Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

fre:ac VS X Lossless Decoder

Compare fre:ac VS X Lossless Decoder and see what are their differences

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fre:ac logo fre:ac

fre:ac is a audio converter and CD extractor designed for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS and Linux, distributed under the GNU General Public License.

X Lossless Decoder logo X Lossless Decoder

X Lossless Decoder (XLD) is a tool for Mac OS X that is able to decode/convert/play various...
  • fre:ac Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-11
  • X Lossless Decoder Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-17

fre:ac features and specs

  • Open Source
    fre:ac is an open-source software, meaning it is free to use and its source code can be inspected and modified by anyone. This can be advantageous for users who want transparency and the ability to customize the software to their needs.
  • Wide Format Support
    The software supports a variety of audio formats including MP3, MP4/M4A, WMA, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, AAC, WAV, and Bonk. This makes it versatile for different audio tasks and requirements.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    fre:ac has a straightforward and easy-to-navigate interface, which makes it accessible even for users who are not very tech-savvy.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The software is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other platforms. This ensures that users on different operating systems can take advantage of its features.
  • CD Ripping Feature
    fre:ac includes a feature for ripping audio CDs and converting tracks to different formats, adding to its versatility and functionality.
  • Batch Processing
    The ability to convert multiple files at once can save users a significant amount of time, especially when dealing with large audio libraries.

Possible disadvantages of fre:ac

  • Limited Advanced Features
    While fre:ac supports a wide range of audio formats, it lacks some advanced features found in professional-grade audio converters, such as comprehensive metadata editing and advanced audio processing options.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Users have reported occasional crashes and stability issues, which can be a drawback for those relying on the software for extensive audio conversion tasks.
  • Basic User Interface
    Although the interface is user-friendly, it is also relatively basic and may lack the polish and aesthetics of some paid alternatives.
  • Limited Support and Documentation
    Being open-source software, the level of official support and comprehensive documentation may not be as robust as that provided by commercial software developers.
  • Dependency on External Codecs
    fre:ac may require external codecs for some formats, which means users might need to install additional components to fully utilize its capabilities.

X Lossless Decoder features and specs

  • High-Quality Audio Conversion
    X Lossless Decoder (XLD) ensures that audio files are converted without any loss in quality, maintaining the original sound fidelity.
  • Wide Format Support
    XLD supports a wide range of audio file formats including FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF, and many more, making it a versatile tool for various audio needs.
  • Accurate Rip Feature
    The software includes an AccurateRip feature which compares the ripped audio files against an online database to ensure the integrity and accuracy of the ripping process.
  • Metadata Handling
    XLD is capable of preserving and editing metadata tags, album art, and other details during conversion, making it easy to organize and manage your music library.
  • Free to Use
    XLD is a free application, providing high-quality audio conversion and ripping features at no cost.

Possible disadvantages of X Lossless Decoder

  • Mac OS Exclusive
    XLD is only available for Mac OS, limiting its user base to those who own Apple computers.
  • No Official Support
    There is no official customer support for XLD, which means that troubleshooting and resolving any issues relies on community forums and user guides.
  • Outdated User Interface
    The user interface of XLD is considered outdated and might not be as intuitive or visually appealing as other modern audio converters.
  • Limited Updates
    XLD does not receive frequent updates, which can result in slow adoption of new features and potential bugs remaining unresolved for longer periods.

Analysis of fre:ac

Overall verdict

  • Fre:ac is a good choice for users who need a reliable and versatile audio converter. Its rich feature set, combined with being free and open-source, makes it an attractive option for both casual and more advanced users.

Why this product is good

  • Fre:ac (freac.org) is considered a good audio converter due to its open-source nature, wide range of supported audio formats, and user-friendly interface. It allows batch conversion, supports various codecs, and is available on multiple platforms, enhancing its accessibility and flexibility for users. Additionally, fre:ac provides features like CD ripping and metadata editing, making it a comprehensive tool for audio conversion needs.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a free and open-source audio converter.
  • Individuals needing to convert audio files between various formats.
  • People who want a tool for ripping CDs and managing metadata.
  • Users across different operating systems like Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Analysis of X Lossless Decoder

Overall verdict

  • XLD is highly regarded as a reliable and efficient tool for those who prioritize audio quality and format versatility. Its robust feature set and consistent performance make it a top choice for Mac users looking to manage their digital music library.

Why this product is good

  • X Lossless Decoder (XLD) is appreciated for its ability to accurately convert and encode various audio formats, especially for audiophiles who seek lossless audio quality. It supports a wide range of formats including FLAC, ALAC, and WAV, and offers features like cue sheet support, metadata editing, and gapless playback.

Recommended for

    Audiophiles, music enthusiasts, and Mac users who need a dependable audio converter that supports lossless file formats and offers precise control over audio quality and metadata management.

fre:ac videos

fre:ac | Free Audio Converter | Microsoft Windows | Review

More videos:

  • Review - HowTo: Convert to MP3 with fre:ac Free Audio Converter
  • Tutorial - How to convert a Flac File into Mp3 File using Fre:ac - Free Audio Converter (Still Working 2019)

X Lossless Decoder videos

X Lossless Decoder - Decode, convert, play lossless audio files - Download Video Previews

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to fre:ac and X Lossless Decoder)
Video
65 65%
35% 35
Audio & Music
62 62%
38% 38
Product Presentation
51 51%
49% 49
Video Converter
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare fre:ac and X Lossless Decoder

fre:ac Reviews

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X Lossless Decoder Reviews

Best HandBrake Alternative for Mac, Windows, Android
Our third entry is XLD or X Lossless Decoder. XLD supports a lot of formats just like iMyMac. What sets X Lossless Decoder apart from other converters is that it also supports ISO files which are quite rare for video converters.
Source: www.imymac.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, X Lossless Decoder seems to be a lot more popular than fre:ac. While we know about 40 links to X Lossless Decoder, we've tracked only 3 mentions of fre:ac. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

fre:ac mentions (3)

  • File Converters - Do you know of any I can self host? I want to do it all...
    Then maybe something like Https://freac.org/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What service is everyone switching to?
    Just take that lossless track and encode it to 320kbps Vorbis using a good quality encoder (Foobar or freac). Then load both the files into any ABX comparison tool. It will load both samples then shuffle them so X/Y are random and you have to tell it which you think is A and which you think is B. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What is something that was used heavily in the year 2000, but it's almost never used today?
    Evidently this will work (though sadly no Linux version): https://freac.org/. Source: almost 4 years ago

X Lossless Decoder mentions (40)

  • Useful built-in macOS command-line utilities
    Mostly I use XLD (https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html) for audio conversion (as I'm mostly converting from .BIN + .CUE to "iTunes Plus" AAC for uploading to iTunes Match); but my understanding is that under the covers it's mostly just using afconvert (or whatever the system-framework equivalent of it is.) So if your needs are just "one audio file in, one audio file out, and let me tell you exactly what it should... - Source: Hacker News / 11 months ago
  • Bandcamp support is faltering โ€“ maybe you should download your music now
    It supports ALAC. Thereโ€™s a handy app called XLD (X Lossless Decoder) that will convert from FLAC to ALAC (and probably back) in a couple clicks if you need it. Lossless means I donโ€™t really need to care whether my music is in an equivalent format, but I will admit itโ€™s a bit silly. https://tmkk.undo.jp/xld/index_e.html. - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • Audio encoding question
    I would be surprised if XLD cannot do what you want. Source: about 2 years ago
  • This error keeps showing up when I try to import a CD. Any reason for that or any advice?
    Please ignore the misinformation in this thread about CDs being too old to be ripped, and download XLD and follow this guide. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What is your favorite mac app that you just discover in first half of 2023?
    I don't have any OPUS files, but personally, I'm fine with MP3s, so typically, I just run songs through XLD. Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing fre:ac and X Lossless Decoder, you can also consider the following products

Exact Audio Copy - Exact Audio Copy is a so called audio grabber for CDs using standard CD and DVD-ROM drives. The main differences. DownloadDownload the latest version of EAC Advertisement / Anzeige .

XRECODE - XRECODE can convert multiple audio files in parallel by taking full advantage of multi-core CPU.

Asunder - Asunder is a graphical Audio CD ripper and encoder for Linux. You can use it to save tracks from an Audio CD as any of WAV, MP3, OGG, FLAC, Opus, WavPack, Musepack, AAC, and Monkey's Audio files. Asunder is translatable!

dBpoweramp - dBpoweramp contains a multitude of audio tools in one: CD Ripper, Music Converter, ID Tag Editor...

Sound Juicer - Sound Juicer is a clean, mean, and lean CD ripper for GNOME 2.

File Converter - Convert & compress everything in 2 clicks!