xiph/flac
FreeFree Lossless Audio Codec
FreeFree tier
Inputs: audioOutputs: audio
About xiph/flac
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is an open-source software project that provides a lossless audio compression format, allowing digital audio signals to be reduced in storage size without any information loss. It includes reference encoders and decoders (libFLAC and libFLAC++), command-line tools (flac and metaflac), and extensive documentation. FLAC supports native FLAC and Ogg FLAC formats, and is cross-platform, running on x86, x86_64, ARM, PowerPC, and more. The libraries are licensed under the Xiph.org BSD-like license, while the tools are under the GPL. The project is developed by volunteers and maintained on GitHub by the Xiph.Org Foundation.
Key Features
Lossless audio compression without data loss
Reference encoder and decoder libraries (libFLAC, libFLAC++)
Command-line tools: flac (encoding/decoding) and metaflac (metadata editing)
Supports native FLAC and Ogg FLAC formats
Cross-platform support (x86, x86_64, ARM, PowerPC, and more)
Multi-compiler support (GCC, Clang, Visual Studio, Intel C++)
Two build systems: GNU Autotools and CMake
Includes API documentation and example source code
Open source under Xiph.org BSD-like and GPL licenses
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lossless compression preserves original audio quality
- Open source and free to use
- Widely supported across platforms and software
- Includes tools for encoding, decoding, and metadata editing
- Well-documented with API reference and examples
- Stable and mature project with long history
Cons
- Lossless compression results in larger file sizes compared to lossy formats
- Not as universally supported as formats like MP3 or AAC
- Command-line tools may have a learning curve for non-technical users
Best For
Archiving digital music collections without quality lossDistributing high-quality audio files onlineStoring audio for professional audio productionReducing storage space for digital audio librariesResearch and development of audio codecs (reference implementation)
FAQ
What does FLAC stand for?
FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec.
Is FLAC open source?
Yes, FLAC is open-source software. The libraries are licensed under the Xiph.org BSD-like license and the tools under the GNU General Public License.
What platforms does FLAC support?
FLAC supports many architectures including x86, x86_64, ARMv7, ARMv8, and PowerPC, and can be built with compilers like GCC, Clang, Visual Studio, and Intel C++.
Can FLAC reduce file size without losing quality?
Yes, FLAC compresses audio losslessly, meaning no information is removed, so the original quality is fully preserved.