Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. It's a free, open source standard for compressing audio files. It's popular because it's lossless: Storing your tunes as FLAC files preserves their quality better than more "lossy" standards, including MP3s. While many media players handle FLAC files, plenty of portable devices don't. If you store digital music as FLAC files but your portable player doesn't play them, you'll need to convert them to MP3s first. For that job, you'll need a tool like PolySoft's Free FLAC to MP3 Converter. It's totally simple to use.
Free FLAC to MP3 Converter's user interface is small and simple, with no other controls, options, or settings beyond those immediately accessible. We could drag and drop files into the main window or click Add and browse to our FLAC files, or click Remove to delete them from the list. We tried both methods. The next step after adding our files was to select an output folder by changing the selection from Same, which saves converted files to the same folder as the source file, to Other, and then browsing to a new destination folder. Then it was a simple matter of pressing Convert to MP3 to process our batch. That's about all there is to the program's interface and functionality.
Free FLAC to MP3 Converter did the job quickly enough, though of course your system's resources will bear on the conversion speed. Our converted MP3s played normally in our usual media player. Did we notice a difference in the sound quality? Not really; at least, not an obvious or dramatic one. But then, going from FLAC to MP3 isn't a huge step: both are high-compression formats, not high-fidelity, and are designed to maximize storage space, not sound quality. But it's hard to imagine a simpler solution to the task at hand than Free FLAC to MP3 Converter. Stripped-down? Maybe, but we like simple software for simple tasks: Too many tools take longer to set up than to do their jobs. With Free FLAC to MP3 Converter, you're in and out while the other guy is still reading the signs.
Publisher's Description
From PolySoft Solutions:
Free FLAC to MP3 Converter offers an easy way to convert all your FLAC audio files to MP3. The program's interface is very simple. Just add the files you want to convert to the list (you can drag and drop them directly from Windows Explorer), select the output folder, and then click the convert button.
More Products to Consider
-
Emulate up to 18 DVD/BD drives.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert CDs to MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, FLAC formats, convert audio ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert M4A/AAC into MP3/WAV format.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Create, edit, burn, mount, and encrypt CD, DVD, and BD image fi...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Mix, scratch, and remix MP3 or music videos live.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Rip CDs, convert audio files, and burn discs easily.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert audio between formats such as MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, M4A, ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert between WAV and mp3, wma, ogg, and FLAC.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Get fast and flexible digital-media playback with access to sma...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert FLAC into MP3 audio format fast and easily.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert DVD movies to all the popular video or audio formats wi...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert FLAC to MP3 via simple right-click.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Burn the files and images on CD and DVD discs.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Cut desired parts from your MP3 files.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert FLAC files to various other formats.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert FLAC files into MP3, WMA, and WMV files.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Burn CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Play video and audio files, convert to other file formats, burn...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert all your FLAC files to the standard MP3 file.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert MP4 and M4A files to MP3 audio.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Copy DVD to iPod, iPhone, 3GP, PSP, Zune, HD TV, AVI, Divx, Xvi...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert audio files among multiple audio formats and extract au...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert and backup DVDs to AVI, DivX, iPod, iPhone, iPad, WMV, ...DownloadInstalled
Smart Install -
Convert FLAC audio format to MP3 with preview feature.DownloadInstalled
Smart Install
-
All versions:
3.0 starsout of 68 votes
-
Current version:
3.0 starsout of 68 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
-
"No, no, and also no."
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
There really aren't any.
Cons
It tried to install spyware on my computer (running a virus scan now, just to make sure), and the FLAC files it attempted to convert turned out to total crap.
Summary
You shouldn't even think about downloading this. Get LAME MP3 or something.
-
"DO NOT INSTALL - INSTALLS ALLSORTS OF CRAP"
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
It does covert flac to mp3 but it also installs so much spyware, adware, malware, allsorts! Pretty disgraceful. I will never use CNET/Download again!
Cons
It also installs so much spyware, adware, malware, allsorts! Disgraceful. I will never use CNET/Download again!
Summary
DO NOT INSTALL - INSTALLS ALLSORTS OF CRAP
-
"Good, but could be better."
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
It does what it's suppose to do.. i needed it for simple conversion of FLAC files to standard mp3's. Job done. Hard to find a free software these days that will do this.. a few years ago it was easy.. AVS, but now it and many others have watermark stamps on them and also a bad conversion quality.
Cons
It installs a couple of games (not virus') onto your computer, which annoyingly take a couple of minutes to remove through the control panel. list all programs by date installed, then work your way done for fast removal.
Summary
Download! but only if you can be bothered reading the instructions when installing.. if you click next next next like some of the users above then it will install hard to remove pluggins for your browsers. but if you choice custom install and uncheck a few boxes you should be right.
-
"doesnt't works, trying to install spyware"
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
nothing good here
Cons
i'm experienced user but i can't convert any files. something broken
-
"WARNING!! Installs toolbars and changes your settings!!"
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
The actual converter works for your basic converting needs.
Cons
Installs like 3 or 4 different programs with it without asking permission. Installs tool-bars on all the browsers you have installed. Changes existing search engines, changes homepages. intalled somethin called "conduit" and something called "nightshade", cant remember the other names.
Summary
It put crap on my firefox, ie 9, and chrome. If I knew it would have done all that I would NOT have installed it. I wont download from download.com again. I would rate this "0" or less if I could.
-
"A good basic program"
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
The program was very easy to use.
Cons
I wish that there was a way to edit the song titles and other song info.
Summary
A good program
-
"Do not install, riddled with dangerous software"
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
Converter worked but see below. I suspect the only reason it has some positive reviews is because people are unaware of the damage the download does.
Cons
This download installs several dangerous pieces of software without warning. These include: dangerous browser plugins that interfere and disrupt your security, loggers, spamware, mailware the lot. Absolutely avoid.
Summary
This software should be removed from downloads!
-
"DON'T INSTALL, FULL OF SPYWARE"
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
Shame on you
Cons
Spent an hour trying to pluck this garbage out.
-
"Elegantly simple. Direct interface, no distractions."
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
This is single purpose software and it does an excellent job. The gui is very direct, uncluttered and to the point.
Cons
I can't come up with any negatives.
Summary
If every piece of software did exactly what it claimed it could do then this would be a better world.(did I say that?) This is an excellent piece of software that does what it claims it can do! How unique. Oh, and it's free.
-
"Spyware, do not download"
Version: Free FLAC to MP3 Converter 1.0
Pros
None, it includes malware.
Cons
It installed three different forms of spyware on my computer without my permission. I have uninstalled it.
Summary
I'm surprised cnet let this through. I thought they were better about having malware free software.
