How to convert Apple Lossless (ALAC) to MP3
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Upload your file
Drag and drop a file or click to select one. Keep this page open while the file uploads and converts.
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Convert Apple Lossless (ALAC) to MP3
NexMedia converts Apple Lossless (ALAC) to MP3 on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
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Download the converted file
When the conversion finishes, the download appears on this page. Your converted file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
About Apple Lossless (ALAC)
Apple Lossless (ALAC) is Apple's lossless audio codec, usually stored in an .m4a file; Apple released it as open source in 2011.
Lossless music in iTunes, Apple Music and on iPhones.
ALAC files are smaller than WAV but several times larger than AAC, and many devices outside Apple's prefer FLAC.
Convert ALAC to MP3 online free, no account required — MP3 is a universally supported lossy audio format.
Change ALAC to MP3 without losing quality — convert ALAC to MP3 free in your browser.
Why won't my Windows PC or Android phone play my ALAC files? Apple Lossless rarely ships outside Apple software, so converting to FLAC keeps the lossless quality on the rest of your devices.
About MP3
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is a lossy audio format from the early 1990s. It removes the sound listeners are least likely to notice, typically at 128 to 320 kbit/s.
It plays on virtually every device and app, which makes it the default for music files, podcasts and audiobooks.
MP3 tops out at 320 kbit/s and two channels, and every re-encode removes a little more detail.
Why convert music to MP3? Every device, car stereo and app made in the last 25 years plays it, so nothing and nobody is left out.
What changes when you convert ALAC to MP3
- The audio is decoded and re-encoded as MP3 at the default settings, so the result is close to the ALAC but not bit-identical.
- MP3 uses lossy compression: the encoder discards the detail that is least noticeable, so the file is smaller than the ALAC but cannot be turned back into the original.
Settings you can change
Before you convert ALAC to MP3, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Limits
Each plan sets a maximum file size and a number of conversions per day, and video and audio files also have a maximum length. Guests can convert files up to 100 megabytes and 5 per day; a free account raises this to 500 megabytes and 25 per day; paid plans go up to 100 gigabytes.
Your converted MP3 file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
ALAC to MP3: questions and answers
Does converting ALAC to MP3 reduce quality?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as MP3 at the default settings, so the result is close to the ALAC but not bit-identical. MP3 uses lossy compression: the encoder discards the detail that is least noticeable, so the file is smaller than the ALAC but cannot be turned back into the original.
What is the difference between ALAC and MP3?
ALAC is Apple's lossless audio codec. MP3 is a universally supported lossy audio format.
Can I change the settings when converting ALAC to MP3?
Before you convert ALAC to MP3, you can adjust: Audio codec, Rate control, Audio bitrate, Quality (VBR), Sample rate, Channels, Normalize loudness, Trim start, Trim duration, and Keep tags.
Do I need an account to convert ALAC to MP3?
No. You can convert ALAC to MP3 without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted MP3 file kept?
The MP3 file you convert from ALAC is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
Will the MP3 file be smaller than my ALAC?
MP3 uses lossy compression: the encoder discards the detail that is least noticeable, so the file is smaller than the ALAC but cannot be turned back into the original.
When I convert ALAC to MP3, is the audio re-encoded?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as MP3 at the default settings, so the result is close to the ALAC but not bit-identical.