FLAC files and iTunes

[czapp]

Hi

I'm relatively new at this so forgive my ignorance. I am using a Mac G5 with Lynx AES 16e card, connected to a Playback Designs Dac/Player via it's AES connection.

At the moment, I am using iTunes.

I started looking around some music download sites - HD tracks in particular.

Their hi resolution downloads are only available in FLAC format. I am under the impression that iTunes doesn't support FLAC. Is there a solution here?

Thanks

Carl

 

[Audio_ELF]

1) Use an application - Max or XLD - to transcode the FLAC into AIFF. The conversion is perfect (no loss of quality). Both these are open source applications.

 

2) Use Amarra which supports playing back high-res FLAC. This (AFAIK) utilises the Fluke plug-in for iTunes to enable you to catalogue the FLAC files (Fluke itself allows playback of 16/44.1 FLAC files) and then Amarra's own playback engine to actually play the files. Alternatively Amarra can also be used to transcode FLAC to AIFF offline.

 

Eloise

 

[czapp]

Thank you Eloise

 

[mwheelerk]

Eloise

 

Do you have any preferences between XLD and MAX especially in regards to FLAC conversion? I originally tried XLD as the tool to rip my CDs but just found iTunes easier to use for ripping. I have been using MAX for converting FLAC to Apple Lossless.

 

[Audio_ELF]

I've no preference between XLD and Max - usually use XLD as thats what I use for ripping CDs too. As far as I'm aware the conversion FLAC to AIFF gives identical results with both.

 

I did find doing a batch convert AIFF to AAC that XLD didn't read AIFF tags but Max did.

 

Eloise

 

[mwheelerk]

Thanks. I guess I will just carry on the way I have been doing.

 

[bikemig]

Doesn't XBMC media center handle flac on a Mac as well? http://xbmc.org/ Miguel

 

[Audio_ELF]

Quite a few applications will play back FLAC files...

 

XBMC - not sure you'd want the full media center just to play a few FLAC files.

Play - basic interface.

SongBird - full featured "iTunes alternative"

VLC - very versatile audio and video player, supports virtually every format.

Amarra - not much to say that's not already said.

Pure Music - ditto above.

 

I'm sure there's lots of others ... but that's a good starting point.

 

Eloise

 

[blueixus]

You can change the file format from FLAC to AIFF (or others that work for itunes) once you have downloaded it.

 

I use dbPowerAmp for this but it is for PC not Mac.

 

I think there is stuff out there like Max that will do this, have a google.