FLAC or MP3: The are the differences

FLAC and MP3 are popular audio formats. Their similarities and differences, we will explain in this practical tip.

Similarities between FLAC and MP3

At first glance, FLAC, and MP3 have many similarities:

FLAC and MP3 are both audio formats. Accurate information to FLAC-files you will receive in this practice tip.
In both formats, the audio is compressed information.
In the case of both the compression works in several steps. One of them can be in the case of both the loss-free Mid-Side coding.
Both MP3 as well as FLAC are actually Codecs, i.e. pairs of an Encoder for compression and a Decoder to play the file.
Both formats allow you to Add metadata, such as Tags.
In both formats, the Stream is possible, so the Transmission in Quasi-real time.

Despite the similarities, however, there are essential differences between FLAC and MP3:

MP3 is a psycho-acoustic compression, which means it changes the Signal, as you can see in the picture. FLAC changes only the representation of the data so that the file can be more efficiently stored.
MP3 is tainted by his way of working loss. That is, information of the original file will be lost and errors will be added. From FLAC files, the Original can be made error-free.
MP3 achieves a compression of the file to around one-tenth of the original size. FLAC is half the size of the output file.
PCM files, such as WAV, save continuous sound pressure fluctuations as a time-discrete values. At a high sample rate and sample depth of loss this procedure is virtually free. FLAC files store the data from WAV files in a different way. Nevertheless, the PCM file can at any time to regenerate.
MP3 files in particular, strong amplitude, increases in noise and reduce the dynamic content of some of the frequencies and distort thus the output signal irreparably. With good encoding, however, the differences are subtle
For MP3 a huge market already exists in music, editing software and playback devices. FLAC, has software in the music download section, audio processing, and in terms of play set equipment, so far hardly.

Especially from the Differences between FLAC and MP3 shows, which Format for which application is appropriate:

MP3 has the immense advantage that it is widely available, and with popular hardware and Software is compatible. Add to that the enormous compression rate, especially for the fast Transfer and large music collections is most suitable.
FLAC has a key strength: It audio files, loss of coded-free and significantly more flexible and more compressed as a ZIP - or RAR-Archive. Especially in the recording Studio FLAC is ideal, but also very dynamic music or simply to the loss-free Archiving of Audio-CDs.

As you are FLAC-files to convert to MP3, you can learn here. In a further practical tip you'll learn how to MP3 properly encode. In addition, we will show you in a further practical tip , the differences between MP3 and MP4.