Free online AIF to FLAC converter

Some media players, portable devices, and music servers accept FLAC but not AIFF, while archives use FLAC to reduce storage without changing PCM audio. Converting also makes large recordings easier to share while keeping the original AIFF file available for editing.

What the AIF format is

AIF is a common filename extension for AIFF, or Audio Interchange File Format, developed by Apple from the Interchange File Format. Standard AIFF files usually contain uncompressed PCM audio and are used by digital audio workstations, audio editors, macOS recording software, and professional recording equipment.

Files may use .aif or .aiff. .aifc identifies AIFF-C, an extended variant that can contain compressed audio as well as PCM. Applications such as Logic Pro, GarageBand, Audacity, and other production tools can import or export AIFF.

What the FLAC format is

FLAC means Free Lossless Audio Codec. It compresses PCM audio without discarding samples, so decoding the result reproduces the same audio samples as the source. Unlike MP3 or AAC, FLAC does not introduce lossy compression artifacts.

FLAC files are usually smaller than uncompressed AIFF files and can store tags such as artist, album, title, and track number, along with embedded cover art. FLAC is commonly used for music archives, media servers, desktop playback, and hardware that supports open lossless formats.

How to convert AIF to FLAC

Using FFmpeg

FFmpeg provides direct conversion on Windows, macOS, and Linux and is suitable for batch processing.

1. Install FFmpeg and confirm that ffmpeg runs in Terminal or Command Prompt.
2. Open a terminal in the folder containing the source file.
3. Run this command, replacing the filenames as needed:

ffmpeg -i "input.aif" -c:a flac "output.flac"

FFmpeg decodes the source audio and encodes it as FLAC. For a PCM AIFF source, this preserves the audio samples, sample rate, channels, and supported bit depth without resampling. To request metadata copying and set the FLAC compression level, use:

ffmpeg -i "input.aiff" -map_metadata 0 -c:a flac -compression_level 5 "output.flac"

FLAC compression levels 0 through 12 change encoding time and output size, not audio quality. Level 5 is a reasonable default. For multiple files, use a shell loop or a batch script, taking care to quote filenames containing spaces.

Using Audacity

1. Open the AIFF file in Audacity.
2. Check the project sample rate and confirm that no effects, normalization, or resampling are enabled if the conversion must remain unchanged.
3. Choose File → Export Audio.
4. Select FLAC, choose the destination, set the metadata if necessary, and select Export.

Audacity is appropriate when the recording also needs trimming, editing, inspection, or level processing. FFmpeg is preferable for an unedited conversion because it does not require opening the audio in an editor project.

Using the built-in online converter

You can convert the file on 101convert.com for free without installing software: upload the AIF or AIFF file, choose FLAC as the output format, start the conversion, and download the result. Do not upload confidential recordings or material subject to privacy restrictions.

Quality and compatibility limitations

A direct conversion from uncompressed PCM AIFF to FLAC is lossless. The FLAC file may be smaller, but its decoded samples are unchanged. Do not use MP3, AAC, or another lossy intermediate when exact preservation is required.

AIFF-C may already contain compressed audio. Converting it to FLAC preserves the decoded audio during the new encode, but it cannot restore information discarded by the original AIFF-C compression. FLAC also has implementation limits, including support for up to eight channels, so unusual multichannel or very high-resolution sources should be checked against the target software or device.

Metadata transfer is not guaranteed to be exact. AIFF metadata may use ID3 tags, proprietary application chunks, or markers that do not map directly to FLAC Vorbis comments and picture blocks. Verify artist, album, track numbers, artwork, duration, channel count, sample rate, and bit depth before deleting the source. The original AIFF file is not changed by the conversion.