How to convert WAV to FLAC
- 1
Upload your file
Drag and drop a file or click to select one. Keep this page open while the file uploads and converts.
- 2
Convert WAV to FLAC
NexMedia converts WAV to FLAC 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 WAV
WAV (Waveform Audio File Format) is a Microsoft and IBM container that normally stores uncompressed PCM audio.
Recording, editing and mastering, where every sample has to be kept exactly.
Uncompressed audio is large, about 10 MB per minute of CD-quality stereo, and a classic WAV file is limited to 4 GB.
Convert WAV to FLAC online free, no account required — FLAC is a lossless compressed audio format.
Change WAV to FLAC without losing quality — convert WAV to FLAC free in your browser.
Why is my WAV file 10 MB per minute of audio? WAV stores every sample uncompressed, so a three-minute song is around 30 MB — lossless or lossy compression shrinks it dramatically without audibly changing the music.
About FLAC
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) compresses audio without losing anything: the files are typically half to two thirds the size of WAV and decode back to the exact original samples.
Music archives, CD rips and high-resolution downloads.
FLAC files are several times larger than MP3, and some older players and car stereos do not play them.
Why convert CDs to FLAC instead of MP3? The copy is bit-for-bit identical to the original, so the archive never loses quality however often it is converted later.
What changes when you convert WAV to FLAC
- WAV and FLAC both store audio without lossy compression, so no lossy encoder discards detail on the way.
Settings you can change
Before you convert WAV to FLAC, 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 FLAC file is kept for 2 hours, then deleted.
WAV to FLAC: questions and answers
Does converting WAV to FLAC reduce quality?
WAV and FLAC both store audio without lossy compression, so no lossy encoder discards detail on the way.
What is the difference between WAV and FLAC?
WAV is an uncompressed audio format. FLAC is a lossless compressed audio format.
Can I change the settings when converting WAV to FLAC?
Before you convert WAV to FLAC, 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 WAV to FLAC?
No. You can convert WAV to FLAC without an account; signing in raises the file-size and daily limits.
How long is my converted FLAC file kept?
The FLAC file you convert from WAV is kept for 2 hours, then deleted automatically.
Is converting WAV to FLAC a truly lossless copy?
WAV and FLAC both store audio without lossy compression, so no lossy encoder discards detail on the way.
Will converting WAV to FLAC change my original file?
No. The conversion reads your WAV and writes a new FLAC file, leaving your original WAV file untouched.