iTunes : FLAC

Dolby

Dolby

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Is there a plug in for iTunes to read FLAC files at all?
Or does it convert to it's own lossless format?
 
Yea but I have a library already .
 
Dolby said:
Is there a plug in for iTunes to read FLAC files at all?
Or does it convert to it's own lossless format?
Click to expand...

Hi Dolby.
I had the same issue.. big library.. no way to play it.

Hope this helps...
There are 4 ways (that I've successfully tried).

1. You can download an app in the mac app store to convert every single file to apple lossles format... Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC). The upside... You can use it with iTunes and with an iPod, iPhone etc. The downside... It takes forever.

2. There is an app in the mac app store (free) called MPLAYERX. I love this app as it literally plays any video file (use this for mkv etc.). This app also plays any music file like, in this case, FLAC. The only downside... You can only play one file at a time (no library). This is a bit frustrating when it come to a big music library.

3. Google an app called VOX APP FOR MAC. This app is not in the mac app store. This app is almost like an old school "winamp type" player. It works really well as it supports importing your library and plays all types of music files. Also has extra stuff like creating playlists, album artwork etc. On OSX mountain lion I created an extra desktop and dedicated this app to that desktop exclusively.... bit neater this way and easy to access. The downside... extremely boring interface and very small player window (can not maximize).

4. My favorite... I downloaded an app called FLUKE.app. Not in the app store. Just google it. This app allows flac files to play in iTunes. It works perfectly once you iron out all the kinks. Once app is downloaded, right click on a flac file, get info and make sure that "open with" is selected to open flac files with fluke.app. This way the app can work it's magic every time you double click a flac file. After this is done make sure itunes is closed. Go to your applications folder, right click on iTunes app, get info and select "open in 32 bit mode". Fluke.app will not work with itunes 64 bit unfortunately. This is not a biggy! Now the "bit of" frustrating part... You have to manually drag your flac files (within a given folder) to fluke.app. Easiest is to go into a giben album folder, select all files and drag. Unfortunately you will have to do this for every "folder". You will sometimes get an error (ignore this error, it will work anyway). This may take a while if you have a lot of album folders. The nice thing is once done, you do not need to do it again. Now, when finished dragging your files onto fluke.app, you can open itunes and add your flac folder/s to iTunes. All the files that was processed by fluke.app will now appear in itunes and plays perfectly!

Hope this helps a bit... I was very frustrated as well.

Good luck!
 
Sorry to bring this thread up again ... I have Windows 7 (not a Mac) .... any tried and trusted programs ?
 
Sorry - convert ...

I need iTunes to recognise them, but want no (or little) quality loss
 
Winavi all in one convertor - not free though but you could consider the alternative, test it out and purchase if happy.

[video=youtube;n7_fsMbGtgc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7_fsMbGtgc[/video]
 
Last edited:
Use dBPoweramp.

Free download.

Can convert to ALAC or iTunes Plus (MP4 VBR 256~)
 
If you are using Windows, why are you using iTunes?

I use:

.MP3 = WMP
.FLAC = VLC
 
I need to put them on my iPod - not listening on the PC
 
I use xld for all my conversions. It's free, configurable and fast. Does good quality conversions.

http://code.google.com/p/xld/

I use fidelia to manage and play my library without converting, but if I want to convert for iTunes xld is my go to.
 
Convert to AAC, no need to waste that space, if you really need FLAC quality buy the CD.
 
Foobar will also do conversions, and it is a better player than VLC.

Aqua_lung said:
Convert to AAC, no need to waste that space, if you really need FLAC quality buy the CD.
Click to expand...
It's very hard to insert a CD into an iPod.
 
Last edited:
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