Quick question about converting FLAC to ALAC?

[Nakatomi]

I'm converting my FLAC files (most ripped with EAC) into ALAC files to use on my iPod (i prefer FLAC as it's more prevalent but iTunes won't support outside paid plug-ins).

My questions is: if I have both 16-bit and 24-bit FLAC files, do I need to manually change the bit depth in db's settings prior to conversion, to ensure that the ALAC files come out as 16 or 24-bit depth respective of the original FLAC?

Or, have I got the wrong end of the stick and db just converts to whatever bit depth the source is, on the fly? I currently have it set to 24 bit for everything to ensure my 24 bit FLAC files convert as such.

[Dat Ei]

Re: Quick question about converting FLAC to ALAC?

Hey Nakatomi,

the strategy is to keep the sources in best quality (loseless) and then to convert to whatever fileformat and audio codec you need for your devices. I have no experience with the ALAC converter, and if you can convert into ALAC and change bit depth in one step, but it is at least possible to do it in two steps without the need of a re-rip of your source media.


Dat Ei

[Spoon]

Re: Quick question about converting FLAC to ALAC?

No need to do anything, the source bit depth is preserved, do not use any DSP effects.

[Nakatomi]

Re: Quick question about converting FLAC to ALAC?

No need to do anything, the source bit depth is preserved, do not use any DSP effects.

Excellent, this answers my question. I believed the bit depth setting for ALAC affected encoding&decoding, but perhaps these are solely decoder settings instead.

Thank you very much.