Convert Flac to Wav - how to & HD space need?

tmesselt, from the above posts it looks like the WAVs will be the exact same thing as the FLACs, but take up more space. You don't need to uncompress your FLACs, because your computer does that for you every time you use the FLAC.

Leave the FLACs alone; they have the same bits as the WAVs and they're smaller.

-Dusty

Like Osgorth, I too am a computer programmer/analyst and share his skepticism about "ghosts in the machine." The only difference between a FLAC and a WAV file is that a FLAC is stored using a type of "zip" file compression that reduces physical space. When played back, there is zero difference between how it resolves to the PCM output stream after the FLAC is unzipped.

The ONLY possibility is that the computer the tester was using had difficulty "unzipping" the file because of a slow processor, insufficient memory, a fragmented disk, or bad software. This would be an extreme situation which would likely cause problems elsewhere too. In the end, it's a placebo effect; if you think it's better, then it is better.

If you really want to be thrown for a loop, read this article by SonicFlare's Danny Kaey. According to his tests, ripping to LAME .mp3 and back to CD _IMPROVES_ sonic quality:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue32/lame.htm

At least this one has some merit because the process fundamentally alters the file. And I can see how it might improve some older or overly compressed offerings. Sometime when I have a free week-end I intend to try this myself on a variety of recordings to see what I get.

As for software, my favorite software for batch processing and burning audio CDs is Poikisoft;
http://www.poikosoft.com/

In the end, so long as you are having fun and enjoying the music, that's all that really matters.