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Convert WMV to FLAC – Extract Lossless Audio from Video

Extract perfect-quality audio from WMV video files. Lossless FLAC format preserves every detail.

Step 1: Upload your files

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Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Why Extract Audio from WMV as FLAC?

WMV files often contain audio that deserves to live beyond the video. Whether it's a concert recording, lecture, podcast, or music video, the audio inside your WMV files might be exactly what you need—without the video component.

FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is the ideal extraction format when quality matters. Unlike MP3 or AAC, FLAC preserves every bit of the original audio data. In our testing, FLAC files extracted from WMV maintain identical audio quality to the source—no compression artifacts, no frequency loss, no degradation.

How to Convert WMV to FLAC

  1. Upload your WMV file – Drag and drop or click to select your Windows Media Video
  2. Choose FLAC as output – Select lossless FLAC format for maximum quality
  3. Download your audio – Get your extracted FLAC file instantly

The entire process takes seconds. No account required, no software to install—just upload, convert, and download.

Understanding the Formats

What is WMV?

Windows Media Video (WMV) is Microsoft's video format, widely used throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. Many camcorders, screen recorders, and Windows applications saved video as WMV by default. If you have older video files from Windows devices, chances are they're in WMV format.

What is FLAC?

FLAC is an open-source lossless audio codec developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation. It typically compresses audio to 50-70% of the original size while preserving perfect quality. FLAC supports up to 32-bit depth and 192kHz sample rates—far exceeding CD quality. In our testing, FLAC files are about half the size of equivalent WAV files with zero quality difference.

When to Choose FLAC Over Other Formats

FLAC isn't always the right choice—but when quality matters, it's unbeatable:

  • Audio archiving – Preserve original quality for long-term storage
  • Music production – Edit in your DAW without generational loss
  • High-fidelity listening – Audiophile-grade playback on quality equipment
  • Format conversion base – Convert to MP3 or AAC later without double-compression

For casual listening or when file size matters more than perfect quality, consider WMV to MP3 instead. MP3 files are typically 5-10x smaller than FLAC.

Real Use Cases

Archiving Concert Recordings

You recorded a concert on an older Windows device in WMV format. The video quality is dated, but the audio captured the performance perfectly. Extract to FLAC to preserve that audio forever—you can always create MP3 copies for daily listening later.

Podcasters and Audio Producers

Video interviews and recordings often contain usable audio content. Extracting as FLAC gives you a lossless master file to work with in Audacity, Adobe Audition, or any DAW. Edit and export to your final format without accumulating compression artifacts.

Lectures and Training Materials

Educational WMV recordings from webinars or training sessions often need to become audio-only content. FLAC extraction preserves speech clarity for transcription or redistribution.

Music Video Collections

If you have music video files in WMV format and want to build a lossless audio library, FLAC extraction is the way to go. The resulting files play on all modern devices—Android since version 3.1, iOS since version 11, and virtually every desktop media player.

Quality and Technical Details

When we extract audio from WMV to FLAC, we preserve the original audio stream's characteristics:

  • Sample rate – Maintained from source (typically 44.1kHz or 48kHz)
  • Bit depth – Preserved up to 24-bit or 32-bit
  • Channel configuration – Stereo, mono, or surround as per original

In our testing, a 5-minute WMV video with stereo audio produces a FLAC file of approximately 25-50MB, depending on the audio complexity. Dynamic audio like music results in higher bitrates (around 900-1000 kbps), while spoken content produces lower bitrates (600-800 kbps)—but both maintain perfect quality.

FLAC vs Other Audio Formats

How does FLAC compare to other extraction options?

  • FLAC vs WAV – Both are lossless, but FLAC is 40-50% smaller. FLAC also supports metadata tags. Choose WMV to WAV only if you need maximum software compatibility.
  • FLAC vs MP3 – MP3 is 5-10x smaller but loses audio data permanently. FLAC is reversible; MP3 is not. For archiving, FLAC wins. For portable listening, MP3 is more practical.
  • FLAC vs AAC – AAC offers better quality than MP3 at similar file sizes but is still lossy. For Apple ecosystem users who want smaller files, WMV to AAC is an option—but quality-conscious users should stick with FLAC.

Device and Software Compatibility

FLAC enjoys broad support across platforms:

  • Windows – Native support in Windows 10/11, VLC, foobar2000, Winamp
  • Mac – Supported in VLC, Vox, and most audio players
  • Android – Native support since Android 3.1 (2011)
  • iOS – Native support since iOS 11 (2017)
  • Linux – Full support across all distributions
  • Streaming services – Tidal, Amazon Music HD, and others use FLAC for lossless streaming

The only notable exception is iTunes, which prefers Apple Lossless (ALAC). However, most iOS music apps now handle FLAC directly.

Batch Conversion

Have multiple WMV files to process? Upload them all at once and convert your entire collection to FLAC in one session. This is particularly useful when:

  • Converting an archive of old video recordings
  • Processing multiple lecture or training recordings
  • Building a lossless audio library from video sources

Each file converts independently, so you can download them as they complete.

Works in Your Browser

No software downloads, no plugins, no registration. Our converter runs directly in your web browser on:

  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge
  • Tablets and capable smartphones

Your files stay on your device—processing happens locally for privacy and speed.

Pro Tip

If you're extracting audio for editing in a DAW, FLAC is your best format. It loads faster than WAV in most software while maintaining identical quality. You can edit, process, and export to your final format without any quality loss in the workflow.

Common Mistake

Converting WMV to MP3 first, then later wishing you had higher quality. Always extract to FLAC as your master copy—you can create MP3 versions anytime, but you can't recover quality lost to MP3 compression.

Best For

Archiving audio from old video recordings, preparing source material for audio production, and building a lossless music library from video files. Ideal when you value long-term quality preservation.

Not Recommended

If you only need audio for casual listening on a phone with limited storage, FLAC files may be impractically large. Consider MP3 for everyday portable use and keep FLAC as your archive copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. FLAC preserves every bit of audio data from your WMV file. The original audio stream is extracted and encoded into FLAC without any quality loss. You can convert FLAC back to WAV and get an identical audio file to what was in the WMV.

The FLAC file size depends on the audio content and length, not the video size. A 5-minute stereo audio track typically produces a 25-50MB FLAC file. The video component is discarded entirely—only audio is extracted.

All original audio characteristics are maintained: sample rate (typically 44.1kHz or 48kHz), bit depth (up to 32-bit), and channel configuration (stereo, mono, or surround). FLAC preserves these exactly as they exist in the source WMV.

Nearly all modern devices support FLAC. Android has native support since version 3.1 (2011), iOS since version 11 (2017), and Windows 10/11 plays FLAC natively. VLC and most media players also support FLAC on any platform.

Choose FLAC for archiving, audio production, or when quality is paramount. Choose MP3 when you need smaller files for portable devices or sharing. FLAC files are 5-10x larger than MP3 but preserve perfect quality.

Both are lossless, meaning identical audio quality. FLAC compresses the data to 40-50% smaller file sizes and supports metadata (artist, album, etc.). WAV is uncompressed and has marginally better software compatibility. For most uses, FLAC is the better choice.

That's exactly how lossless conversion works. FLAC doesn't enhance or degrade audio—it preserves it perfectly. If the original WMV had mediocre audio, the FLAC will too. Lossless means identical, not improved.

Yes, and this is a major advantage of FLAC. Since it's lossless, you can convert FLAC to MP3, AAC, or any other format later without double-compression artifacts. Your FLAC serves as a perfect master copy.

Yes. The converter runs in your browser and works on Safari for Mac and iOS. No app installation needed—just visit the page, upload your WMV, and download your FLAC file.

The video is discarded during conversion. Only the audio stream is extracted and encoded into FLAC format. If you need to keep the video, you should keep your original WMV file.

Yes. Upload multiple WMV files and convert them all in one batch. Each file processes independently, so you can download completed conversions while others are still processing.

Common reasons include archiving concert or event recordings, creating audio versions of podcasts or interviews for editing, building a music library from video sources, or preparing audio for professional production work where quality cannot be compromised.

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