Use this FLAC to AIFF converter when an editor, player, or recipient requests an AIFF audio file. Upload one FLAC, start conversion, and download the AIFF once it finishes. The tool is free and requires no account or software installation.
The output is uncompressed 16-bit PCM AIFF. A 24-bit or higher-bit-depth FLAC cannot rely on this conversion to preserve all its original precision. Check the required bit depth before converting, and keep your source when exact preservation matters.
What changes between FLAC and AIFF?
FLAC uses lossless compression for audio samples, as explained in the official FLAC FAQ. This tool decodes those samples and writes signed 16-bit big-endian PCM into an AIFF container. The downloaded file has an .aiff extension.
| Property | FLAC input | This tool's AIFF output |
|---|---|---|
| Extension | .flac | .aiff |
| Audio storage | Losslessly compressed samples | Uncompressed PCM (pcm_s16be) |
| Bit depth | Depends on the source | Fixed at 16 bits |
| Size depends on | Content, precision, duration, and compression | Sample rate, channels, and duration |
| Page preview | FLAC playback when supported | File information and download |
| Main purpose here | Existing compressed audio | Copy for a confirmed AIFF requirement |
The AIFF format can store 24-bit integer PCM, but this tool outputs only uncompressed 16-bit big-endian PCM AIFF. Other bit depths or audio encodings are not selectable. Renaming .flac to .aiff changes the filename, not the encoded content or file structure.
When a FLAC to AIFF conversion helps
Import audio into an editing project
A project may expect AIFF assets even though your source is FLAC. Convert a copy and check that it imports with the correct duration, channel count, and channel layout. If the editor already reads FLAC correctly, a separate conversion may not be needed. Keep a higher-precision source for later editing.
Deliver a requested 16-bit AIFF
Confirm the recipient's bit-depth and sample-rate requirements before using the tool. The fixed 16-bit output can suit a delivery that explicitly accepts it, but cannot meet a requirement for 24-bit audio. The .aiff filename alone is not enough to confirm compliance with a delivery specification.
Prepare a copy for a compatible player
An existing playback setup may accept AIFF more readily than FLAC. Test a representative file in that setup and check both the beginning and end of the recording. The conversion changes the file format; it does not remove noise, repair clipping, or ensure that all players will accept the result.
How to convert FLAC to AIFF online
- Upload one FLAC. Select or drag in a
.flacfile up to 200MB and 30 minutes. Use a file whose recording, export, or download has finished. - Start conversion. Wait for the upload to finish, then start the task. AIFF is already selected, with fixed 16-bit PCM output.
- Download and check. Save the
.aifffrom the completed file card and open it in your intended audio application. This page provides an AIFF download rather than an inline output player.
Each task handles one file. There is no batch-upload, playlist, or URL-import option, and the converter does not automatically split a long recording. File size and duration are separate limits: a small, highly compressed FLAC can still exceed 30 minutes.
Is converting FLAC to AIFF lossless?
It depends on the source and the conversion parameters. A compatible 16-bit FLAC can retain its decoded samples when the sample rate, channels, and PCM values are unchanged. Writing those values into a different container or byte order is not, by itself, a reduction in precision.
This page always writes 16-bit PCM, however. A 24-bit source has finer numerical precision, so converting it to 16 bits cannot guarantee preservation of every original sample value. The result being uncompressed does not remove that limitation. The tool does not offer a bit-depth or dither selector.
Check the actual bit depth, sample rate, duration, and channels after conversion. Matching properties and a similar listening experience do not alone prove sample-for-sample equality; exact verification requires comparing the decoded audio. Whole-file hashes will also differ when file structures or metadata differ.
FLAC's lossless storage describes the samples it contains, not how the original recording was made. If those samples came from an earlier lossy source, converting to AIFF will not recover the discarded information. Preserve the best original available instead of treating a format change as a quality upgrade.
Why the AIFF file may take more space
FLAC compresses audio while the output PCM stores each sample directly. AIFF will often be larger, but there is no fixed expansion ratio. The content of the FLAC and any reduction from its source bit depth to 16 bits both affect the comparison.
For four minutes at 48kHz, 16-bit stereo PCM contains about 46.08MB of audio data. Mono at the same sample rate, bit depth, and duration contains about 23.04MB. These are calculations in decimal MB, excluding file headers and metadata, not measured conversion results or selectable settings.
For this fixed 16-bit output, the formula is audio data size (MB) ≈ sample rate (Hz) × channel count × 2 × duration (seconds) ÷ 1,000,000. Each 16-bit sample occupies 2 bytes per channel; the formula excludes file headers and metadata. The 200MB limit applies to the upload; the output can exceed it. Check any size limit imposed by the receiving application separately.
If the file will not upload or play
If the page reports that it cannot read the FLAC's duration, check that the file is complete and can be opened in a FLAC-compatible application. Try another browser or export a complete copy from the original application. A correct extension is an initial check, not proof that every file can be decoded.
AIFF playback support varies across browsers, so the completed output uses a file download card. No inline AIFF player is shown. Download the result and inspect it in the application that needs AIFF; this is separate from any FLAC input-duration check.
Check tags, artwork, and project-specific information after import. Audio sample preservation does not guarantee that all FLAC metadata will transfer to AIFF or display the same way. The tool does not split a FLAC album according to a cue sheet or promise gapless transitions between separate files.
Frequently asked questions
Is this FLAC to AIFF converter free?
Yes. It is free without an account or credits. Each task accepts one FLAC file up to 200MB and 30 minutes. Batch conversion and automatic splitting are not available.
Can a 16-bit FLAC be converted without changing the audio samples?
A compatible 16-bit source can preserve its decoded PCM samples when the sample rate, channels, and sample values remain unchanged. This does not mean the complete files or metadata are identical. If exact preservation is required, compare the decoded audio rather than relying only on playback or file properties.
Will a 24-bit FLAC remain 24-bit in the AIFF?
No. This tool writes uncompressed, signed 16-bit big-endian PCM AIFF (pcm_s16be). It does not offer 24-bit or floating-point output, so a higher-bit-depth source cannot be assumed to retain all its original precision.
Why did the file become larger?
FLAC uses lossless compression, while this AIFF output stores uncompressed PCM. The increase depends on the recording, duration, sample rate, channels, and source precision. There is no fixed size multiplier, and a larger file does not mean better sound quality.
Can I set the sample rate, channels, or bit depth?
No. This page uses preset conversion settings and fixed 16-bit output. It has no sample-rate, channel, bit-depth, or dither controls. Check the downloaded file against your editing or delivery requirements.
What if I cannot preview the FLAC or AIFF?
If a FLAC duration error blocks upload, check the source in a compatible application and try another browser. The completed AIFF is deliberately shown as a file download without an inline player; save it and listen in an AIFF-compatible application. Input validation and output playback are different steps.
Will tags, artwork, and cue information be preserved?
Complete metadata preservation is not guaranteed. Check the downloaded AIFF in the receiving application, and keep the original if those details matter. This page creates one output file and does not split an album into tracks using cue information.