Importing FLAC files into iTunes

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Level 1

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Importing FLAC files into iTunes

I downloaded some music in FLAC (paid for and off a legit site, I should add). I tried to "add file to library" using iTunes. Nothing happens. I then tried to use the software Switch to convert the FLAC files into MP3s to be able to manage them. I get a message that says Power PC applications are not supported.

What does this mean? I got this message when I tried to use my 2002 Microsoft Office for MAc (worked fine in Snow Leopard).

Why are PPC applications not supported? What do I do with my FLAC files?

Mac Book Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Dec 7, 2011 12:17 AM

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Answer 1

HamburgO

Level 1

49 points

Dec 7, 2011 2:43 AM in response to china-cat

FLAC is not directly readable by iTunes. There are a tricks to make it work, but I find it simplest to convert FLAC to Apple Lossless, which you can import and play in iTunes.

To do this, you will need XLD, a free application for OS X. Does a very good job!

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Answer 2

china-cat Author

Level 1

0 points

Dec 7, 2011 12:03 PM in response to HamburgO

Thanks. It worked. I was going to pay to get a converter from the App Store. It didn't work with MP3s either and the error message doesn't make sense to me. Lion wasn't the best thing I've done..

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Answer 3

Dec 7, 2011 12:24 PM in response to china-cat

You main issue appears to be solved.

On the PPC issue, Macs since 2006 have Intel processsors, not PowerPC. Older software before the appearance of Intel Macs was only designed with PPC code. Some software around the hardware transition period supported both PPC and Intel Macs. Some newer software only works on Intel. Up to Snow Leopard (OSX 10.6), Intel Macs could still run PPC-only based software because it was supported in the operating system and could pretend to be a PPC Mac. With Lion , Apple stopped supporting PPC generation software. You can run software that was designed for both, or Intel only, but not PPC-only based software dating from before about 2005 when people started designing with both. One of the complaints you'll hear from older Mac users about buying a new Mac is they have to give up a lot of older software (some of it has no equivalent) that won't run under Lion.

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