Convert WAV to FLAC
We turn WAV into FLAC right in your browser — the file never goes to a server.
What you will lose
Nothing important: the target format does everything the source does.
How they differ
| WAV | FLAC | |
|---|---|---|
| Lossless | yes | yes |
| Lossy | no | no |
| Multichannel | yes | yes |
| Tags | no | yes |
| Released | 1991 | 2001 |
| Author | Microsoft, IBM | Xiph.Org |
WAV
Good at
- Lossless and uncompressed: what was recorded is what is stored
- Opens instantly in any editor, nothing to unpack
- Works as a master for further processing
Awkward about
- Enormous: a minute of stereo is about 10 MB
- Tags exist on paper but not everything reads them
- Usually too big to send by email
Use it when
- Editing or processing is coming and quality must not drop
- A short fragment: an interface sound, a sample
- The file is for a program, not for a listener
FLAC
Good at
- Lossless, yet half the size of WAV
- Proper tags and cover art
- Handles multichannel audio
Awkward about
- Still heavy for sending and streaming
- Some consumer devices will not open it
- The point only shows on good equipment
Use it when
- A home collection you do not want to re-encode
- An archive of recordings — a master for later
- You need the original quality with tags
Common questions
- Does the file get uploaded to a server?
- Yes, this pair needs the server: browsers cannot encode that format. The file and the result are deleted within a couple of hours and never shared.
- Will surround sound survive?
- Yes, FLAC carries more than two channels — 5.1 stays 5.1.
- Can I get the original quality back afterwards?
- Yes, FLAC supports lossless compression, so you can go back to the original.
- How many files, and how large?
- Up to 10 files at a time, 200 MB each. No sign-up, no watermarks.