FLAC to AAC Converter
Inspect your FLAC file metadata in the browser and generate a ready-to-run FFmpeg command to convert it to AAC at your chosen bitrate.
Inspect FLAC Metadata
Drop a FLAC (or any audio) file to read its properties. Nothing is uploaded.
FFmpeg Command Generator
ffmpeg -i input.flac -c:a aac -b:a 192k -map_metadata 0 output.m4a
Install FFmpeg free at ffmpeg.org.
Replace input.flac with your actual filename.
Batch convert (Linux / macOS)
for f in *.flac; do ffmpeg -i "$f" -c:a aac -b:a 192k -map_metadata 0 "${f%.flac}.m4a"; done
GUI alternatives
- fre:ac — free, open-source, Windows / macOS / Linux, AAC support built in
- XLD — free macOS tool with native AAC encoder integration
- dBpoweramp — paid, batch conversion, Windows / macOS, high-quality AAC
- iTunes / Music — macOS / Windows, converts to AAC natively via import settings
Drop a FLAC file on the left to inspect its metadata
No file is uploaded — everything runs in your browser
Decoding audio metadata...
Duration
—
Sample Rate
—
Channels
—
Source File Size
—
Estimated AAC Output Size
128 kbps
—
192 kbps
—
256 kbps
—
Formula: bitrate (kbps) x duration (s) / 8000. Actual size may vary slightly.
AAC Bitrate Reference
| Bitrate | Quality | Size / min | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 kbps | Acceptable | ~0.7 MB | Voice, speech, podcasts |
| 128 kbps | Good | ~0.9 MB | Earbuds, casual listening |
| 192 kbps | Very Good | ~1.4 MB | General music listening |
| 256 kbps | Excellent | ~1.9 MB | Audiophile, quality headphones |
| 320 kbps | Near-lossless | ~2.4 MB | Critical listening, mastering |
| VBR | Transparent | ~1.2–2.2 MB | Best quality-to-size ratio |
FLAC vs. AAC — At a Glance
FLAC (Lossless)
- Bit-perfect reproduction of the source recording
- Preferred for DAWs, mastering, and archival storage
- Supports 24-bit / hi-res audio
- Large files (20–40 MB per track)
- Not natively supported by Apple devices or iTunes
AAC (Lossy)
- Native support on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android
- Better quality than MP3 at the same bitrate
- Small file size (3–8 MB per track at 128–256 kbps)
- Permanently discards audio data during encoding
- Re-encoding from AAC to another lossy format degrades quality
Summary
Inspect your FLAC file metadata in the browser and generate a ready-to-run FFmpeg command to convert it to AAC at your chosen bitrate.
How it works
- Drop a FLAC file onto the inspector panel (or click to browse).
- The Web Audio API reads the file sample rate, duration, and channel count locally in your browser.
- Choose an AAC bitrate — 128 kbps for casual listening, 192 kbps for good quality, 256 kbps for high fidelity.
- Copy the generated FFmpeg command and run it in your terminal.
- Optionally use the batch command to convert an entire folder of FLAC files at once.
- Verify the output AAC file in a player before deleting your original FLAC.
Use cases
- Convert a FLAC music library for playback on iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV.
- Prepare audio files for upload to iTunes, Apple Music, or other AAC-native platforms.
- Shrink large FLAC archives while retaining better quality than equivalent MP3.
- Convert FLAC podcasts or audiobooks for car audio systems or earphone playback.
- Batch-convert an entire album using the shell loop command.
- Estimate the output AAC file size before committing to a bitrate.
- Check a FLAC file sample rate and duration before encoding.
- Generate a precise FFmpeg command without memorizing its flags.