There are several different type of file formats that allow you to listen to music in gamy timber audio frequency . FLAC and ALAC are two such file data formatting .
They both sound rather similar to the secular and you ’d be forgive for thinking that they encompass the same ground . Well , actually , they do .
But there are differences between them that finally may make one or the other more suitable for your purposes . Here is explanation of what they are , and a few differences between FLAC and ALAC .
What is FLAC?
FLAC is acronym and it stands for Free Lossless Audio Coding . Since its developed in former 2000s , it ’s become one of the most coarse and populardigital audio lossless formatting ; and it is open format , it can be used by anyone and is compatibke with a huge range of devices .
The aim with FLAC is to compress files without misplace any quality of the original file cabinet . Ripping files in FLAC can lead to smaller Indian file sizes ( depending on what case of compaction you choose to use ) , as FLAC gets disembarrass of bit of data that are n’t needed but when the file cabinet is unzip , restores those bits of data .
What is ALAC?
ALAC stand for Apple Lossless Audio Codec and was originate by Apple in the eary 2000s .
It patronize up to 8 channels of audio at 16- , 20- , 24- and 32 - morsel depth with a maximal sample distribution rate of 384 kilocycle per second . In the standardized vein as ALAC it ’s open sourced and royalty gratuitous and therefore can be used by anyone .
ALAC was created for iOS devices
FLAC and ALAC cover the same soil but dissent in a couple of ways . The biggest is that ALAC was created for Apple devices such as iTunes ( or Apple Music ) and devices compatible with the iOS platform .
That does n’t mean that you ca n’t listen to ALAC on a Windows PC , for deterrent example . But you ’d to make trusted you have a programme that ’s compatible with it , or if that ’s not possible , reckon converting the ALAC file into FLAC .
You could wreak FLAC files on an iOS equipment , but this is currently only possible through Apple ’s Files app .
FLAC offers wider compatibility
As ALAC ’s direction is on iOS equipment , FLAC has a wider scope with its compatibility with a spacious range of non - Apple equipment . That opens it up to Android devices , Windows chopine , and hi - fi kit such as medicine streamer , DACsorportable medicine players .
If you ’re not in the iOS ecosystem and need to listen to medicine in lossless audio quality , FLAC proffer the most flexibility .
