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Convert FLAC to WAV – Full Quality for Editing and Playback

Transform compressed lossless FLAC into uncompressed WAV without losing a single bit of audio quality.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Need WAV Files for Your Audio Software?

You have pristine FLAC recordings, but your DAW, video editor, or burning software wants WAV. Some older devices and professional audio equipment only recognize uncompressed WAV format. Even iTunes and older media players can struggle with FLAC compatibility.

Converting FLAC to WAV expands your options without sacrificing quality. Both formats are lossless—your 24-bit, 96kHz recordings stay exactly that after conversion. The only change is the container: from compressed FLAC to uncompressed WAV.

How to Convert FLAC to WAV

  1. Upload your FLAC file – Drag and drop or browse to select your lossless audio files
  2. Confirm WAV output – WAV preserves full quality with universal software compatibility
  3. Download your file – Get uncompressed audio ready for editing or playback

Conversion processes in your browser. No software installation, no account creation. Your audio files remain private throughout the process.

FLAC vs WAV: Technical Details

Both FLAC and WAV deliver bit-perfect lossless audio, but they handle storage differently:

  • Compression – FLAC compresses audio 40-60% smaller than WAV with no quality loss
  • Bit depth – Both support 16-bit (CD quality) up to 32-bit audio
  • Sample rates – Both handle 44.1kHz to 192kHz and beyond
  • Metadata – FLAC stores rich tags and cover art; WAV has limited metadata support
  • File size – A 4-minute song at CD quality: ~25MB as WAV, ~15MB as FLAC

Converting FLAC to WAV decompresses the audio stream. The resulting WAV file is larger but contains identical audio data—no generation loss occurs.

When You Need FLAC to WAV Conversion

Importing into Digital Audio Workstations

Pro Tools, older Logic Pro versions, and some DAWs prefer or require WAV format. Converting your FLAC stems and samples to WAV ensures smooth import without compatibility errors or plugin conflicts.

CD Burning and Disc Authoring

Most CD burning software expects uncompressed WAV files at 16-bit, 44.1kHz. Converting FLAC to WAV gives you files ready for audio CD creation without additional processing steps.

Video Editing Workflows

Premiere Pro, Final Cut, and DaVinci Resolve handle WAV more reliably than FLAC for audio tracks. Convert your music and sound effects to WAV before importing into video projects.

Legacy Device Compatibility

Older MP3 players, some car stereos with USB ports, and standalone audio players may not decode FLAC. WAV works on virtually any device that plays digital audio—it has been the standard since the early 1990s.

FLAC to WAV vs Other Formats

WAV is ideal for specific workflows, but consider your actual needs:

  • Choose WAV when: Software requires it, burning audio CDs, professional editing, or maximum device compatibility
  • Choose FLAC to AIFF when: Working in Apple ecosystem apps like GarageBand or Logic Pro
  • Choose FLAC to MP3 when: File size matters more than lossless quality
  • Keep FLAC when: Storing music archives—smaller files with identical quality

For pure storage and playback, FLAC makes more sense due to smaller file sizes. For editing and compatibility, WAV is often the safer choice.

Understanding Lossless Conversion

Unlike converting between lossy formats (MP3, AAC), FLAC to WAV is mathematically perfect:

  • No quality degradation – The audio data is decompressed, not re-encoded
  • Bit-perfect output – A checksum comparison shows identical audio content
  • Reversible process – Convert WAV back to FLAC and get byte-identical audio

Think of FLAC as a ZIP file for audio—our converter simply unzips it to WAV format while preserving every sample.

Batch Convert Multiple FLAC Files

Converting an entire album or sample library? Upload multiple FLAC files at once. Each track converts independently while maintaining original quality settings. Your converted WAV files download together—ideal for preparing full projects or music collections.

Works on Any Device

Convert FLAC to WAV from any platform—no specialized audio software required:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • iPhone, iPad, Android devices

Browser-based conversion means the same tool works everywhere, whether you are on a studio workstation or preparing files from a laptop on location.

Pro Tip

When converting high-resolution FLAC (24-bit, 96kHz+) to WAV for CD burning, remember that audio CDs require 16-bit, 44.1kHz. Convert to WAV first, then use dedicated mastering software for proper dithering during the sample rate and bit depth reduction.

Common Mistake

Converting FLAC to WAV to save archives. This wastes storage—FLAC preserves identical quality in 40-60% less space. Only convert to WAV when software specifically requires it.

Best For

Preparing lossless audio for DAW import, video editing timelines, CD authoring software, or playback on devices that don't support FLAC decoding.

Not Recommended

Not ideal for long-term storage or sharing large music collections. The larger WAV file sizes increase storage costs and transfer times without any quality benefit over FLAC.

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Both FLAC and WAV are lossless formats. FLAC is compressed losslessly, like a ZIP file for audio. Converting to WAV decompresses the data without any quality loss—the audio streams are bit-for-bit identical.

WAV stores raw, uncompressed audio data. FLAC uses mathematical compression to reduce file size by 40-60% without discarding any information. A 50MB WAV file might compress to 25-30MB as FLAC with identical audio content.

Yes. Bit depth, sample rate, and channel configuration all transfer exactly. A 24-bit, 96kHz stereo FLAC becomes a 24-bit, 96kHz stereo WAV. No audio characteristics change during lossless conversion.

Pro Tools has limited FLAC support depending on version. Many professionals convert FLAC to WAV before importing to ensure compatibility and avoid potential issues with plugin processing and session files.

Both work equally well on modern Macs. AIFF was historically preferred in Apple software, but WAV has become universal. For cross-platform projects, WAV ensures compatibility with Windows collaborators and most audio software.

Software compatibility is the main reason. Some DAWs, video editors, CD burning tools, and legacy devices require WAV. The larger file size is the trade-off for universal compatibility across audio applications.

Yes. Since both formats are lossless, you can convert between them repeatedly without degradation. The audio data remains identical—only the container format changes.

Partially. WAV has limited metadata support compared to FLAC. Basic info like title may transfer, but detailed tags and embedded cover art often don't survive the conversion. Keep original FLAC files if metadata matters.

Very fast—typically a few seconds per track. Since the conversion is decompression rather than re-encoding, processing is much quicker than converting between lossy formats like MP3 or AAC.

Audio CDs require 16-bit, 44.1kHz WAV files. If your FLAC files are higher resolution (24-bit or 96kHz), they will need to be downsampled. Our converter preserves the original format—use CD mastering software for sample rate conversion if needed.

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