Flac to ALAC file size

[brianjl]

I am in the process of converting all of my flac files to ALAC since I am a Mac user and I want to create a lossless library in itunes.

 

Using Max or XLD, most ALAC files are coming out a few mb larger than the original flac, which is fine, but certain files such as SHM-CD rips, are twice as large after the conversion.

 

Can anyone offer a suggestion on how to fix this or is it the nature of the ALAC process?

 

I can handle slightly larger, but twice the size seems odd.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

[ted_b]

My FLAC files were compressed at a level 5. Keep in mind that if you (or someone else) compressed your FLAC files they may have used a different compression level (which throws the size off by a percent or two). But having ALAC be TWICE the size? Doesn't make sense.

 

[mwheelerk]

What is the general range of sizes that you are seeing in the Apple Lossless files in kBps?

 

[G7]

"What is the general range of sizes that you are seeing in the Apple Lossless files in kBps?"

 

'kBps' is not 'file size'.

 

A CD which was 442 MB ripped in WAV, was 297 MB when ripped to Apple Lossless.

 

That's (rounded) 33% smaller.

 

[brianjl]

All of my ALAC files are roughly between 750 and 1000, but some are 25 mb and others are 50 mb - same kbps & time.

 

It must have to do with how the original cd was ripped I suppose. I don't have a lot of the original cd's so I can't go back a rip again.

 

 

 

[mwheelerk]

I should have said rates.

 

[mwheelerk]

I was wondering if there was a correlation between the bit rates and the file size but there does not appear to be. I will be interested if someone has the answer as to the file size difference. One thing just came to mind. Have you used different process (iTunes, MAX, XLD, other) to encode discs that you import? Just a thought that the different encoders might have an effect.

 

[brianjl]

I just went back and did some testing and noticed that I embedded high res scans when converting in Max.

 

Adding a 25mg tiff will obviously make a large file! This explains all of the inconsistent file sizes.

 

 

 

[Codifus]

...you could explode all your FLACs to wav, import all the WAVs into iTunes, then let iTunes run over night converting all your WAVs into ALAC.

 

The iTunes interface is great for mass converting formats.

 

CD

 

[brianjl]

I'm finding that adding even a 500 KB jpeg increases my ALAC file by 5 mb.

 

Does anyone notice this when using Max?

 

 

 

[mwheelerk]

Good job. I am glad you found the issue.

 

[brianjl]

I'm glad I figured it out before I converted a bunch. I can import the ALAC's into itunes, replace the album art with a smaller jpeg and it's back to normal size.

 

I guess I'll just leave out the artwork when converting and add it in itunes.

 

I've never noticed this problem when using XLD with single flac.clue files. MAX works much better with separate flac files, but the artwork is an issue.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

 

 

[mwheelerk]

That is what I have always done, add the artwork after conversion. For one thing it was the only way I was confident that the artwork was embedded with the file rather than just being pointed at like the iTunes Get Artwork function. Though, I really don't know how that works the way you were doing it. I just know I wanted them embedded especially with my library on an external hard drive and occassionally streaming or synching the library via Apple TV (previously).

 

[brianjl]

XLD has an option to down sample all images to whatever size you like so there is no need to adjust your art - just drag and drop. I can't find a setting in Max for this. So if I add a 20 mb TIFF or PNG, my file size is 20 mb's larger.

Even adding a 300kb jpeg increases the alac by 4-5 mb. Very strange!

 

I'd love to use XLD for everything, but it doesn't work well converting single flac files in batches.

 

There must be a setting somewhere in MAX to compress the art.

 

 

 

[scottgriest]

I was wondering if there was a correlation between the bit rates and the file size but there does not appear to be. I will be interested if someone has the answer as to the file size difference. One thing just came to mind web banners. Have you used different process (iTunes, MAX, XLD, other) to encode discs that you import? Just a thought that the different encoders might have an effect.banner design -