Audio conversion FLAC to MP3.

[NancyJohnson]

I was wondering whether any of my learned friends would be able to help me out with an audio conversion problem.

Recently, I was given a drive containing audio files encoded in FLAC format at 24 bit/96khz, while I can listen to these on my PC without issue, I'd love to shoot them around my house and listen on my assorted Sonos units, but Sonos only supports 24 bit/48khz maximum. 

Any idea how to downconvert; MP3/320kbps is fine.  I have dropped the files into my DAW but while I can batch convert/output/save to MP3, the maximum bitrate I can save to is 128kbps, despite forcing the DAW to encode at a CBR of 320kbps.  Curiously, I can save the FLAC to a WAV, but the files are unplayable on the Sonos system (despite other WAVs playing fine).

Anyone got any ideas?

[BassBunny]

There are tons of free converters available. A quick trip to Mr Google with "flac to mp3 converter free" will give loads of choice.

I use Media Human as it's a simple Drag and Drop interface. The saving method you mentioned in your post might not have saved the "tags" and that might have an impact on Sonos. you may have to do some tag editing anyway after the conversion but from memory Media H does the job fine.

Edited April 12, 2019 by BassBunny

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Mediahuman audioconverter works well for me & is free to use. I use the MacOS version, but a windows version is also available.

https://www.mediahuman.com/audio-converter/

Edited April 12, 2019 by Jean-Luc Pickguard

[dannybuoy]

Not sure what's going on with your DAW then, perhaps installing the LAME MP3 encoder might help. Can your DAW encode to 24-bit/48khz FLAC at all? If you save the FLAC direct to WAV, it will probably still be 96khz, hence why the Sonos will still have trouble with it. You DAW should be able to downsample to 48khz though, then I would still recommend FLAC over WAV has it saves a lot of space with no affect on quality. For most, using a DAW for this would be overkill, but if you already have one you may as well try and get it working!

I have a copy of dBPowerAmp that I use for ripping CDs and converting to FLAC, but it's not free. MusicBee is my favourite music player app and that supports ripping and conversion, perhaps give that a shot?

[KevB]

Format factory is a free bit of software that will do conversion of many audio and video formats, including flac to mp3

[NancyJohnson]

1 hour ago, dannybuoy said:

Not sure what's going on with your DAW then, perhaps installing the LAME MP3 encoder might help. Can your DAW encode to 24-bit/48khz FLAC at all? If you save the FLAC direct to WAV, it will probably still be 96khz, hence why the Sonos will still have trouble with it. You DAW should be able to downsample to 48khz though, then I would still recommend FLAC over WAV has it saves a lot of space with no affect on quality. For most, using a DAW for this would be overkill, but if you already have one you may as well try and get it working!

I have a copy of dBPowerAmp that I use for ripping CDs and converting to FLAC, but it's not free. MusicBee is my favourite music player app and that supports ripping and conversion, perhaps give that a shot?

I have an age-old version of Winamp (go me!) that I use; I'm just comfortable with everything about it.  Amazingly, it seems to play just about everything and I doubt it's had any kind of plug-in update for a decade!  Ripping used to be Audiograbber, but I needed to update tags all the time (MP3Tag), now I use Windows Media Player.  Can't actually remember the last time I actually ripped a CD to be honest.

 

[fleabag]

Would something like Format Factory convert them ok ?   I use FF for a lot of stuff, including vid files

[NancyJohnson]

Media Human works fantastically.  So easy to use.  Thanks to @BassBunny and @Jean-Luc Pickguard for the heads up.  I am in NIN - The Fragile; Deviations 1 heaven.

Maaaaaarvelous!

[Balcro]

AUDACITY -

If you haven't already done so, you need to install the "lame" encoder for Audacity. Go here :-

https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/installing_and_updating_audacity_on_windows.html#winlame

 

Once up & running, Import the FLAC  file   -->   Select "Export as MP3".  When "Save" dialog box appears with "Format Options", select "Insane" or "Extreme" quality.

Other options:-

Ashampoo (ashampo.de  English)   -  Music Studio 2018 - the free version should do it. Alternatively, Music Studio 6 or 7 - short term trial versions.

Edited April 14, 2019 by Balcro
Even more detail

[tauzero]

Also Switch Sound File Converter, free for home use. You can do batch conversions with that.

[JohnR]

dBpoweramp. You have to pay for it but it is well worth it.

https://www.dbpoweramp.com/

[DaveFry]

Good old VLC can do this : https://www.vlchelp.com/convert-audio-format/

[BassTractor]

15 hours ago, Heith said:

7i'm using this tool called [...], it works really good and supports many formats and platforms, may be you want to tyr it

This must be spam. This is an old thread, so I guess the honoured new member did a text search just for spamming us.

Edited September 21, 2020 by BassTractor

[Oxnard Montalvo]

Here’s a list of batch conversion applications. Maybe something here will suit you.
 

https://listoffreeware.com/software-batch-convert-flac-to-mp3-windows/

[WinterMute]

XLD has always work very well for converting FLAC from my Bluesound Vault 2 to either ALC or AAC for the MacBook Pro.

 

https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html

[i.clarke]

https://www.dbpoweramp.com/    

Conversions to almost all formats just a right-click away

[12stringbassist]

I use freeac. Never had an issue. Drag and drop your flacs into the program and press one button and they go to the format you choose.
All you have to do is set it up once under options to do mp3's @ 320.

https://www.freac.org/