Since FLAC is supported by so many different programs, it can be a daunting task for the new user to choose a suitable program. This page will walk you through the steps. First, choose your operating system:
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<li><ahref="#windows">Windows</a></li>
<li><ahref="#osx">Mac OS X</a></li>
<li><ahref="#unix">Linux, *BSD, and other Unixes</a></li>
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<aname="windows">windows</a>
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<b>Using iTunes</b>? Sorry, due to iTunes' design we can't add FLAC support; <ahref="itunes.html">ask Apple to support FLAC!</a><br/>
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<b>If you want to play FLAC files</b>, here is how with some popular players:
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<li><b>Windows Media Player (WMP)</b> - Microsoft does not make it easy, but it is possible if you follow this guide: <ahref="http://www.losslessaudioblog.com/wmpmce-lossless-guide/">How to add FLAC support to Windows Media Player</a></li>
<li><ahref="http://winamp.com/"><b>Winamp</b></a> - Winamp plays FLAC out of the box since version 5.31 if you download the Full version (not Lite).</li>
<li><ahref="http://dbpoweramp.com/dbpoweramp.htm"><b>dbPowerAMP Audio Player</b></a> - Install the <ahref="http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-flac.htm">FLAC plugin</a>.</li>
<li><ahref="http://www.jrmediacenter.com/"><b>Media Center</b></a>/<ahref="http://www.mediajukebox.com/"><b>Media Jukebox</b></a> - Install the <ahref="http://mcplugins.sourceforge.net/in_flac.html">in_FLAC plugin</a>.</li>
<li><ahref="http://mediamonkey.com/"><b>MediaMonkey</b></a> - Plays FLAC out of the box.</li>
<b>If you want to rip CDs to FLAC</b>, here is a short list of the most popular programs. Experts generally prefer EAC for the most accurate ripping. dbPowerAMP also does a fine job and is easier to set up.
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<li><b>Windows Media Player (WMP)</b> - Sorry, Microsoft has made it impossible to rip to FLAC in WMP; hopefully this will change eventually.</li>
<li><ahref="http://winamp.com/"><b>Winamp</b></a> - Winamp can rip to FLAC out of the box since version 5.31 if you download the Full version (not Lite).</li>
<li><ahref="http://dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm"><b>dbPowerAMP Music Converter</b></a> - Install the <ahref="http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-flac.htm">FLAC plugin</a>.</li>
<li><ahref="http://www.jrmediacenter.com/"><b>Media Center</b></a>/<ahref="http://www.mediajukebox.com/"><b>Media Jukebox</b></a> - Install the <ahref="http://mcplugins.sourceforge.net/enc_flac.html">Enc_FLAC plugin</a>.</li>
<li><ahref="http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/"><b>Exact Audio Copy (EAC)</b></a> - First <ahref="http://cyberial.com/flacinstaller.asp">install the official FLAC tools</a>, then follow <ahref="http://wiki.hydrogenaudio.org/index.php?title=EAC_and_Flac">this guide</a>. EAC is notoriously complex so here are some other guides: <ahref="http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=30959">guide</a><ahref="http://wiki.slimdevices.com/index.cgi?EACBeginners">guide</a><ahref="http://www.saunalahti.fi/cse/EAC/index.html">guide</a><ahref="http://www.teqnilogik.com/tutorials/eac.htm">guide</a>. EAC can also be set up with <ahref="http://www.legroom.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Open_Source&file=index&page=software&app=autoflac">AutoFLAC</a>, <ahref="http://omniencoder.autobotcity.net/">Omni Encoder</a>, or <ahref="http://mareo.netfirms.com/">MAREO</a> to rip to FLAC or multiple formats at once.</li>
<li><ahref="http://cdexos.sourceforge.net/"><b>CDex</b></a> - First <ahref="http://cyberial.com/flacinstaller.asp">install the official FLAC tools</a>, then follow <ahref="http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimserver/cdextip.html">this guide</a>.</li>
<b>If you want to burn FLAC files to CD</b>, here is a short list of the most popular programs:
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<li><b>Windows Media Player (WMP)</b> - Sorry, Microsoft has made it impossible to burn FLAC to CD in WMP; hopefully this will change eventually.</li>
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<li><ahref="http://winamp.com/"><b>Winamp</b></a> - Winamp can rip to FLAC out of the box since version 5.31 if you download the Full version (not Lite).</li>
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<li><ahref="http://dbpoweramp.com/cdwriter.htm"><b>dbPowerAMP CD Writer</b></a> - Install the <ahref="http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-flac.htm">FLAC plugin</a>.</li>
<b>If you want to convert audio files to/from FLAC</b>, there are quite a few programs:
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<li><b>Windows Media Player (WMP)</b> - Sorry, Microsoft has made it impossible to burn FLAC to CD in WMP; hopefully this will change eventually.</li>
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<li><ahref="http://winamp.com/"><b>Winamp</b></a> - Winamp can convert to/from FLAC out of the box since version 5.31 if you download the Full version (not Lite).</li>
<li><ahref="http://dbpoweramp.com/dmc.htm"><b>dbPowerAMP Music Converter</b></a> - Install the <ahref="http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-flac.htm">FLAC plugin</a>.</li>
<li>FLAC Frontend - A simple GUI that comes in our <ahref="http://cyberial.com/flacinstaller.asp">FLAC Installer</a> for Windows. Also includes our <ahref="documentation_tools.html">command-line programs</a> for converting FLAC files and editing metadata.</li>
<li><ahref="http://foobar2000.org/"><b>foobar2000</b></a> - A swiss army knife that supports FLAC out of the box.</li>
<li><ahref="http://mac.softpedia.com/get/Audio/MacFLAC.shtml">MacFLAC</a>. Also includes our <ahref="documentation_tools.html">command-line programs</a> for converting FLAC files and editing metadata.</li>
<li><ahref="http://www.chaoticsoftware.com/ProductPages/MediaRage.html">MediaRage</a> can edit FLAC tags.</li>
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In the Unix world, FLAC support is quite widespread and it's usually only a matter of installing packages, so here are a few pointers. See the <ahref="links.html#software">software links section</a> for many more.<br/>
<li><ahref="http://www.amb.org/xmcd/">xmcd</a>: X CD player</li>
<li><ahref="http://www.xmms.org/">XMMS</a>: X MultiMedia System</li>
<li>(<ahref="links.html#software">more</a>)</li>
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<b>To rip CDs to FLAC</b>:
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<li><ahref="http://www.nostatic.org/grip/">Grip</a> is a great ripping and encoding front end and can be easily configured to use flac. See <ahref="http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=1634089&forum_id=5443">this message</a> on how to configure Grip for FLAC.</li>
<li><ahref="http://www.amb.org/xmcd/">xmcd</a> is a CD ripper with CDDB support as well as a player.</li>
<li>(<ahref="links.html#software">more</a>)</li>
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<b>To burn FLAC files to CD</b>, here is a short list of the most popular programs:
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<li><ahref="http://arson.sourceforge.net/">Arson</a>: KDE ripper/burner</li>
<li><ahref="http://www.k3b.org/">K3B</a>: CD/DVD creator for Linux</li>
<li>(<ahref="links.html#software">more</a>)</li>
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<b>To convert audio files to/from FLAC</b>, there are quite a few programs:
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<li>Official <ahref="download.html">FLAC tools</a> have the command-line programs.</li>
