FLAC ⇔ ALAC Converter

Version 1.0 | Last Updated: December 2025

Overview

FLAC ⇔ ALAC Converter is a lossless audio format converter that provides bidirectional conversion between FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) and ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) formats. The tool maintains complete audio quality, preserves all metadata, and supports drag-and-drop operation for easy batch processing.

Key Features

✓ Bidirectional conversion: FLAC → ALAC and ALAC → FLAC
✓ Lossless conversion with no quality degradation
✓ Preserves sample rate and bit depth
✓ Maintains all metadata tags
✓ Preserves album artwork
✓ Drag-and-drop multiple files and folders
✓ Batch processing support
✓ Original files are kept (non-destructive)
✓ Excludes subfolders automatically
✓ Single executable file (no installation required)

System Requirements

Component	Requirement
Operating System	Windows 11 (also compatible with Windows 10)
FFmpeg	Required (must be in system PATH)
Disk Space	Sufficient space for converted files

⚠ Important: FFmpeg must be installed and added to your system PATH before using this tool.

Installation

Step 1: Install FFmpeg

1. Download FFmpeg from the official website: https://ffmpeg.org/download.html

2. Extract the downloaded archive to a folder (e.g., C:\ffmpeg)

3. Add FFmpeg to your system PATH:

Open "System Properties" → "Advanced" → "Environment Variables"
Under "System variables", find and edit "Path"
Add the path to FFmpeg's bin folder (e.g., C:\ffmpeg\bin)
Click "OK" to save

4. Verify installation by opening Command Prompt and typing: ffmpeg -version

Step 2: Setup FLAC ⇔ ALAC Converter

1. Place flac_alac_converter.exe in any folder of your choice

2. No installation required - ready to use!

Usage

Method 1: Drag and Drop (Recommended)

1. Select one or more FLAC or M4A files in Windows Explorer

2. Drag and drop them onto flac_alac_converter.exe (or its shortcut)

3. Wait for the conversion to complete

4. Converted files will appear in the same folder as the original files

Method 2: Folder Processing

1. Select a folder containing FLAC or M4A files

2. Drag and drop the folder onto flac_alac_converter.exe (or its shortcut)

3. All supported files in the folder will be processed (subfolders excluded)

ℹ Note: You can mix FLAC and M4A files in the same batch. The tool automatically detects the format and converts accordingly.

Conversion Details

FLAC to ALAC

Input: .flac files
Output: .m4a files (ALAC codec)
Preserves: Sample rate, bit depth, metadata, album artwork

ALAC to FLAC

Input: .m4a files (ALAC codec only)
Output: .flac files
Preserves: Sample rate, bit depth, metadata, album artwork

⚠ Important: The tool only processes M4A files that contain ALAC codec. M4A files with AAC or other codecs will be skipped.

Supported Specifications

Parameter	Support
Sample Rates	All rates supported by FLAC and ALAC (e.g., 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 96kHz, 192kHz)
Bit Depths	16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit
Channels	Mono, Stereo, Multi-channel
Metadata	Title, Artist, Album, Genre, Date, Track Number, Composer, etc.
Album Artwork	JPEG, PNG (embedded images)

Output Examples

Example Console Output:

============================================================
FLAC <-> ALAC Converter
============================================================

Found 3 file(s) to process.

Converting: Song1.flac -> Song1.m4a
Success: Song1.m4a

Converting: Song2.flac -> Song2.m4a
Success: Song2.m4a

Converting: Song3.m4a -> Song3.flac
Success: Song3.flac

============================================================
Conversion completed!
Success: 3, Failed: 0, Skipped: 0
============================================================

Press Enter to exit...

Troubleshooting

Error: "FFmpeg not found!"

Solution: Ensure FFmpeg is installed and added to your system PATH. Restart your computer after adding FFmpeg to PATH.

Files are being skipped

Solution: Check if M4A files contain ALAC codec. Files with AAC or other codecs are automatically skipped.

Conversion fails with error message

Solution:

Verify the input file is not corrupted
Ensure you have write permissions in the folder
Check if there is sufficient disk space
Make sure FFmpeg is properly installed

Technical Information

Audio Processing

Conversion Engine: FFmpeg
ALAC Encoder: FFmpeg native ALAC encoder
FLAC Encoder: FFmpeg native FLAC encoder
Quality: Lossless (bit-perfect)

File Handling

Original Files: Preserved (never deleted or modified)
Output Location: Same folder as input files
Naming Convention: Original filename with new extension
Overwrite Protection: Enabled (uses -y flag)

Limitations

Requires FFmpeg installation
Only processes files in the specified folder (excludes subfolders)
M4A files must contain ALAC codec (AAC and other codecs are not supported)
Windows only (this version)

Best Practices

Always keep backup copies of your original files before conversion
Verify converted files before deleting originals
Ensure sufficient disk space (converted files may be larger or smaller)
Process files in batches for better organization
Use meaningful folder structures for better file management

FAQ

Q: Will this tool reduce audio quality?

A: No. Both FLAC and ALAC are lossless formats. Conversion between them preserves 100% of the original audio quality.

Q: Can I convert AAC files to FLAC?

A: No. This tool is specifically designed for lossless FLAC ⇔ ALAC conversion. AAC is a lossy format and is not supported.

Q: What happens to my original files?

A: Original files are never deleted or modified. The tool creates new converted files alongside the originals.

Q: Can I process subfolders?

A: No. The current version only processes files in the specified folder, not in subfolders. This is by design to prevent accidental processing of entire directory trees.

Q: Why is my M4A file being skipped?

A: The tool only processes M4A files that contain ALAC codec. If your M4A file contains AAC or another codec, it will be skipped.

Q: Which file is bigger: FLAC or ALAC?

A: File sizes are typically similar, but may vary slightly depending on the audio content and compression efficiency of each format. Both are lossless and achieve comparable compression ratios.

License and Credits

This tool uses FFmpeg for audio processing. FFmpeg is licensed under the LGPL/GPL. For more information about FFmpeg, visit https://ffmpeg.org/

Version History

Version	Date	Changes
1.0	December 2025	Initial release

FLAC ⇔ ALAC Converter | Lossless Audio Format Converter
For questions or support, please refer to the documentation above.