Free online MP2 to FLAC converter

Some editors, media servers, and archive workflows require FLAC or handle it more consistently than MP2. Conversion creates a FLAC file for playback, tagging, or further editing while retaining the audio decoded from the MP2 source.

What MP2 is

MP2 usually refers to MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer II, a lossy audio codec commonly stored with the .mp2 extension. It was widely used in MPEG program streams, Video CD, digital radio, television broadcasting, and older broadcast-production systems because it is efficient to encode and decode at broadcast bitrates.

MP2 is distinct from MP3: MP3 is MPEG Audio Layer III, uses a different codec design, and is not interchangeable with Layer II.

What FLAC is

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) stores PCM audio without additional lossy compression. Native FLAC files can carry Vorbis-comment tags, embedded artwork, and cue-sheet metadata, and are supported by many desktop players, audio editors, and media-library applications.

FLAC is useful when a destination requires a lossless format or when the decoded audio will be edited and saved again without introducing another lossy encode. A FLAC file made from MP2 can be larger than the original because MP2 is already a compressed lossy format.

Convert the file

Upload the .mp2 file to 101convert.com, choose FLAC as the output format, start the conversion, and download the resulting .flac file. Play the result and check its duration before removing the source file.

For local conversion, FFmpeg works on Windows, macOS, and Linux. In a terminal, run:

ffmpeg -i input.mp2 -c:a flac output.flac

This decodes the MP2 audio and writes the decoded audio as FLAC. FFmpeg normally preserves the source sample rate and channel layout unless an option requests resampling or downmixing. To explicitly copy input metadata that FFmpeg can read, use:

ffmpeg -i input.mp2 -map_metadata 0 -c:a flac output.flac

Audacity is an alternative when edits are needed first: open the file, make the required changes, then select File → Export Audio, choose FLAC Files, and export. Confirm tags and artwork after conversion, since support for metadata in older MP2 files and conversion tools varies.

Quality and compatibility limits

FLAC preserves the decoded MP2 audio, not the original pre-MP2 recording. It cannot restore frequencies, stereo information, or other detail removed by MP2's lossy encoding. Keep the original MP2 when it is the only available source, particularly for broadcast or archival material.

Avoid converting the new FLAC to MP3, AAC, MP2, or another lossy format unless a specific device requires it. Do not change sample rate, channel count, or bit depth unless the target system documents such a requirement; resampling and downmixing alter the decoded audio. Although FLAC support is broad, some older portable players and broadcast devices accept MP2 but not FLAC, so verify the target device's supported formats before converting a collection.