Convert AIFC to FLAC — Free Online Converter
Convert AIFF-C Compressed Audio (.aifc) to Free Lossless Audio Codec (.flac) online for free. Fast, secure audio conversion with no watermarks or regi...
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How to Convert
Upload your .aifc file by dragging it into the upload area or clicking to browse.
Choose your output settings. The default settings work great for most files.
Click Convert and download your .flac file when it's ready.
About AIFC to FLAC Conversion
AIFC (AIFF-C) is Apple's compressed audio interchange format from the late 1980s, supporting IMA ADPCM, MACE 3:1/6:1, G.711, and uncompressed PCM. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is the open-source lossless compression standard developed by Josh Coalson, achieving 50-60% compression of PCM audio without any quality loss. FLAC is the most widely supported lossless format across all platforms.
Converting AIFC to FLAC moves legacy Apple audio into the modern open-source lossless ecosystem. For AIFC files with uncompressed PCM, this is a true lossless-to-lossless conversion with significant file size reduction. For compressed AIFC variants, it preserves the decompressed audio in the most universally supported lossless container available.
Why Convert AIFC to FLAC?
AIFC has near-zero support on modern systems. FLAC, by contrast, is supported by virtually every audio application, hardware player, streaming service, and operating system. VLC, foobar2000, Winamp, Audacity, Android, Linux, and most network audio players handle FLAC natively. Even Apple added FLAC support to iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra in 2017.
For AIFC files containing uncompressed PCM, converting to FLAC shrinks file size by 40-60% while maintaining bit-for-bit audio fidelity. This is a pure improvement — smaller files, identical audio, and vastly broader compatibility. FLAC's open-source, patent-free nature also makes it ideal for long-term archival, free from the licensing uncertainties that surround proprietary formats like AIFC's MACE codecs.
Common Use Cases
- Archiving legacy Mac audio collections in a modern, universally supported lossless format
- Converting AIFC recordings to FLAC for use with Linux and Android-based audio systems
- Reducing storage costs by compressing uncompressed AIFC PCM to FLAC without quality loss
- Preparing vintage AIFC sound libraries for distribution on platforms that accept FLAC submissions
- Migrating NeXTSTEP audio archives to an open-source format free from proprietary codec dependencies
How It Works
FFmpeg decodes the AIFC container — automatically handling PCM, IMA ADPCM, MACE 3:1/6:1, u-law, or A-law — to raw PCM samples. The FLAC encoder applies linear prediction (up to 12th order) and Rice coding to achieve lossless compression. Compression levels 0-8 trade encoding speed for file size (level 5 is the default balance). Vorbis comment metadata fields are populated from any AIFC tags. The output uses the native FLAC container (.flac) with embedded CRC checksums for data integrity verification.
Quality & Performance
FLAC is mathematically lossless. For AIFC files containing uncompressed PCM, the entire conversion chain is bit-perfect — the decoded FLAC output will match the original PCM sample-by-sample. For AIFC files with MACE or IMA ADPCM compression, FLAC faithfully preserves whatever quality the compressed source contained. FLAC's embedded CRC checksums guarantee that no data corruption occurs during storage or transfer.
Device Compatibility
| Device | AIFC | FLAC |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC | Partial | Partial |
| macOS | Partial | Partial |
| iPhone/iPad | Partial | Partial |
| Android | Partial | Native |
| Linux | Partial | Native |
| Web Browser | No | No |
Recommended Settings by Platform
Spotify
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 320 kbps
OGG Vorbis preferred
Apple Music
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 256 kbps
AAC format required
SoundCloud
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
Lossless FLAC/WAV for best quality
Podcast
Resolution: N/A
Bitrate: 128 kbps
MP3 mono for spoken word
Tips for Best Results
- 1Use FLAC compression level 5 for the optimal balance of file size and encoding speed
- 2Add Vorbis comment metadata tags after conversion to maintain an organized music library
- 3For AIFC files with MACE compression, verify the decompressed audio quality before committing to FLAC archival
- 4FLAC supports up to 32-bit, 655350 Hz audio — far beyond AIFC's typical specifications
- 5Use FLAC's built-in MD5 checksums to verify archive integrity periodically
AIFC to FLAC converts Apple's obsolete audio format into the open-source lossless standard. PCM sources gain 40-60% compression with zero quality loss; compressed sources are preserved in a universally readable modern container.