OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
FLAC to WAV
Decoded Locally With a Drag and Drop Input and Direct Download
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How the FLAC To WAV works
Drop in a FLAC file and download the same audio as an uncompressed WAV. This FLAC to WAV converter uses your browser's built-in FLAC decoder and writes 16-bit or 24-bit PCM for DAWs, samplers, CD burning software and hardware that cannot read FLAC. Nothing is uploaded.
FLAC to WAV: lossless to lossless
FLAC and WAV store the same thing, PCM samples. FLAC packs them with lossless prediction and entropy coding so files are 30 to 50% smaller, and decoding restores every bit. WAV leaves them unpacked. Converting FLAC to WAV is therefore not a quality decision but a compatibility one: older DAWs, CD authoring tools, broadcast playout, many hardware samplers and some car systems read WAV only.
What changes and what to watch
- Size grows. Expect the WAV to be 1.4 to 2 times the FLAC, depending on how compressible the music was.
- Bit depth. Choose 24-bit for 24-bit FLAC so nothing is rounded. 16-bit CD rips convert exactly at 16 bits.
- Sample rate. The browser decodes at its audio engine rate, usually 44.1 or 48 kHz. A 44.1 kHz FLAC decoded in a 48 kHz context is resampled, so check the Source line. Hi-res 96 kHz files are brought down to that rate.
- Tags. Vorbis comments, cue sheets and artwork in the FLAC are not copied into the WAV.
Strictly bit-exact copies need the decode rate to match the source rate. On most computers set to 44.1 kHz output, CD-rate FLAC passes through unchanged.
Browser support for FLAC decoding
FLAC decodes in Chrome and Edge 56 and later, Firefox 51 and later, Safari 11 and later on macOS and iOS, Opera and Samsung Internet. FLAC inside an Ogg container (.oga) works in Chrome and Firefox but not reliably in Safari.
How to read the stats
Source is the decoded channels, rate, length and FLAC size. Output is the bit depth you selected and Output size is the exact WAV size in megabytes; the 24-bit file is always 50% larger than the 16-bit one.
For a portable lossy copy use FLAC to MP3. The bit depth converter and sample rate converter adjust the WAV afterwards.
FAQ
Is FLAC to WAV conversion lossless?
Yes, provided the bit depth you choose is at least that of the FLAC and the browser decodes at the source rate. FLAC is lossless compression of PCM, so unpacking it to WAV recreates the same samples. Only the file size changes, not the sound.
Why is the WAV bigger than my FLAC?
FLAC compresses the samples losslessly, usually to 50 to 70% of their raw size. WAV stores them uncompressed, so the same audio takes more space. The Output size line shows the exact megabytes for the bit depth you have selected.
Should I choose 16-bit or 24-bit?
Match the source. CD rips are 16-bit, so 16-bit WAV is an exact copy. Hi-res downloads are usually 24-bit, and choosing 16-bit for them would round away the extra resolution. When in doubt, 24-bit never loses anything.
Is my FLAC uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is decoded, processed and encoded inside your browser with the Web Audio API. Nothing is sent to a server, so it works offline once the page has loaded and your audio stays private.
See also: all Audio & Video tools, Units, Images, Documents, Data & Code.
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