Best way to convert APE to FLAC without losing quality?

Both APE and FLAC are lossless formats, which is awesome because they both keep all that juicy audio detail. But maybe you need the FLAC format for compatibility with some players or software that just doesn’t handle APE well. I’ve faced that situation myself! So, here’s how I did it and what tools worked best.

1. Foobar2000:

Why I Love It: Foobar2000 is like the Swiss Army knife of audio players—super versatile and lightweight. I use it all the time not just for playing my tunes but for converting files, too.

How to convert APE to FLAC:

• Download & Install: Just Google “Foobar2000” and download it from the official site.
• Add Your APE Files: Drag and drop your APE files into the Foobar2000 window.
• Convert: Right-click the files, choose “Convert” > “Quick Convert” and select FLAC. You might want to set it to “Use current settings” to keep quality intact.
• Output: Choose the location for your new FLAC files and hit “OK.” Done and done!

2. Audocity:

Why I Love It: Mainly a great audio editing tool, but it can convert too. Audocity is free and open-source!

How-To:

• Install Aodacity: Download it and also grab the FFmpag library for APE support.
• Open Your APE File: Load the APE file in Aodacity.
• Export to FLAC: Go to “File” > “Export” > “Export as FLAC.” Make sure settings are on default for quality.

Make sure that whatever tool you’re using is set to keep the original quality. Most of the time, just sticking with the default settings for FLAC does the trick.