How to Choose Audio Converter? Read and Compare [2019]
Audio converter is software to convert one audio format to other or altering resolution audio or process audio other way. It is used for hardware/software compatibility or sound quality optimization/improvement. Read below audio converter list Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, other (including online converters), supported audio files, sound quality difference of audio converters, other.
Audio converter software list > Audio converter sound quality > Where download Hi Res music > Where download DSD music > DSD players >
Disclaimer: here may be incomplete, wrong, obsolete software description. To get exact information, contact the software developers and/or vendors. If an antivirus software report about issues with a utility, you can try other program from the table. If you found wrong information, contact us, please.
| Converter software | Input files | Output files | Sample rate, bit depth | Operation system | Graphical user interface | Additional information |
| AuI ConverteR 48x44 | DSF, DFF, ISO (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 D1024 (DSF, DFF), up to 768 kHz (PCM, depend on format) |
Windows, Mac |
Yes |
multichannel, Metatag editor Audio converter for studio applications, may be used in DSF, DFF editing |
| Audiogate | Windows, Mac | Yes | Audiogate 2 is free | |||
| dBPoweramp | DSF, DFF, PCM, CD-audio ripper | PCM | Windows, Mac | Yes | Expanded with plugins | |
| DSD2FLAC | DSF, DFF | FLAC, FLAC DoP |
up to D128 up to 352 kHz |
Mac, Linux | Yes | Java is required |
| Ffmpeg | PCM | PCM | Windows, Mac, Linux | Command line tool | Open Source Code | |
| Foobar 2000 | DSF, DFF, ISO, PCM | PCM | up to D512 | Windows | Yes |
Free audio player with converter Expanded with plugins |
| iso2dsd | ISO | DSF, DFF | D64 | Mac, Windows, Linux | Yes | Java is required |
| JRiver | DSF, DFF, ISO, PCM | DSF, PCM | Windows, Mac, Linux | Yes | Audio player with converter and tag editor | |
| MediaHuman Audio Converter | PCM, CUE | PCM | Windows, Mac | Yes | Freeware application | |
| Media.io (online converter) | PCM | PCM | Web-interface | Online audio converter in Internet | ||
| Online audio converter | PCM | PCM | Web-interface | Online audio converter in Internet | ||
| sacd_exract | ISO | DSF, DFF | D64 | Mac, Windows | Command line tool | Open Source Code |
| SoX - Sound eXchange | DSF, DFF, PCM | DSF, PCM | Windows, Mac, Linux, other | Command line tool |
Open Source Code, |
|
| Switch Audio File Converter | PCM | PCM | Windows, Mac, Android | Yes |
Free version for non-commercial using Tag editing |
|
| TraX SACD Extractor | ISO | DSF, PCM |
up to 384 kHz (PCM), up to 32 bit (PCM, depend on format) |
Mac | 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 | Yes | DSD file editing |
| XLD | CD-audio ripper, PCM, ISO (SACD ISO), DSD | PCM | up to D128 | Mac | Yes | Plug-in ability |
| Xrecode | ISO, DSF, DFF, PCM, CD-audio ripper | DSF, PCM | Windows | Yes | Altering channel number | |
| VLC | PCM | PCM | Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, other | Yes | Free audio player with converter | |
| Weiss Saracon | DSD, PCM | DSD, PCM | up to D128 | Windows, Mac | Yes | Conversion software for studio applications |
Audio converters for YouTube is video to audio converter rather. And we don't considered it here.
In the list you can found audio converters without watermark.
Audio converters can convert audio content:
- without (bit-perfect): lossless formats [both input and output] and conversion without resolution altering;
- with sound processing.
Without sound processing
It is lossless format repacking without audio processing (altering resolution audio, as example). It is lossless audio converter.
In case #1 it is not matter that converter is used. There is matter that is functionality is available. If there is real sound difference, probably, software bug is there.
When CUE+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 placed into a frame. It cause placement of part of one track content to neighbour track. Re-encoding can solve this issue.
When lossless file (FLAC, WAV, etc.) are splitted, re-encoding don't cause quality losses. But re-encoding of lossy file cause losses in splitting.
With sound processing
In case #2 (resampling, lossy compressing, bit depth altering, etc.) a converter define sound quality (processing distortions).
As rule, speed of conversion depend on sound quality (lesser speed - higher sound quality).
Dithering is recommended for:
- bit depth reducing to 16-bit, or
- 16 to 16 bit file processing.
Some albums are uninterrupted (operas, live concerts). They have non-zero levels at track borders. It can cause artefacts at borders after resampling and other processing. To fix the issue True Gapless technology is used.
Which audio converter is best?
It depend on what you want primarily.
If you want spound quality - it is converter what provide minimal distortions. In audio character of distortions (accounting psychoacoustics) can impact to sound. So there are no exact figures, that define the best audio converter. As rule, proper blind hearing test can give more exact answer to the question.
Metadata, album art
Audio converters can export album art and text metadata from source to target file.
Also metadata editor can alter text metadata and insert/replace/delete album cover.
Some metadata formats (mp3, flac, dsf and some other) allow to assign several artworks into single file.
References
![DSD High-Resolution Music Downloads [Check Free Files]](/sites/default/files/u1/dsd-music.png "DSD High-Resolution Music Downloads [Check Free Files]")
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![NOS DAC. Non-Oversampling DAC [Advantages, Disadvantages]](/sites/default/files/u1/non-oversampling-dac-t.png "NOS DAC. Non-Oversampling DAC [Advantages, Disadvantages]")
![Best Audio Converter Software | How to Choose [Easy Explanation]](/sites/default/files/u1/best-audio-converter.png "Best Audio Converter Software | How to Choose [Easy Explanation]")