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Difference Between ALAC and FLAC
ALAC and FLAC are both lossless audio compression formats that deliver high-quality music while reducing file size. ALAC uses a variable bit rate compression method to minimise audio file size without losing audio quality. FLAC uses a fixed bit-rate compression method to compress audio files without losing quality.
Read this article to find out more about ALAC and FLAC and how they are different from each other
What is ALAC?
ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) is an Apple Inc. lossless audio compression format. It was introduced in 2004 as a lossless audio format alternative to FLAC, WMA Lossless, and Monkey's Audio.
ALAC's goal is to minimize the size of audio files without losing audio quality. It achieves this through the use of a variable bit rate compression algorithm, which analyses the audio data and decides the proper bit rate for each segment of the audio track. This results in a decreased file size while maintaining audio quality.
ALAC compresses audio files using a variable bit rate (VBR) compression technique. Depending on the complexity of the sound being compressed, the VBR algorithm changes the amount of data used to represent it. This means that the more complex the sound, the more data will be used to represent it, and the less complicated the sound, the less data will be used to describe it. This allows ALAC to achieve massive compression ratios without losing audio quality.
ALAC has a few benefits over other lossless audio formats. To begin with, it is a proprietary format created by Apple, which means it is optimised for usage with their devices and apps. Second, ALAC files are typically smaller in size than uncompressed audio files, making them a perfect format for storing and playing high-quality music on mobile devices with limited storage space.
ALAC has significant disadvantages. For example, it is less widely supported than other lossless audio formats, making it harder to play on non-Apple devices. Second, it may not compress as well as other lossless audio formats, resulting in slightly larger file sizes.
What is FLAC?
FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a 2001 open-source format. It is not restricted and can be used on any device or software that supports it. FLAC uses a fixed bit rate compression method to compress audio files without losing quality. FLAC files are generally smaller than uncompressed audio files and marginally smaller than ALAC files.
FLAC compresses audio files using a fixed bit rate (FBR) compression technique. FLAC, unlike ALAC, uses a consistent amount of data to represent each second of audio, regardless of the complexity of the sound being compressed. FLAC is less effective than ALAC at compressing complex sounds, but its compression ratios are more constant.
FLAC's ability to compress audio files without losing any data is one of its primary characteristics. This means that when a FLAC file is decompressed, the audio quality remains unchanged from the original audio file. In contrast, lossy audio compression formats such as MP3 compromise audio quality to achieve a smaller file size.
VLC, Foobar2000, and Winamp are among the software players that support FLAC. A wide range of hardware players, including many high-end audio equipment models, support it as well.
FLAC files are often less in size than uncompressed audio files but slightly bigger than their ALAC counterparts. However, the difference in file size is often minimal, and FLAC files are widely considered to be better than other lossless audio compression formats.
Difference between ALAC and FLAC
The following table highlights the major differences between ALAC and FLAC −
Characteristics |
ALAC |
FLAC |
|---|---|---|
Compression Algorithm |
Variable bit rate (VBR) |
Fixed bit rate (FBR) |
Size of File |
ALAC is smaller than uncompressed files and larger than FLAC. |
FLAC files are smaller than uncompressed files and slightly smaller than ALAC files. |
Audio Quality |
Lossless, no audio quality loss |
Lossless, no audio quality loss |
Development |
It is developed by Apple, and the format is proprietary. |
It is developed by Xiph.org, and the format is open- source. |
Popularity |
ALAC is widely used in Apple devices and applications. |
FLAC is widely used by audiophiles and music enthusiasts. |
Stands for |
Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) |
Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) |
Conclusion
In conclusion, ALAC and FLAC are both lossless audio compression formats that deliver high-quality music while reducing file size. ALAC is an Apple-developed proprietary format that is largely used on their devices and software, whereas FLAC is an open-source format that may be used on any device or software that supports it.
The decision between the two will be based on the device and software utilised, personal preference, and format availability.
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