What is the difference between FLAC and WAV?

FLAC compresses audio losslessly, reducing file size by about half while preserving every bit. WAV is uncompressed and takes up more space. Both store the exact same audio data.

Do I need a special CD drive to rip to FLAC?

No. Any standard optical drive works. Secure ripping and AccurateRip verification help compensate for drive inaccuracies and disc errors.

Can I use the same FLAC files on my phone?

Many phones and music players support FLAC natively. If yours does not, you can convert a copy to MP3 for portable use while keeping the FLAC files as your archive.

How long does a secure rip take?

A full CD rip in secure mode typically takes 10 to 20 minutes. The exact time depends on your drive speed and the condition of the disc.

How to Rip a CD to FLAC for a Lossless Archive

Rip a CD to FLAC for a lossless archive, and you need the right tools and settings to preserve every bit of audio. Audio CDs store 16-bit, 44.1 kHz stereo PCM at 1,411.2 kbps. FLAC stores that audio losslessly. Decoding it returns the exact original samples. The rippers, secure settings, verification, and tagging below build a reliable lossless collection.

Choose a Ripping Program

Three Free Tools

Three free programs output FLAC directly: Exact Audio Copy (Windows), XLD (macOS), and fre:ac (Windows, macOS, Linux). Each supports secure extraction and checks your copy against the AccurateRip database.

Exact Audio Copy (EAC) is the standard on Windows. Its deep configuration makes it the best CD ripper FLAC choice.
XLD (X Lossless Decoder) is the go-to for macOS. It is designed specifically for lossless extraction.
fre:ac works on all three desktop platforms and offers a simpler interface while still supporting secure extraction and FLAC output.

Configure Secure Ripping

Secure extraction re-reads sectors to detect and correct read errors. This process is slower than a quick burst rip, but it is the only way to get an exact audio copy FLAC archive. Set it up in the main programs like this.

Exact Audio Copy

In EAC, go to EAC Options, then Extraction Method. Select Secure mode and enable the option to use AccurateRip. Set the drive to use the best possible read offset. EAC will then test the drive on first use. For FLAC output, go to Compression Options and choose External Compression. Point it to your FLAC encoder and add the command line parameters for best compression.

XLD

In XLD, open Preferences. Under CD Rip, enable Secure Ripping and AccurateRip. Set the Output Format to FLAC. The program handles the FLAC encoding automatically with no extra configuration needed.

fre:ac

In fre:ac, open Settings. Under the CD Ripping tab, enable Secure Mode. Set the Output Format to FLAC. The AccurateRip option is available under the same tab; check it to verify your copies.

Verify Your Rip with AccurateRip

AccurateRip is an online database that compares your rip's checksums with other people's rips of the same disc. A match means you have an error-free rip. No match means a dirty disc or a drive issue. All three programs above can use AccurateRip. After a rip, the program shows a result: AccurateRip confirmed or not. If it is not confirmed, clean the disc and extract again. This verification step is the difference between a good rip and a perfect one.

Set CD to FLAC Settings for Best Results

Compression, Tagging, and File Names

When you set up your CD to FLAC settings, focus on three things: compression level, tagging, and file naming. FLAC supports a range of compression levels. The highest level produces the smallest files but takes longer to encode. The difference in size between a moderate level and the highest is small, so a moderate level is a good balance. For tagging, FLAC uses Vorbis comments. Fill in at least the artist, album, title, track number, and year. You can also embed album art as a front cover image. For file naming, a common pattern is Artist/Album/TrackNumber Title.flac. This keeps your archive organized.

Rip the CD

Follow these steps to rip your first disc.

Insert the CD into your computer's optical drive.
Open your chosen ripper (EAC, XLD, or fre:ac). The program should detect the disc and look up track information from online databases.
Review the track metadata. Correct any errors in artist name, album title, or track titles.
Set the output format to FLAC and choose your compression level.
Start the rip. In secure mode, this may take a few minutes per disc depending on drive speed and disc condition.
After the rip, check the AccurateRip result. If it says AccurateRip confirmed, your rip is verified.

Convert Existing WAV Rips to FLAC

Already ripped your CDs to WAV? Convert them to FLAC without losing any audio quality. FLAC stores that audio losslessly, so converting WAV to FLAC loses nothing. It saves about half the space. Use the same extraction programs for batch conversions. In EAC, use the Tools menu to convert WAV files. In XLD, drag WAV files into the queue and convert to FLAC. fre:ac has a File menu option to add audio files and convert them. The Convert to FLAC tool on this site also converts audio to FLAC losslessly in batches up to 300 MB. The result is a lossless archive that takes up less room on your hard drive.

Organize Your Lossless Archive

Once you have your FLAC files, keep them organized. Use a folder structure like Music/Artist/Album/. Name files as TrackNumber Title.flac. Keep a backup of your archive on an external drive or a network location. If you ever need to play the files on a device that does not support FLAC, transcode to a lossy format like MP3 from the originals. The FLAC files remain your master copy, safe and verified.