FLAC to MP3 lossless music in a much smaller file.
To convert FLAC to MP3, pick the .flac file, set MP3 and 44.1 kHz, and download it. The MP3 comes out at 192 kbps, 3 to 18 times smaller than the FLAC, and plays in the car, on your phone and in editors that refuse FLAC. Takes 16 and 24-bit FLAC up to 192 kHz. Free.
Free, no sign-upLarge video: extracting can take a few minutes. Keep this tab open until it finishes.
How to turn FLAC into MP3
- 01
Pick the .flac
Drag the track into the dashed box or tap to choose it. A CD rip or a hi-res download both work.
- 02
Use 44.1 kHz for music
That is the CD rate. To use the song in a video, pick 48 kHz. 96 kHz files come down to the rate you choose.
- 03
Download the MP3
The button shows the percentage and the time left. Keep the FLAC: it is still your lossless copy.
FLAC or MP3: what changes in sound and size
FLAC is lossless compression: the file shrinks to about half of a WAV but gives back exactly the same sound as the recording, bit for bit. It is the format of people who rip CDs, of stores that sell hi-res music and of musicians handing over a final mix. MP3 throws away what the ear notices least to get much smaller.
At 192 kbps, an MP3 sounds transparent to most people on most headphones, and takes 1.4 MB per minute. The size gap is big, more so in hi-res: a 45 minute album as 24-bit, 96 kHz FLAC goes past 800 MB; as MP3, it is about 65 MB.
| Format | Typical bitrate | 1 minute |
|---|---|---|
| WAV 16-bit, 44.1 kHz | 1,411 kbps | 10.1 MB |
| FLAC 16-bit, 44.1 kHz (CD) | 700 to 1,000 kbps | 5 to 7 MB |
| FLAC 24-bit, 96 kHz | 2,500 to 3,500 kbps | 18 to 26 MB |
| MP3 192 kbps | 192 kbps | 1.4 MB |
Why FLAC won't open in the car or in Premiere
Plenty of car stereos, USB speakers and older players play MP3 and ignore FLAC. In video editors, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro don't import FLAC; DaVinci Resolve does. On iPhone, the Files app plays FLAC, but the Music app won't import it.
If the song is going under a wedding or event film, there are two routes right here. MP3 at 48 kHz works for most projects and keeps them light. WAV at 48 kHz keeps lossless quality for whoever is going to mix or master.
- Car, USB stick and older players: MP3 at 44.1 kHz.
- Soundtrack in Premiere or Final Cut: MP3 or WAV at 48 kHz.
- Archive copy: keep the original FLAC.
24-bit, 96 kHz FLAC: what happens in the conversion
MP3 tops out at 48 kHz. An 88.2, 96 or 192 kHz FLAC is converted to the rate you pick, with an anti-aliasing filter, before it becomes MP3. Whatever sits above 20 kHz, which nobody hears, is left behind. The 24-bit depth stops mattering too: MP3 stores sound differently, without bits per sample.
Two things don't come along: the title, artist and cover art stored in the FLAC aren't copied to the MP3, and the conversion can't make the sound better than the source. Always convert from the FLAC, not from an MP3 that was already converted, so losses don't stack up.
More than FLAC to MP3. For people who edit video with music.
See also
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert FLAC to MP3 for free?
Pick the .flac file on this page, set MP3 and 44.1 kHz and click convert. The MP3 comes out at 192 kbps, named after the original. It is free, with no sign-up, no watermark and no usage limit.
Does converting FLAC to MP3 lose quality?
It loses what MP3 throws away, since FLAC is lossless and MP3 isn't. At 192 kbps the difference is hard to hear on most headphones and speakers. To edit with no loss at all, pick WAV on the same page.
Which rate should I pick: 44.1 or 48 kHz?
For listening, 44.1 kHz, the rate of CDs and most FLAC files. For using the song in a video, 48 kHz, the editors' standard. A 96 or 192 kHz FLAC comes down to the rate you pick.
Does the MP3 keep the title, artist and cover?
No. The MP3 comes out with the audio only. If you need the tags, edit them afterwards in your player or music library app.
Why won't Premiere import FLAC?
Premiere Pro has no native FLAC support, and neither does Final Cut Pro. Convert to MP3 or WAV at 48 kHz and import as normal. DaVinci Resolve opens FLAC directly.
Does it work with 24-bit FLAC?
Yes, with 16 or 24 bits and rates from 44.1 to 192 kHz. The MP3 comes out at 192 kbps at the rate you pick, and a whole album fits on your phone.
The soundtrack is ready. What about the words? We transcribe them and find the best moments.
Upload the ceremony, the interview or the talk. We transcribe it word by word, with the time of every line, and mark the moments that move people.
See the result on your own recording before adding a card.