Homebrew to install) and type:

ffmpeg -i [infile].flac -acodec alac [outfile].m4a

(There are a few shell script gists on Github named flac2alac which use ffmpeg and will preserve tags: https://gist.github.com/)

Using flac and afconvert

Make sure flac is installed (google Homebrew to install) and type:

flac -s -d --force-aiff-format -o [tempfile].aiff [infile].flac

afconvert -f m4af -d alac [tempfile].aiff [outfile].m4a

(This shell script gist was helpful: https://gist.github.com/mlen/4379799)

This will convert to a temporary loss-less aiff file, then using Apple's command-line utility afconvert, to loss-less m4a. You can then delete the temporary aiff file.

The limitation of this approach is that the temporary aiff file generated has a maximum capacity of 2GB, which one of my files would have exceeded. So I needed to use another approach for this file.

Using flac only

I was also able to convert directly from FLAC to m4a using flac only, but the resulting files were twice as large. It seems flac doesn't apply any compression, whereas afconvert and ffmpeg compress the resulting files.

Regards,

D.

trikki69 wrote:
Hi, as per title really.
Does anyone know if iTunes will automatically convert FLAC to M4A.

Thanks
Rick

trikki69 wrote:
Hi, as per title really.
Does anyone know if iTunes will automatically convert FLAC to M4A.

you can use the program MAX-(http://sbooth.org/Max/) its very user friendly, free and is a great program. you can convert to apple lossless. the only problem i have is when the files come with cue sheet (queue) it will import without any labels

i use two programs when i use a converter program on my computer it is free audio converter be aware it only converts to one lossless format besides and that format is wav because wav has not metadata you will you have to get the track numbers and add puncuation, removes the numbers infront of the track numbersand maybe get album name but a soon as you do that you go to edit then prefrences then import settings the click apple lossless or aac (you could also convert the files to aac within free audio converter so this is mostly for apple lossless) once you do that high light the songs then press create apple lossless version then delete all the wav files. there will be no loss in quality in this conversion because they are both lossless. if you want to convert with a program that converts very easy and converts it straight to apple lossless with no loss of track names get dbpoweramp. be aware this program cost money but is very easy to use and you can even rip cds in many formats. the link to free audio converter is http://download.cnet.com/Free-Audio-Converter/3000-2140_4-10893961.html

the link to db power amp is http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

dbpoweramps always has work for me and it converts and rips very fast and al the files ive converted with it has been accepted by itunes

as per above db poweramp is my favourite. Note: DO NOT use Foxtab audio coverter for mp3s as it will only convert at 64 kbps

Dabeast12347, that free audio converter from cnet is the BEST! It's fast and easy to use!

If you are not command-line averse, I have put together a little iTunes for Windows automation script that converted all my FLAC library to Apple Lossless in a couple of hours.

Beware that the current (as of Feb 2012) version has some limitations:

• It is not capable of processing albums ripped of downloaded as a single FLAC file. You must split them into individual tracks before conversion.
• The FLAC files that have any of the metatags ARTIST, ALBUM, and TITLE missing are skipped.
• Tracks are always imported in Apple Lossless format.

Do not hesitate to drop me a line if you run into a bug or need any of the above limitations addressed, or fork my script on GitHub if you are into IT yourself.

Hey Dmitry,

I am not tech savy, but I want to use your conversion method. Since I am 1/2 dumb, would you mind explaining what the heck I need to do?

🙂

Hi BraiNEateR,

I have recorded a screencast (Flash required to watch):

http://screencast.com/t/peQrVyuYZf

Let me know if that helps.

Hi Dmitry,

I try out your script and it work beautifull but it can not handle the file name with blank.

Use flac.exe -d "name with blank" and it work .

Try to put comment in your website and it wont let me keep ask me to inpout password .

Any chance to improve "js" script - i look at it and did not understand it well with all parsing

Hi louist1,

I have fixed the comment issue in my blog theme - thanks for pointing me to the problem!

However, I do not understand the issue you are having with the script, as it does put double quotes around all pathnames. In fact, almost all files I have converted had blanks in their pathnames. Can you please elaborate so that I could reproduce the issue?

Dmitry

http://www.hootech.com/formats/alac/convert-flac-to-alac.htm

You should let people know that the trial version will only convert 60% of the source file. Would like to know stuff like this before downloading software and installing it on my computer.