Convert .WMA into .FLAC Files - Fast, Free and Secure. We also have information of .WMA and .FLAC Files extensions on this page.
- Information about WMA |
File extension |
wma |
File category |
Audio |
Stands for |
Windows Media Audio |
Developer |
Microsoft |
Overview |
It is an audio file format which is proprietary or closed source software. It is available in four different versions. First one is the original WMA codec. This gives competition to the MP3 and it came into existence in 1999. Next is WMA Pro which is an advanced and new codec. It uses lossy compression but provides audios of high resolution. The third is WMA lossless codec and it encodes audio without losing any information. Lastly, there is WMA Voice which is again a lossy compression and it was developed for audios with low bandwidth or low bit rates. Microsoft has developed an advanced systems format which is used by ‘Windows Media Audio' to store encoded audios. Metadata objects like the album, the genre of track and title; etc. can also be added in this codec. The prime use of this extension by users is streaming on the internet. |
Technical description |
Microsoft has various claims about this codec. Firstly, it was alleged that at 64kbps this format will deliver the same quality of audio as of CD. This was rejected at the end. The second claim is that it gives better sound quality than MP3 at the same bit rate. Thirdly, it was professed that this extension provides a similar quality of audio at a lower bit rate than MP3 at a higher bit rate. Apart from this, there is an option available for this container i.e. DRM(Digital rights management) and this option is completely elective. One may or may not choose this choice. A number of software support this format like Windows media player, Microsoft expression encoder; etc. |
Links |
wikipedia.org |
- Information about FLAC |
File extension |
flac |
File category |
Audio |
Stands for |
Free Lossless Audio Codec |
Developer |
Xiph.org |
Overview |
It is an audio format which uses a lossless compression technique to compress the original data, without any loss of information. The additional benefit of this format is it maintains a very good quality of Audio. These files are encoded using FLAC algorithm that reduces the size of the primary file ranging from 50 to 80 per cent as the size varies according to the amount and density of the data. Therefore, this codec helps in the production of exact replicas of original data but in reduced size. It also supports a number of electronic devices. For instance- Portable players, car stereos etc. As well as it is streamable which allows users to jump to the middle of a stream with minimum delay. |
Technical description |
FLAC can deal with any channels from 1 to 8. It also supports PCM bit resolution up to 32 bits per sample and any sampling rate up to 655,350Hz in a single Hertz increment. REPLAYGAIN is an added feature in it which helps to measure and normalize the loudness of received audio. Moreover, it can deflate audio at very high speed which makes it to stand out from the other formats. Also, it is an open-source software which means original source code is freely available and it may be modified as per user’s requirements. Lastly, it has flexibility in metadata that allows one to write its own application when it is registered ID. Its metadata includes tags, cover art, seek tables and cue sheets. |
Links |
wikipedia.org |