Uncompress FLAC to WAV

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

I’m completely new to Audacity.

From what I’ve seen on Google, WAV is uncompressed and therefore a better format to edit in. I am trying to find out how to decompress FLAC to WAV.

I searched convert FLAC to WAV, uncompress FLAC to WAV and decompress FLAC to WAV, with no helpful results. Google seems to indicate there is a way to export to WAV, but it is almost always written as WAV/mp3, and I’m trying to make sure I get the best result from FLAC for editing.

At this point, I’m simply trying to snip pieces of songs and put them together.

Windows XP
Audacity.EXE
GA-EP45-UD3P Motherboard with Realtek ALC889A codec
K-Lite Codec Pack installed

Thanks.

2

Set the project rate bottom left to what you want (this will be the sample rate of the exported file(s).

File > Export… .

In “Save as type”, choose “WAV (Microsoft) signed 16 bit PCM”. If you want some other type of WAV, choose “Other uncompressed files” instead, then press “Options…” to change encoding parameters. See http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/file_export_dialog.html .

If you want to join the files in Audacity before exporting, see http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_editing.html#join .



Gale

3

For editing in Audacity there is no need to manually convert from FLAC to WAV. Audacity will automatically uncompress FLAC files when you import them into Audacity.
FLAC is a “lossless” compressed format so the quality when working with FLAC files is just as good as working with WAV.

4

A more valid reason for preferring WAV to FLAC is perhaps that not every audio application will play FLAC out-of-the-box.


Gale

5

Audacity works (and can save) in its own specialist format.
When you open a file whether flac or wav Audacity converts it into it’s own format (I think).
You then decide how to save it when you export. Other posts have already suggested the range of options.
I tend to save projects in wav or flac depending on whether I think I’m likely to want to make a CD or not.

6

On the forum we generally prefer to use the term “Save” to refer to “Saving Audacity Projects” and the term “Export” for “creating normal audio files”.
The “Save” vs “Export” issue is described in detail here: Audacity Manual