Whilenot quite a free as it would like you to think, Freemake Audio Converter is a good option for anyone converting small batches of audio files for personal use. It's simple to use (if slow), and comes with a minimum of bloatware.
Freemake Audio Converter is - as the name suggests, a (mostly) free way to convert or extract audio. It's the best of the free programs we considered, largely because it's reputable, and doesn't try to instal malware on your computer, or bombard you with pop-up ads when you try to use it. One thing we did notice is that Freemake tries to instal an extra app when you first download it, and you need to actively ask it not to do this. Despite this, Freemake Audio Converter is among the best audio converter software packages you can get right now and, while slower and less efficient than paid-for apps, it's well worth downloading if you only have a handful of files to convert or extract. You should also note that the free version will only convert audio files of three minutes or less, with longer tracks requiring an addition, paid-for, package.
The current version of Freemake Audio Converter supports around 50 audio formats, including the most popular ones like MP3, M4A, AAC, WAV and WMA. You can even convert to more specialized codecs, like WMA Pro and WMA lossless. So, compatibility simply isn't an issue here, and it even puts some premium apps to shame here. It's fully compatible with Windows and Mac, and works on the latest operating systems of both.
One downside to Freemake is that you can only convert audio files less than three minutes long using the free version of this software. For anything longer than that, you need the Infinite Pack, which will currently cost you $39 for a lifetime use. That's good value if you regularly convert audio files, but it feels underhand and hidden when you first download Freemake.
Freemake took almost four minutes to convert a 625MB WAV file to a 26MB MP3 file. That is almost four times slower than the slowest paid software in our guide, so you're also sacrificing speed for cost here.
You can also use Freemake Audio Converter to extract music or audio from video files, which is a nice touch. Again, the list of supported video formats you can rip audio from is extensive, and includes all popular and many rare video file types. MP4, AVI, MKV etc are all fully supported here.
While there are no editing tools or audio effects available in this free software, you can manipulate files using other Freemake tools, which require separate downloads. If you want to extract video files and copy to raw files or DVD, you can use Freemake Video Converter too.
Freemake Audio Converter is a good option for someone with basic conversion needs. You can expect files to convert slowly, and you can only use the free version for shorter audio tracks, but the software is easy to use. It doesn't bundle any malware, and will only try to instal one extra program, which you can opt out of. It offers wide support for audio converting and extraction, so you'll definitely be able to get your audio into whatever format you need. It isn't as free as it first seems but, even then, Freemake does offer decent value if you don't need to convert large batches of audio regularly.
Billy Bommer is a former Top Ten Reviews writer who now works as a technical advisor at Best Buy. He's a keen sax player, and lives in Utah. Billy also has a BS from Weber State University in Communications and Media Studies. His areas of expertise are diverse, and he has a particular passion for AV and audio tech."}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Billy BommerSocial Links NavigationTTR ContributorBilly Bommer is a former Top Ten Reviews writer who now works as a technical advisor at Best Buy. He's a keen sax player, and lives in Utah. Billy also has a BS from Weber State University in Communications and Media Studies. His areas of expertise are diverse, and he has a particular passion for AV and audio tech.
I have a collection of M4A files that I would like to convert to FLAC for compatibility and quality reasons. However, I am unsure of the best method or software to accomplish this conversion. I have been searching online for solutions, but the instructions I have found have been confusing or outdated.
Absolutely, converting M4A files to FLAC is pretty straightforward, and there are a bunch of tools out there that can do the job. Since you're on Windows, I've got a couple of suggestions that should make the process smooth sailing.
1. AudioKies: This is a powerful software that can handle audio editing and conversion. It supports a wide range of formats, including M4A and FLAC. After you install Audacity, open your M4A files in it, and then export them as FLAC. It's pretty user-friendly, and there are tons of tutorials out there if you get stuck.
2. Fre:ac: Another solid choice is Fre:ac (free audio converter). It's free, open-source, and super straightforward for converting audio files. It supports batch processing, which is a lifesaver if you have a ton of files to convert. Just load your M4A files, select FLAC as the output format, and let it do its thing.
For sure! Converting M4A files to FLAC is a pretty straightforward task once you've got the right tools. On a Windows computer, I'd recommend you check out Audacity or Freemake Audio Converter. Both are solid options.
Audacity is awesome because it's free, open-source, and super versatile. It's primarily an audio editing software but does a great job with conversions. You'll need to install the FFmpeg library to work with M4A files, but once that's set up, you're golden. Just open your M4A file, and then export it as FLAC. Easy peasy!
Freemake Audio Converter is another great choice, especially if you're looking for something with a more straightforward conversion process. It's user-friendly, and you can batch convert multiple files at once, which is a huge time-saver if you've got a big collection. The only downside is that it might try to bundle additional software during installation, so just keep an eye out during the setup process and opt out of anything you don't want.
1. Use a free online converter: Websites such as CloudConvert and Online-Convert offer free online conversion services for M4A to FLAC. Simply upload your M4A files, choose FLAC as the output format, and the converter will do the rest.
2. Convert M4A to WAV first, then to FLAC: Some audio converters, such as Foobar2000, do not support direct M4A to FLAC conversion. In this case, you can convert your M4A files to WAV first, then convert the WAV files to FLAC.
3. Use iTunes: If you have an Apple device, you can use iTunes to convert M4A to FLAC. First, go to Edit > Preferences > Import Settings and select "Import Using" as "FLAC Encoder". Then, select the M4A file you want to convert, right-click on it and select "Create FLAC Version".
Freemake Video Converter, among the best free DVD rippers out there, provides a good selection of output options, including AVI, WMV, MPG and MP4. It can also burn videos to DVD or Blu-ray, and has preset profile for games consoles, smartphones and tablets. You can even export the video straight to YouTube (if you need even more tools, take a look at our roundup of the best free video editing software).
Note that when you first install Freemake Video Converter, some features (including converting YouTube videos) will be locked. After three days you'll receive a free Web Pack as a gift, which will lift this restriction. Look out for a notification in the System Tray to see when the Web Pack is available.
You'll then be prompted to choose a few settings to ensure the converted file is the necessary quality. You'll be offered a set of handy presets that you can adjust manually if necessary, with options including frame size, video and audio codecs, bitrate and sample rate.
It's all extremely easy to use, and no specialist knowledge is required. The only real downside is the need to wait three days for the free Web Pack to unlock all of the advanced features, but if you can live with that, you'll be hard pressed to find a more straightforward and convenient video downloader and converter.
Cat is Homes Editor on TechRadar, specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a journalist for 15 years, and is here to help you choose the right tech for your home, get the best deals, and do more with your new devices. She has previously covered sports technology and software for TechRadar, and was editor on outdoor leisure site Advnture.com."}), " -0-10/js/authorBio.js"); } else console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); Cat EllisSocial Links NavigationHomes EditorCat is Homes Editor on TechRadar, specializing in kitchen appliances and smart home technology. She's been a journalist for 15 years, and is here to help you choose the right tech for your home, get the best deals, and do more with your new devices. She has previously covered sports technology and software for TechRadar, and was editor on outdoor leisure site Advnture.com.
Freemake Free Audio Converter is a powerful software with a number of remarkable and realistic qualities. The complete audio converter solution has proven to be a pizzazz which can unlock literally any type of media files and releasing them up for playback.
Ellora Assets Corporation known for their free products titled Freemake Video Converter and Freemake Video Downloader, have released a new software bundle this time focused on our audio needs. Following the same idea of offering all the necessary tools into a single application, Freemake Audio Converter is more than a simple audio converter.
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