Extract SACD ISO to FLAC [Mac Windows Definitive Guide]

Read quick start guide:

How to rip SACD ISO to FLAC?

Sound quality matters

Tips

Frequently Asked Questions

DSD ISO, SACD ISO to FLAC conversion is intended to adapt of playback format, sample rate, channel number of music files for audiophile equipment, portable players or mobile phones. Read step-by-step how to rip sacd .iso file to FLAC and about sound quality comparison.

SACD ISO to FLAC extracting (ripping)

To convert SACD ISO to FLAC file:

Start conversion software ♫ AuI ConverteR 48x44.

Download FREE
[Windows]

Download FREE
[Mac]
Open SACD .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 be ignored)
Select target directory. (watch video, read manual)
At the main window > Album art tab assign album artwork file. **
Push the Start button.
Wait until the end of conversion.
(Converted (ripped) stuff is placed in the target directory)
If you got audible artefacts and distortions, it is rather overload issue.
In Settings > General > "Output attenuator" field, set "-3 dB" or "-6 dB" or use peak level normalization** to achieve maximal loudness.
Read how to extract selected tracks...
Read more about troubleshooting...

WARNING: AuI ConverteR 48x44 doesn't support DVD-audio/video, Blue-Ray.
AuI ConverteR process too long file names and paths, non-Latin and forbidden characters (created from metadata) for successful output file writing. Third-party utility decode SACD ISO for additional processing with AuI ConverteR. Read the whole page carefully.

Watch and share: How to SACD ISO to FLAC files

* (at first time conversion or after codec reset, auto downloading of the codec will be 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 and fees. The prices are recommended. Information on this page is not a public offer.

WARNING: DVD-audio/video, Blue-Ray, DVD/BlueRay/CD ISO are NOT supported.
For Modula-R version, SACD ISO, DSF, DFF are supported in proper configurations.
For ISO tracks, DSF, DFF longer 3 minutes, FREE demo mutes 2-second silence in the output middle, and has other restrictions

Sound quality issues

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

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

AuI ConverteR provides 3 filter bands: optionally from 20 kHz to 100 kHz. Bandwidth may be limited depending on input or output sample rates. Output sample rate limit target signal band.

AuI ConverteR vs a converter software: DSD64 to PCM 44.1 kHz aliases

In the ideal case, should not be repeatable lines with lower brightness. These lines show audible distortions, that correlate with the original signal.

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

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

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

At Settings > General tab > set Filter mode:

- "Optimized resampling filter" removes 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 a wider band of a musical signal.

At some equipment software "Non-Optimized..." modes can cause audible noise, like in this video.

Watch and share: Removing noise from high-resolution file

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

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

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

Pricing

AuI ConverteR has several price/functionality options, that allow to save your budget for the required functionality. You can expand Modula-R abilities later via purchasing new modules.

* All prices at this page in the U.S. dollars without V.A.T. and other applicable taxes and fees. The prices are recommended. Information on this page is not a public offer.

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[MINIMUM PRICE Modula-R's module kit]
unlimited-time license, paid major updates(... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x ...);
convert SACD ISO, DSF/DFF(up to DSD128) to FLAC, WAV and other PCM (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit, 32 bit float)

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[RECOMMENDED Modula-R's module kit]
unlimited-time license, paid major updates(... 10.x > 11.x > 12.x ...);
convert SACD ISO, DSF / DFF (up to DSD512) to FLAC, WAV and other PCM (up to 192 kHz, 24 bit, 32 bit float)
with parallel processing, true gapless mode, level normalization, artwork assigning.

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Tips and tricks

In the Settings > General tab:

FLAC compressing slider: set several compression levels. As rule, slider position altering gives minimum effect. The central slider position is recommended. The level doesn't impact sound quality.
Filter mode list: "Optimized resampling filter" is recommended. "Non-optimized ..." and "Non-optimized wide..." may cause noise and distortions.
"Optimized G5" is most recommended filter. However, it works significantly slower than previous ones.
Read more...
Use minimum phase filter... switch unchecking is recommended.
Dithering mask depth... slider recommended set to the most left position. If you convert to 16 bit, in the main window of AuI ConverteR, compare sounding with Dither button ON and OFF.
Read more...

However, your individual choices may be other, than recommended here.

Check more about sound quality issues >

Conversion tweaks

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 contain. Sometimes clicks contain 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

Assign artwork in target files: Album artwork panel

Read educational articles about SACD ISO and FLAC musical files:

Additional information

SACD to ISO ripping software and its manual described here

SACD ripper on PS3 console described here

Free Lossless Audio Codec site here

Frequently asked questions

Can I rip SACD to FLAC? Can you rip SACD audio? How do you rip SACD? How do I extract music from SACD ISO? Can you convert an ISO file?

SACD [optical disk] ripping is applied on special hardware tools to SACD ISO or DSF files. You can convert:

SACD ISO to FLAC; or
DSF to FLAC.

When you rip SACD optical disk to audio files (.dsf, .dff), long path/name of an extracted file, non-Latin symbols (in metadata) may cause an error of the file creation.

Also, read definitive manual...

How rip SACD ISO to FLAC? How do I convert a SACD disc image to FLAC? How do I convert ISO files to FLAC?

How to rip SACD ISO to FLAC file read here...

Can SACD be copied?

SACD optical disc cannot be read via an ordinary computer disk drive.

As the author know, some Sony Vaio laptops are capable to playback SACD. But it can't be stored as DSD files.

There are several ways to copy SACD to DSD files...

How do I rip SACD to my computer?

To rip SACD optical disk to a computer, special software and hardware is need.

Usual optical disk drive is not capable to this work..

Read how to rip SACD optical disk...

Read how to rip SACD ISO...

How do you convert SACD to DSD?

SACD optical disk may be ripped to SACD ISO or DSF/DFF...

If SACD ISO is ripped to DSF/DFF, some issues may be there. Also, clicks and pops are possible.

To solve some of these issues, you can rip SACD optical disk to .iso file and convert the SACD ISO to DSD...

How do I extract audio from an ISO file? How do I extract a SACD file?

You can extract:

SACD ISO to FLAC; or
SACD ISO to DSF.

Can I rip SACD audio? Can an audio converter rip SACD?

SACD ripping may be possible via some hardware. Read information about SACD ripping...

How do I extract tracks from SACD?

To rip SACD optical disk, special hardware and software is need.

To extract separate tracks from SACD ISO file, you can select the tracks before extraction.

What is SACD ISO extractor?

SACD ISO extractor is software to convert SACD ISO file to separate audio files.

What is SACD ISO?

SACD ISO is a file, that contains DSD (Direct Stream Digital) audio and metadata from SACD optical disk.

Read about DSD files...

How do I open an ISO file with SACD?

SACD ISO is a file may be:

played back via audio player; or
converted to DSD, PCM, FLAC, mp3 and other files.

How do you convert SACD to DSD?

SACD optical disk may be ripped with special equipment...

The ripping result is either SACD ISO or DSF or DFF (DSD files). However, ripping to ISO is more recommended due to long path and other issues when the target file is DSF/DFF. Ripped SACD ISO may be converted to DSF or DFF.

How do I convert ISO to DSD?

Read how to convert ISO to DSD files...

Can I convert SACD to FLAC?

Optical SACD disk may be ripped to SACD ISO file. The file may be converted to FLAC.

Can you convert DSD to FLAC?

Read guides how to convert DSD audio:

Can I play SACD on my computer?

In general, no. However, some SONY VAIO computers have SACD abilities.

How do I convert DSF to FLAC?

You can use audio conversion software to convert DSF to FLAC...

What is DSF format?

DSF format is a kind of audiophile music files, that contains DSD audio data and information about a song, including artworks.

How do I open a DSF file?

Read how to open DSF file...

How do I convert a DFF file?

You can convert DFF file to:

Is DSD better than FLAC? Is DSD better than PCM?

Both formats can bring the same sound advantages. Actually, played recording and audio equipment makes result.

Can VLC play DSF?

Still no information, that author knows, about the implementation of DSF file playback on VLC.

Which is better DSD or FLAC?

We should discuss: which is better DSD or PCM (FLAC is included). In theory, DSD system desing is simpler. In the real world, there are subtle details. So, there is no single answer to the question. System design makes sound.

Is SACD better than CD?

SACD is one of DSD formats. DSD allows reducing audio processing number from recording microphone to loudspeakers.

Theoretically, lesser items lesser distortions. But, the actual result is depending on the design of the given audio system.

Is FLAC better than SACD?

FLAC is PCM format. SACD is DSD format. Both formats has balance between advantages and disadvantages for each of implementations. It define sound quality for each given case. Read more...

Is WAV or FLAC better?

Commonly, FLAC is more recommended because no sound quality difference, but the lesser size and wider device compatibility (by metadata) of FLAC is there.

However, if you want to use high resolutions above 352/384 kHz, WAV allows to do it.

How do I play DSF files on Foobar?

How to play DSF and SACD ISO on foobar2000 read DSD guide...

How do I open a SACD ISO file?

Read SACD ISO playback [foobar2000] guide...
Look at DSD audio player list...
Look at audio converter list...
How to convert ISO to FLAC...
How to convert ISO to DSF...

Does AuI ConverteR contain its own SACD ISO extract codec?

Third-party sacd_extract codec or other utility, compatible with AuI ConverteR, connected as command-line utility, decodes SACD ISO for further processing with AuI ConverteR. Read more about codecs...