Free online CAFF to FLAC converter

Source format: CAFF

CAFF stands for Core Audio Format, an Apple audio container format designed for storing digital audio with flexible metadata support. It is used mainly in macOS and other Apple-related workflows, especially for professional audio, sound effects, and archived recordings. CAFF can hold uncompressed PCM audio and other audio encodings, and it is often encountered in production environments where Apple tools or audio libraries are used.

Typical uses include audio archiving, sound design, and storing recordings that need reliable metadata and broad internal format support within Apple ecosystems.

Target format: FLAC

FLAC means Free Lossless Audio Codec. It is a widely supported lossless audio format that compresses audio without removing any data, so the decoded result is identical to the source PCM audio. FLAC is popular because it offers smaller file sizes than WAV or AIFF while preserving full quality.

FLAC is commonly used for music libraries, archival storage, and cross-platform playback. It is supported by many media players, operating systems, and audio editors.

How to perform the conversion

The most reliable way to convert CAFF to FLAC is with FFmpeg, which supports both formats and preserves audio quality when the source is uncompressed or lossless.

1. Install FFmpeg on your computer if it is not already available.
2. Open a terminal or command prompt.
3. Run a command like ffmpeg -i input.caff output.flac.
4. Wait for the conversion to finish, then verify that output.flac plays correctly.

If your CAFF file contains uncompressed PCM audio, FFmpeg will create a true lossless FLAC file. If the CAFF file uses a compressed codec, FFmpeg will decode it first and then encode the audio to FLAC.

You can also convert the file on 101convert.com for free, without installing any software.

Notes on quality, compatibility, or limitations

CAFF to FLAC is a lossless conversion only if the source audio is already lossless or uncompressed. If the CAFF file contains lossy audio, the resulting FLAC will not restore lost detail; it will only preserve the decoded audio from that source.

FLAC does not support every metadata feature that may exist in CAFF, so some tags, markers, or specialized Apple metadata may be reduced or mapped differently during conversion. Basic tags such as title, artist, and album are usually preserved when the tool supports metadata transfer.

Compatibility is generally excellent for FLAC playback, but some older hardware players may not support it. If you need maximum device compatibility, consider whether your target devices can read FLAC before converting.