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How to convert ape to flac without losing quality?

Hello everyone,


I’m looking for some help regarding audio file conversion. I have a collection of APE files that I want to convert to FLAC format. My primary concern is maintaining the original audio quality throughout the conversion process. Currently, I have a MacBook Air and Windows 11 laptop.


If anyone has experience with this or knows how to convert ape to flac without losing quality, I would greatly appreciate your recommendations. Ideally, I'm looking for a solution that is user-friendly and efficient.


Thanks for your help!

MacBook Air (2018 – 2020)

Posted on Aug 20, 2024 12:56 AM

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13 replies

Aug 20, 2024 8:39 AM in response to susthesis

To convert ape to flac without losing quality on Mac, First, please have FFmpeg installed on your Mac. You can install it using Homebrew, a package manager for macOS.


Once Homebrew is installed, install FFmpeg by running:


brew install ffmpeg


After installing FFmpeg, you can convert APE to FLAC without losing quality by using the following command in Terminal. Navigate to the directory where your APE file is located, or provide the full path to the file. Then, use the following command:


ffmpeg -i in.ape -c:a flac out.flac


Replace in.ape with the name of your APE file and out.flac with the desired name for the FLAC file. This command will convert the APE file to a lossless FLAC format.

Aug 20, 2024 7:32 PM in response to susthesis

Go and try some online audio converter. It is a straightforward process that can be done in just a few steps. First, you need to select a reliable online APE to FLAC converter. Once you’ve chosen the right one, simply upload the APE file to the website.


After the file is uploaded, choose FLAC as the output format from the available options. Some converters offer additional settings, such as adjusting the audio quality or bitrate, which you can modify according to your preferences.


Once your settings are in place, you can start converting APE to FLAC online for free. The conversion time will depend on the file size and your internet connection speed. After the conversion is complete, the online tool will provide a download link for your newly converted FLAC file. Simply click on the download link to save the file to your computer.

Aug 20, 2024 10:13 PM in response to susthesis

Converting APE to FLAC online sounds easy-peasy, but there are some drawbacks to consider. Although FLAC is a lossless format, not all converters are created equal. Some might mess with the quality a bit during conversion, even if they promise not to. From my experience, some converters can introduce artifacts or slightly alter the sound. It can be a real letdown when you finally listen to your "new" file and it doesn't sound as crisp as the original.

Aug 20, 2024 10:29 PM in response to susthesis

When you're looking to convert ape to flac on a Mac, make sure you're using reliable conversion software. I once downloaded some random free app that promised magic results, but it crashed halfway through and corrupted my files. Stick to well-known apps like X Lossless Decoder (XLD) or Fission. At least you know they're less likely to let you down!

Aug 20, 2024 10:40 PM in response to susthesis

To convert ape to flac without losing quality. If you're using Homebrew to install FFmpeg, you need to have that package manager set up and functioning. I encountered issues once when my Homebrew installation broke and I couldn't get FFmpeg without it. Getting Homebrew to work right after a hiccup felt like climbing a mountain.


If you have a ton of APE files to convert, doing them one-by-one through Terminal can be a drag. I once had a big batch, and manually typing each command made me feel like I was in a never-ending loop! While you can technically script it for batch processing, that requires more Terminal know-how that I often didn't have at the time.

Aug 21, 2024 5:41 AM in response to susthesis

To convert APE files to FLAC without losing quality, you can use several user-friendly tools on both macOS and Windows 11. On macOS, XLD (X Lossless Decoder) is an excellent choice; simply download and install it, set FLAC as the output format in the preferences, and drag your APE files into the XLD window to start the conversion. Alternatively, you can use Audacity by importing the APE file and then exporting it as FLAC. On Windows 11, Foobar2000 offers a straightforward solution; after installing it and its FLAC encoder component, you can add your APE files, right-click, and select `Convert` to FLAC. Another option is dBpoweramp, which, once installed, allows you to drag and drop your APE files and convert them to FLAC format. All these tools ensure that your audio quality remains intact throughout the conversion process.

Aug 26, 2024 2:15 AM in response to susthesis

Using FFmpeg is undoubtedly the best approach, but installing it on a Mac can be a bit tricky since you need to install Homebrew first. If you’re looking for a quick fix, you might want to consider an audio converter software.


I use Cisdem Video Converter. but it may not be for everyone. Audio conversion is just one of its features. It's an all-in-one video processor that also converts/downloads/compresses videos. I chose it for my needs.

How to convert ape to flac without losing quality?

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