How to convert MP3 to Apple Lossless (ALAC)
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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 MP3 to Apple Lossless (ALAC)
NexMedia converts MP3 to Apple Lossless (ALAC) on its own servers. Processing time depends on the file size and how busy the queue is.
- 3
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 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.
Convert MP3 to ALAC online free, no account required — ALAC is Apple's lossless audio codec.
Change MP3 to ALAC without losing quality — convert MP3 to ALAC free in your browser.
Why does my MP3 sound muffled compared to the CD? The format discards frequencies the encoder deems inaudible, and a low bitrate throws away even more — re-encoding cannot bring them back.
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.
Why convert a CD to ALAC? You keep every sample of the original at half the WAV size, and it syncs and plays inside the Apple ecosystem untouched.
What changes when you convert MP3 to ALAC
- The audio is decoded and re-encoded as ALAC at the default settings, so the result is close to the MP3 but not bit-identical.
- MP3 is a lossy format and ALAC is not: the ALAC keeps the decoded MP3 exactly, but it cannot restore detail the MP3 compression already removed, and the file is usually larger.
Settings you can change
Before you convert MP3 to ALAC, 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 ALAC file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
MP3 to ALAC: questions and answers
Does converting MP3 to ALAC reduce quality?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as ALAC at the default settings, so the result is close to the MP3 but not bit-identical. MP3 is a lossy format and ALAC is not: the ALAC keeps the decoded MP3 exactly, but it cannot restore detail the MP3 compression already removed, and the file is usually larger.
What is the difference between MP3 and ALAC?
MP3 is a universally supported lossy audio format. ALAC is Apple's lossless audio codec.
Can I change the settings when converting MP3 to ALAC?
Before you convert MP3 to ALAC, 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 MP3 to ALAC?
No. You can convert MP3 to ALAC without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted ALAC file kept?
The ALAC file you convert from MP3 is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
Does converting MP3 to ALAC restore the quality the MP3 lost?
MP3 is a lossy format and ALAC is not: the ALAC keeps the decoded MP3 exactly, but it cannot restore detail the MP3 compression already removed, and the file is usually larger.
When I convert MP3 to ALAC, is the audio re-encoded?
The audio is decoded and re-encoded as ALAC at the default settings, so the result is close to the MP3 but not bit-identical.