How do you manage your FLAC library

i convert FLAC's to Apple Lossless. i keep those on an external HD and have iTunes index them without adding the files to my designated iTunes media folder.

i then have iTunes convert them to AAC 256.

once the FLAC's are converted to Apple Lossless format, you could also use this script to populate your iPod:

Lossless to AAC Workflow v2.2

Two scripts assist with importing/managing Apple Lossless or AIFF audio files and sending converted AAC copies to a mounted iPod set to "manually manage songs and videos".

Lossless to AAC Workflow (CD->iPod):

Imports each enabled CD track as an Apple Lossless or AIFF file Makes a converted AAC copy of each imported file Adds the AAC file to iPod, deleting the original AAC from iTunes.

Lossless to AAC Workflow (iTunes->iPod):

Makes a converted AAC copy of each Apple Lossless or AIFF track selected in iTunes Adds the AAC file to iPod, deleting the original AAC from iTunes. In this way you can keep archived lossless files on your hard drive, and manageable AAC files on your iPod.

Yes, iTunes 9.1 will auto-encode tracks to iPod, but only 128 kbps AAC; these scripts enable use of your Custom AAC encoder setting.

Apple Lossless files are pretty big so the number of songs on my iPods would be limited. if i want to play them in iTunes, i just mount the external holding the files and off i go.

AAC 256 offers very good sound quality (superior to MP3 320) so unless you're playing on a very good stereo/speaker set, you won't hear the difference (well, i can't).

Tomovich wrote:

I just find it some kind of waste that you must keep the high quality file somewhere in a dust cabinet

you don't have to. when i started out, i was somewhat constrained for space so i went for the "split-over-two-drives" option.

And that you're forced to make and use a lower quality file.

iTunes and iPod can play Apple Lossless files.

I sync Apple Lossless files to my devices (almost all of my library is in lossless) -- it works fine as Jolly says if you don't mind having less songs on them. That has never been an issue for me because I've never been away from my computer for long enough that I've managed to listen to every song that will fit on a classic. I just use playlists to rotate music on my devices according to mood. So, yeah. You're not forced to down convert files unless you really need to have your entire library in your pocket.

Tomovich wrote:

I've read that Apple Lossless are in some way not really lossless, that they are not the same quality as FLAC.

if you insist on FLAC, have a look at this article.

You're probably referring to this much discussed issue:

http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=84101&st=25

I'll admit I can't explain the finer points -- but I read many similar kinds of threads there and I'm pretty confident that aside from this instance the consensus is that ALAC is, in fact, lossless. And OFC you probably want to use third party encoding software like XLD or Max.

The other issue a lot of people bring up is that there is no support for 24-bit files in ALAC yet. I mostly rip standard CDs so that hasn't been a concern for me.

yes, it's OT but ALAC doesn't have any problems at all with 24bit. i do have some 96/24 files (converted from AIFF to ALAC using XLD) and iTunes plays them back perfectly.

But the ALAC files aren't 24-Bit are they? Last time I checked into it, converting a 24-Bit file that way results in a 16-Bit ALAC file.

unless iTunes is lying to me, it's actually 24bit. here's a screen shot:

edit: note, that i always leave the XLD sample rate setting at "same as original".

That's good to know! Thanks.