17 Free Audio Converter Software Pieces 2022 Check now >

Audio Basis - articles about audio

Audio converter is software to convert one audio format to another one, or alter resolution audio, or process audio another way. It is used for hardware/software compatibility or sound quality optimization/improvement. See below audio converter list for Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, other (including online converters), supported file types, sound quality difference, other.

Watch and share: Free audio converter for Mac, Windows

Audio converter software list

Disclaimer: incomplete, wrong, obsolete software descriptions may be here. To get exact information, contact the software developers and/or vendors. If an antivirus software reports issues with a utility, you can try other programs from the table. We produce AuI ConverteR. If you found a wrong information, contact us, please.

Converter software	Input files	Output files	Sample rate, bit depth	Operation system	License	Graphical user interface	Additional information
AuI ConverteR 48x44	DSF, DFF, SACD ISO, PCM: WAV, FLAC, mp3, m4a, AIFF, ALAC, CAF, OGG,..., CUE, CD-audio ripper	DSF, DFF, PCM: WAV, FLAC, m4a, AIFF, ALAC, CAF, OGG, ..., CUE + DSF, WAV, AIFF	up to DSD1024 (DSF, DFF), up to 1536 kHz (PCM, depend on format) up to 64 bit (PCM, depend on format)	Windows Mac	Free, Commercial	Yes	Optimizing audio, True Gapless Conversion, Downmix 5.1 to stereo, multichannel, ISO click suppressing Metatag editor Audio converter for studio applications. It may be used in DSF, DFF editing Free version without audio processing quality limitations
Audiogate				Windows, Mac	Free, Commercial	Yes	Audiogate 2 is free
Barbabatch	PCM	PCM	up to 192 kHz	Mac	Demo, Commercial	Yes
dBPoweramp	DSF, DFF, PCM, CD-audio ripper	PCM		Windows, Mac	Demo, Commercial	Yes	Expanded with plugins
DSD2FLAC	DSF, DFF	FLAC, FLAC DoP	up to DSD128 up to 352 kHz	Mac, Linux	Free	Yes	Java is required
Ffmpeg	PCM	PCM		Windows, Mac, Linux	Free	Command line tool	Open Source Code
Foobar 2000	DSF, DFF, ISO, PCM	PCM	up to DSD512	Windows	Free	Yes	Free audio player with converter Expanded with plugins
iso2dsd	SACD ISO	DSF, DFF	DSD64	Mac, Windows, Linux	Free	Yes	Java is required
JRiver	DSF, DFF, ISO, PCM	DSF, PCM		Windows, Mac, Linux	Demo, Commercial	Yes	Audio player with converter and tag editor
HFX	DFF	DSF		Windows	Free	Yes
HQPlayer Pro	DSD, PCM	DSD, PCM	up to 32-bit 1536 kHz, up to DSD1024	Windows, Mac, Linux	Demo, Commercial	Yes
MediaHuman Audio Converter	PCM, CUE	PCM		Windows, Mac	Free	Yes	Freeware application
Media.io (online converter)	PCM	PCM			Free	Web-interface	Online audio converter in Internet
Online audio converter	PCM	PCM			Free	Web-interface	Online audio converter in Internet
PGGB	PCM / DSF	PCM		Mac, Windows	Free, Commercial
sacd_extract	SACD ISO	DSF, DFF	D64	Mac, Windows	Free	Command line tool	Open Source Code
Shutter Encoder	PCM	PCM		Windows, Mac, Linux	Free
SoX - Sound eXchange	DSF, DFF, PCM	DSF, PCM		Windows, Mac, Linux, other	Free	Command line tool	Open Source Code, DSF, DFF support
Switch Audio File Converter	PCM	PCM		Windows, Mac, Android	Free, Commercial	Yes	Free version for non-commercial using Tag editing
TraX SACD Extractor	SACD ISO	DSF, PCM	up to 384 kHz (PCM), up to 32 bit (PCM, depend on format)	Mac	Free, Commercial	Yes	Tag editor
TASCAM Hi-Res Editor	DSD, PCM	DSD, PCM	up to D256, up to 384 kHz (PCM), up to 32 bit (WAV)	Windows, Mac	Free	Yes	DSD file editing
XLD	CD-audio ripper, PCM, ISO (SACD ISO), DSD	PCM	up to D128	Mac	Free	Yes	Plug-in ability
Xrecode	ISO, DSF, DFF, PCM, CD-audio ripper	DSF, PCM		Windows	Free, Commercial	Yes	Altering channel number
VLC	PCM	PCM		Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, other	Free	Yes	Free audio player with converter
Weiss Saracon	DSD, PCM	DSD, PCM	up to D128	Windows, Mac	Commercial	Yes	Conversion software for studio applications

Check now:

Audio converters for YouTube are video to audio converters rather. And we don't consider it here.

In the list, you can find audio converters without watermarks.

Audio converter sound quality

Audio converters can convert musical content:

without processing (bit-perfect): lossless formats [both input and output] and conversion without resolution altering;
with sound processing.

Convert without sound processing

It is a lossless format repacking without audio processing (altering resolution audio, in instance). It is called a lossless audio converter.

In case #1, it does not matter that converter is used. There is functionality difference is possible. If we get real sound difference, another reason is there, probably.

When CUE with compressed file is splitted, the splitting may be provided without re-encoding. As rule, the compressed files are divided by frames. And track border may be moved into a frame. It causes re-placement of part of one track's content to neighbor song. CUE-splitting with re-encoding can solve this issue.

When lossless files (FLAC, WAV, etc.) are splitted, re-encoding doesn't cause quality losses. But re-encoding of lossy files adds losses in the splitting.

Convert with sound processing

In case #2 (resampling, lossy compressing, bit depth altering, etc.) a converter defines sound quality. Processing distortions may be audible or visible after analysis.

As rule, speed of conversion defines sound quality. And, lesser speed is higher sound quality.

Dithering

Dithering is recommended for:

bit depth reducing to 16-bit, or
16- to 16-bit file processing.

Optionally, for 24-bit and more output, a converter can allow applying of differing to 16-bit input.

Gapless conversion

Some albums are uninterrupted (operas, live concerts). They have non-zero levels at track borders. It can cause artifacts at borders after resampling and other processing. To fix the issue True Gapless technology is used.

How to an audio player works

We can imagine a music player as a conveyor belt between a kitchen (audio file) and a dinning room (DAC and speakers).

case 1: If the belt just delivers a soup (digital music from the audio file) from the kitchen to the dining room, it means "no processing" or "bit-perfect" playback.

case 2: If, on the belt (player), the soup (digital music) gets additional cooking,
and we have other soup (other audio resolution) in the dinning room (DAC and speakers).

When we talk about digital music, case 2 requires many computing resources.

A proper converter can do it offline with high quality. And a powerful computer doesn't need when playback in the bit-perfect mode of an audio player (case 1).

Which is the best audio converter?

Which music converter is the best? It depends on what you want primarily.

If you look for sound quality, you need a converter that provides minimal distortions.

In audio, a character of distortions can impact sound. Psychoacoustics accounts it.
So there are no exact figures, that define the best audio converter.

As rule, a proper blind hearing test can give a more exact answer to the question.

In simple words:

We can imagine an audio file as glass with water.

We should come to a room (an audio converter) and pour from the glass to another glass (output file).

If the room is clean (lesser distortions of the converter), "output" glass almost will not contain dust from the room.

If the room is unclean (higher distortions), "output" glass will contain more dust.

Also, dust may color the water differently (different distortion types).

A better converter should provide a few "dust".

Practically, you can try different audio converters and choose one according to your personal preferences.

The author recommends to read the article. It may be useful for testing of audio converters.

Also, you can read these articles:

Metadata, album art

Audio converters can export album art and text metadata from source to target file.

Metadata editor can alter text metadata and insert/replace/delete album cover.

Some metadata formats (mp3, flac, dsf and some others) allow assigning several artworks into a single file.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best audio converter for Android?

If you need to convert files on Android mobile device, you can choose either online (web converter) or an offline converter (app).

Unfortunately, the author has no safe public link with Android audio converter comparison. However, remember, that high qualitative music file conversion with changing sound resolution is a tough process. It requires many computing resources. Intensive conversion work reduces the battery life. So, in general case, a computer or laptop is more recommended to convert HD audio files.

Which app is best for audio converter?

The best audio converter should provide high sound quality. If you need faster conversion, lesser sound quality of conversion may be allowable. So, different personal requirements are satisfied in various ways.

Which is the best free audio converter?

If you look for the best sound quality, you need to compare sound of several audio converters directly. Your ears are most important there.

Does Windows 10 have an audio converter? Does Windows 10 have a music converter?

See the list of audio converters Windows compatible...

How do I convert audio files?

See tutorials on how to convert different types of audio files...

Is audio converter online safe?

There is no theoretical difference between online and local audio-converter implementations.

Data integrity

Web data-transfer channels keep data integrity good enough. For better sureness, it's recommended to control checksum of transferred file on the receiving end. The checksum is calculated at the transmitting end.

Sound quality

In general case, audio-processing precision (in instance, resolution conversion) depends on available computing resources. I.e. more accurate conversion algorithm requires more service time.

A web server has limited computing power. To expand the number of simultaneously processed files or remote users at the power, we can simplify conversion algorithm or/and increase CPU cores. It reduces processing time for each user.

Actual algorithm accuracy (sound quality) depends on implementation of an online audio converter.

Can you convert FLAC to WAV?

Yes. FLAC to WAV and back may be converted without losses for same sampling rate and bit depth. It's so-called "bit-perfect" mode.

In instance, in AuI ConverteR software, set Settings > General > Don't make DSP... checked.

If you convert FLAC to WAV with resampling choose an audio converter with minimum distortions.

How do I use free audio converter?

If you want to convert audio files for free see video guide:

Watch and share: How to convert audio file for Mac, Windows

Also, you can choose a free auido converter for your operating system here...

How do I convert MP3 to DSD?

Read how to convert mp3 to DSD...

Can PCM be converted to DSD?

You can convert PCM to DSD...

Can DSD be converted to FLAC?

You can convert DSD to FLAC...

How do I convert DSF to FLAC?

Read how you can convert DSF files to FLAC...

What is DSD over PCM?

To provide a standard way of audio data transfer from audio software to DSD DAC, DoP (DSD over PCM) data format is used.

What are DSD audio files?

DSD audio files are sound files that contain Direct Stream Digital format. Read more...

What is DSF file?

DSF file (.dsf extension) is DSD audio file. Read more...

What is the difference between DSD and DSF?

DSD (Direct Stream Digital) is a hi-res audio format. Read its description...

DSF (file with .dsf extension) is an audio file containing audio in DSD.

Is DSD better than FLAC?

DSD and FLAC are both audiophile music formats.

Read about their difference...

Where can I download DSD music for free?

You can download DSD music files by links:

How do I play a DSF file?

To play .dsf files, you can use audio player software and devices.

References

November 25, 2022 updated | since July 18, 2018