Converting flac to mp3's?

[grrrv1]

Hi,

Newbie here. Just downloaded a prince aftershow "Victory 3121". I can play them on my VLC media player but want to burn to disc. What program do i use to convert them mp3's? many thanks

[U2Lynne]

You don't want to convert to mp3 to burn (that is lossy!), download foobar2000 and it will take those flacs and burn them to a CD for you: http://foobar2000.org/

[grrrv1]

i downloaded it but there doesn't seem to be a burn option, strictly playback unless i missed something...

[paddington]

If you can't figure that out, you should 'decode' the flacs back to WAV files with FLAC Frontend from Soundforge. You can burn the WAVs to CD with nearly any burner application.

Do not ever convert FLAC files to MP3 files. FLAC files are a form of 'lossless' compression, meaning that when you 'decode' or 'decompress' them back to WAV, the exact original WAV from the CD is intact 100%. When you encode to MP3, you lose pretty much all the sound above 16kHz, introduce 'swishy' or 'watery' aliasing and there are thousands and thousands of samples lost in the audible range, as well.

In short, converting a CD quality FLAC or WAV to MP3 causes a large amount of quality loss, so you wouldn't want to do that for burning to a CD. You'd want to the original-quality track.

[Five]

best prog to burn audio cdrs (the kind that work on standard home/car players) is EAC (exactaudiocopy.de)

[grrrv1]

I'll see if i can download EAC to convert the files to WAV. I'm not sure why Foobar was suggested since it's only a player from what i can see unless theres a deluxe version that converts the Flacs to Wav files. Thanks for your suggestions everyone. Peace & Be Wild, Grrrv1

[Five]

foobar has a bunch of (somewhat) hidden functionality including burning and converting. when you select files and right-click you'll see tons of options come up. to burn with foobar you also need nero installed and EAC can burn with correct offsets so its better fwiw

[Patty Mac]

I've also used Burrrn and Easy CD-DA Extractor as well. It burns a wide variety of formats.

[paddington]

Originally Posted by grrrv1

I'll see if i can download EAC to convert the files to WAV. I'm not sure why Foobar was suggested since it's only a player from what i can see unless theres a deluxe version that converts the Flacs to Wav files. Thanks for your suggestions everyone. Peace & Be Wild, Grrrv1

Foobar works well, but it must be setup correctly and it is a bit advanced for some first time users - mainly BECAUSE it can do so many things. FLAC Frontend does only FLACs, so the controls will be easier to work.

Five is correct about EAC - it's the best for burning audio CDs - especially if you take the time to correct the offset for your specific drive. Instructions for that are found in most places the EAC installation file is hosted.

[possessed]

I use Traders Little Helper to convert the files to wav. Then I use iTunes to make mp3s for my iPod. But I use EAC to convert all my CD's to mp3 for my iPod. Other than that, I never (repeat, NEVER) make mp3 discs of shows for anything but personal use. Many friends want copies of shows and I always give them the original files and instruct them how to use TLH. Nobody wants mp3s that have been burned to disc and made mp3 and burned to disc and made mp3 and burned to disc and made mp3.....It's just a degradation of the sound to the point that the show sounds like shit.

[arkantos]

this is very useful as i was just thinkin on how you make cds out of .flac files. now i will reburn 28cds ive made out of lames 320khz bitrate i thought it was the best quality and everything was there. lossy'

*thanks' for that very informative discussion

[Homebrew101]

I use Foobar to convert FLAC to mp3



















for playback on my mp3 player. I only burn as WAV so you all can relax.

[arkantos]

do you convert it to highest bitrate like 320khz or just 128khz where the diffirence is visible if you listen to it.