How to Extract ISO to FLAC on Mac, Windows [Read Quick Start]

Tutorials

ISO to FLAC conversion is intended to provide playback format, sample rate, channel number compatibility of music files with audiophile equipment, portable players or mobile phones.

ISO audio file to FLAC extracting

To convert ISO (1-bit, aka SACD ISO) to FLAC:

Start conversion software ♫ AuI ConverteR 48x44.

[Download for Windows] [ Download for Mac ]
Open .iso file. *
Select target FLAC format at the main window Format panel.
Select sample rate.
Select bit depth.
When target bit depth is 16 bit, dithering ON is recommended.
(for higher resolutions Dither button will ignored)
Select target directory. (watch video)
At the main window > Album art tab assign album artwork file. **
Push Start button.
Wait until end of conversion.
(Converted stuff is placed in the target directory)

WARNING: AuI ConverteR 48x44 don't support DVD-audio and DVD-video.

Look at minimal price of ISO to DSF converter (from $77.7***) >

Watch video: How to Convert ISO (1-bit audio) to FLAC files

* (at first time conversion or after codec reset, codec auto downloading will requested). View details about first time conversion below.

** if available in purchased software configuration (check the extractor software configurations)

*** All prices at this page in the U.S. dollars without V.A.T. and other applicable taxes. The prices are recommended.

Tutorial video: Target Directory Management

Read how to extract ISO faster >

Read below: conversion sound quality issues.

Check user manual: stereo and multichannel extraction >

Prepare to conversion

Check AuI ConverteR 48x44 configurations, that ISOs to FLACs capable >

To check sound quality download FREE demo version.

Read below about conversion sound quality issues.

Launch the converting tool
Open Settings > CD ripper/ISO tab (see below)
Select stereo/multichannel target stuff - check/uncheck Force read stereo track switch, respectively
(read details in Sound quality issues part of this article)
Skip pause before first track: check Skip pause for first ISO track switch
Skip pause between tracks: check Skip pause for all tracks switch
Between tracks pauses may contains. Sometimes clicks contains into the pauses.
Click OK button
To convert live concert, opera and same albums: at the software's main window > Parameters tab > check True gapless mode switch *

Set output format

Set output format

Assign artwork in target files: Album artwork panel

Sound quality issues

Converting of ISO files to FLAC is sigma-delta (a.k.a. DSD) demodulation. DSD demodulator is low frequency filter.

There is no strong standard of the filter to achieve proper result. Practically we can vary filtering band to achieve the best result at our equipment.

AuI ConverteR give 3 filter band optionally from 20 kHz to 100 kHz. Band width may be limited depending on input or output sample rates. Output sample rate limit target signal band.

Bit depth and sample rate of converted files may give different playback quality at your system. It is bound with different playback modes for combinations "bit depth + sample rate".

In general, you can convert to file in maximal sample rate and bit depth of your DAC. But it don't guarantee, that you get the best result. Read details about music conversion and sound quality issues.

Extraction into PCM format perform downsampling. Downsampling processing based on filtering with varying settings.

At Settings > General tab > set Filter mode:

- "Optimized resampling filter" remove frequency range upper 20 kHz (ultrasound eliminating so that remove intermodulation distortions);
- "Non-Optimized resampling filter" suppress signal upper 20...24 kHz (defined by input/output sample rates) - ultrasound eliminating so that remove intermodulation distortions, wider signal band;
- "Non-Optimized wide resampling filter" suppress signal upper 20...100 kHz (defined by input/output sample rates) so that provide wider band of musical signal.

At some equipment software "Non-Optimized..." modes can cause audible noise, like here >.

Therefore "Optimized..." mode is recommended as first choice. However you can prefer other settings.

Use minimum phase filter switch checked/unchecked minimum/linear phase filtering in "Optimized..." mode. Other modes implemented as linear only.

Dithering is applied on extracting to 16 bit output resolution only. If target resolution is 24 bit and more (including float point), Dither button is ignored.

Tips and tricks

In the Settings > General tab:

FLAC compressing slider: set several compression levels. As rule, slider position altering give minimal effect. Central slider position is recommended. Level don't impact to sound quality.
Filter mode list: "Optimized resampling filter" is recommended. "Non-optimized ..." and "Non-optimized wide..." may cause noise and distortions.
Use minimum phase filter... switch unchecking is recommended.
Dithering mask depth... slider recommended set to most left position.