FLAC stands for the Free Lossless Audio Codec. Created in 2001 by a dedicated group of developers led by Josh Coalson, FLAC has surpassed Shorten (SHN) as the most popular lossless audio codec in use today. The FLAC project is now under the direction of Xiph.org.
Many people contributed countless hours to create FLAC; I just (used to) maintain an installer to help keep things easy for Windows users. If you're a MacOS user, Scott Brown has created an handy audio tool for OS X called xACT.
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Most Recent: FLAC Installer for Windows
Version History
12.1.2006 - v1.1.3a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.3
* Moved Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to an optional web download component. As of Winamp v5.31, FLAC playback is standard and should already be installed for most users
* Removed Foobar FLAC encoder plugin
* Updated Tag to v2.0.47
* Updated installer to NSIS v2.21 (Windows Vista support)
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.3
* Moved Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to an optional web download component. As of Winamp v5.31, FLAC playback is standard and should already be installed for most users
* Removed Foobar FLAC encoder plugin
* Updated Tag to v2.0.47
* Updated installer to NSIS v2.21 (Windows Vista support)
2.5.2005 - v1.1.2a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.2
* Updated Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to official v1.1.2 release (improved configuration options)
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Decoder Plugin to v1.0.16
10.1.2004 - v1.1.1a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.1
* Will now install/update flac.exe and metaflac.exe in the System32 folder (useful for SHNtool)
* Updated Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to official v1.1.1 release (improved configuration options)
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Decoder Plugin to v1.0.16
* More sane Frontend defaults
* Upgraded installer to NSIS v2
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.1
* Will now install/update flac.exe and metaflac.exe in the System32 folder (useful for SHNtool)
* Updated Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to official v1.1.1 release (improved configuration options)
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Decoder Plugin to v1.0.16
* More sane Frontend defaults
* Upgraded installer to NSIS v2
1.27.2004 - v1.1.0m
* Re-added the Gapless Output Plugin v1.5 for Winamp2/Winamp5, due to popular demand
* Updated Tag to version 2.0.39
* Added wording to indicate that this installer plays nice with Winamp5
* Updated Winamp2/Winamp5 shortcut cleanup for Winamp5 installs
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Encoder Plugin
* Re-added the Gapless Output Plugin v1.5 for Winamp2/Winamp5, due to popular demand
* Updated Tag to version 2.0.39
* Added wording to indicate that this installer plays nice with Winamp5
* Updated Winamp2/Winamp5 shortcut cleanup for Winamp5 installs
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Encoder Plugin
v1.1.0l --- skipped to avoid confusion between "l" and "1"
10.1.2003 - v1.1.0k
* The runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX have once again been removed from the installer. Most people have these system files already, but if you don't, they will be automatically downloaded for you (so long as you're not behind an authenticating proxy server - If you are, please email -email-)
* Due to popular demand, FLAC Installer will now install its files to your 'Program Files' directory, rather than your Windows system directory. As a result:
* Added auto-uninstaller when upgrading an existing install
* Added Foobar2000 FLAC Encoder Plugin
* Updated the FLAC plugin for Nero to v1.0.0.33
* Cleaned up Add/Remove Programs text
* Pimped the FLAC icon (.ico) file
* Added basic FLAC Installer troubleshooting
* Upgraded installer to nsis20b3
* The runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX have once again been removed from the installer. Most people have these system files already, but if you don't, they will be automatically downloaded for you (so long as you're not behind an authenticating proxy server - If you are, please email -email-)
* Due to popular demand, FLAC Installer will now install its files to your 'Program Files' directory, rather than your Windows system directory. As a result:
* Added auto-uninstaller when upgrading an existing install
* Added Foobar2000 FLAC Encoder Plugin
* Updated the FLAC plugin for Nero to v1.0.0.33
* Cleaned up Add/Remove Programs text
* Pimped the FLAC icon (.ico) file
* Added basic FLAC Installer troubleshooting
* Upgraded installer to nsis20b3
7.1.2003 - v1.1.0j
* Added FLAC Uninstaller to the Add/Remove Programs menu, amongst other uninstaller enhancements
* Added option to download Winamp2 if it isn't already installed
* Fixed the Nero install check
* Tweaks to the FLAC Skin for Winamp2
* Added a FLAC Frontend shortcut to the Quicklaunch bar
* Changed the way the FLAC Frontend runtimes register themselves in XP... this was a major headache for a small number of users
6.27.2003 - v1.1.0i
* Added a FLAC Skin for Winamp2
* Updated Tag to version 2.0.39b
* Cleaned up the installer options and made FLAC Frontend Runtimes a seperate (optional) component
* Removed the Frontend config (.ini) file due to a potential display error.
* Added a FLAC Skin for Winamp2
* Updated Tag to version 2.0.39b
* Cleaned up the installer options and made FLAC Frontend Runtimes a seperate (optional) component
* Removed the Frontend config (.ini) file due to a potential display error.
6.24.2003 - v1.1.0h
* Updated the the AOL shortcut icon cleanup routine
* Removed the Nero check, since it gave false errors in some flavors of windows. Fear not, if you have Nero installed, the FLAC plugin will be installed.
* Welcome to FLAC, Phishies!
* Updated the the AOL shortcut icon cleanup routine
* Removed the Nero check, since it gave false errors in some flavors of windows. Fear not, if you have Nero installed, the FLAC plugin will be installed.
* Welcome to FLAC, Phishies!
6.20.2003 - v1.1.0g
* Uggg... I added the runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX back into the installer. Apparently many versions of windows complain if these files aren't included. The status quo has returned.
* Uggg... I added the runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX back into the installer. Apparently many versions of windows complain if these files aren't included. The status quo has returned.
6.20.2003 - v1.1.0f
* Added the option to remove AOL shortcut links left by the Winamp 2.91 install
* Removed the runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX.
* Added the option to remove AOL shortcut links left by the Winamp 2.91 install
* Removed the runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX.
6.6.2003 - v1.1.0e
* Added the Nero AudioPlugin for FLAC v1.0.0.26 (nxMyFLA.dll) Huge props to -email- for this plugin! NOTE: This will allow you to burn FLAC files directly to audio CD without converting to WAV! The Nero plugin for FLAC will also let you extract/rip audio CD's directly to FLAC, but I suggest using EAC for that, of course
* Added the Nero AudioPlugin for FLAC v1.0.0.26 (nxMyFLA.dll) Huge props to -email- for this plugin! NOTE: This will allow you to burn FLAC files directly to audio CD without converting to WAV! The Nero plugin for FLAC will also let you extract/rip audio CD's directly to FLAC, but I suggest using EAC for that, of course
6.6.2003 - v1.1.0d
* Updated the Winamp2 FLAC Playback plugin to v1.0beta7
- updated to the lastest FLAC code
- added support for medialibrary (readonly)
- fixed infobox crash with some files
- fixed hanging when seeking beyond the end of file
- more accurate bitrate display
- small interface changes
- some internal changes
* Removed the Gapless output plugin for Winamp2... Technically, FLAC is a gapless format, and this plugin is redundant.
* Updated the Winamp2 FLAC Playback plugin to v1.0beta7
- updated to the lastest FLAC code
- added support for medialibrary (readonly)
- fixed infobox crash with some files
- fixed hanging when seeking beyond the end of file
- more accurate bitrate display
- small interface changes
- some internal changes
* Removed the Gapless output plugin for Winamp2... Technically, FLAC is a gapless format, and this plugin is redundant.
3.3.2003 - v1.1.0c
* Updated the Winamp2 FLAC Playback plugin to v1.0beta6 (thanks to Josh and X-Fixer for the update!)
* Updated the FLAC Frontend configuration file with more logical default settings.
* Updated the Winamp2 FLAC Playback plugin to v1.0beta6 (thanks to Josh and X-Fixer for the update!)
* Updated the FLAC Frontend configuration file with more logical default settings.
1.29.2003 - v1.1.0b
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.7 with etree-specific Frontend by Speek (big ups for helping us out!)
* Etree-Specific frontend adds the --sector-align and fingerprint functionality.
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.7 with etree-specific Frontend by Speek (big ups for helping us out!)
* Etree-Specific frontend adds the --sector-align and fingerprint functionality.
1.26.2003 - v1.1.0a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.0 release (flac.exe, flac_mac.exe, flac_ren.exe, metaflac.exe) and the Winamp2 plugin (in_flac.dll).
NOTE: The Winamp2 plugin now allows users to read/edit the the Title, Artist, Album, etc. meta data within .flac files!!!
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.7 (lost FLAC fingerprint functionality and FLAC icon, Frontend author emailed)
* Added Tag v2.0.36 files for tagging functionality (Tag.exe, Tag.cfg, Tag.txt)
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.0 release (flac.exe, flac_mac.exe, flac_ren.exe, metaflac.exe) and the Winamp2 plugin (in_flac.dll).
NOTE: The Winamp2 plugin now allows users to read/edit the the Title, Artist, Album, etc. meta data within .flac files!!!
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.7 (lost FLAC fingerprint functionality and FLAC icon, Frontend author emailed)
* Added Tag v2.0.36 files for tagging functionality (Tag.exe, Tag.cfg, Tag.txt)
9.26.2002 - v1.0.4a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.0.4 release (flac.exe, flac_mac.exe, flac_ren.exe, metaflac.exe) and the Winamp2 plugin (in_flac.dll).
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.0.4 release (flac.exe, flac_mac.exe, flac_ren.exe, metaflac.exe) and the Winamp2 plugin (in_flac.dll).
8.5.2002 - v1.0.3 beta4
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.6.0 alpha (added Export FLAC Fingerprint functionality)
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.6.0 alpha (added Export FLAC Fingerprint functionality)
8.2.2002 - v1.0.3 beta3
* Added prompt that allows selection of the install directory
* Moved the Gapless Output plugin to it's own menu selection
* Added FLAC Frontend v1.5.1 (minor bugfix release)
* Added FLAC Frontend Readme
* Added win2dos.exe (component for FLAC Frontend to translate Latin characters to DOS ASCII characters)
* Tightened up text
* Added prompt that allows selection of the install directory
* Moved the Gapless Output plugin to it's own menu selection
* Added FLAC Frontend v1.5.1 (minor bugfix release)
* Added FLAC Frontend Readme
* Added win2dos.exe (component for FLAC Frontend to translate Latin characters to DOS ASCII characters)
* Tightened up text
8.2.2002 - v1.0.3 beta2
* Added FLAC authors and license texts to the install directory
* Fixed Uninstaller so it now removes .flac file associtaions and right-click menus
* Added FLAC authors and license texts to the install directory
* Fixed Uninstaller so it now removes .flac file associtaions and right-click menus
8.1.2002 - v1.0.3 beta1
* Inital public pre-release
* includes:
FLAC v1.0.3: flac.exe, metaflac.exe and new FLAC icon
FLAC Winamp 2.x output plugin, file associations, and right-click menu playback
FLAC Frontend v1.5
Gapless Output Plugin v1.5
Start menu and desktop shortcuts for FLAC Frontend
* Inital public pre-release
* includes:
FLAC v1.0.3: flac.exe, metaflac.exe and new FLAC icon
FLAC Winamp 2.x output plugin, file associations, and right-click menu playback
FLAC Frontend v1.5
Gapless Output Plugin v1.5
Start menu and desktop shortcuts for FLAC Frontend
The old FLAC
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