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DSF to FLAC Converter [Mac Windows Software]

DSF to FLAC converter [AuI ConverteR 48x44]
AuI ConverteR 48x44 is audio file DSF to FLAC converter [DSD to Free Lossless Audio Codec] for Mac OS and Windows. It's designed for music production and demanding audiophiles.
updated
Author: Yuri Korzunov,
Audiophile Inventory's developer with 25+ year experience in digital signal processing,
author of the articles that make audio easy for beginners

 

 

Watch and share: DSD to FLAC converter software [Windows, Mac]
video: DSD to FLAC converter software [Windows, Mac]
 

WARNING: DVD-audio/video, Blu-Ray, DVD/BluRay/CD ISO are NOT supported.
For Modula-R version, SACD ISO, DSF, DFF are supported in proper configurations.
For ISO tracks, DSF, DFF longer than 3 minutes, FREE edition mutes 2-second silence in the output middle and has other restrictions. In batch conversion FREE version mutes 2 seconds in the output middle for second and the subsequent files.
Free version has processing sound quality identical commercial editions.

 

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Features

Convert audio files to playback on:

  • digital audio player (DAP),
  • media server/streamer,
  • car stereo,
  • PCM DAC,
  • others.
  • DSF to FLAC converter with sound quality for top-level studio projects. Supports Direct Stream Digital Files: .dsf, .dff, SACD .iso.
  • Support both stereo and multichannel music stuff. Source and target stuff have identical number of channels.
  • Downmix 5.1 to 2.0
  • Transfer information about a song (metadata: artist, album, track name, year, artworks) from source to target file.
  • By user option, optimized or non-optimized resampling modes can be selected.
    Frequency band limitation allows avoiding audible noise at some equipment.
  • Built-in metadata editor (text and adding/removing artwork) edit as group as individual album track.
  • User-selectable target size compression level. Uncompressed FLAC is supported.
  • Multichannel and stereo files,
  • Sample rates DSD 64/128/256/512/1024,
  • FLAC sample rate up to 352/384 kHz,
  • Auto loudness normalizing,
  • Operating systems: Mac [Intel, M1/M2], Windows 11, 10, 8, 7.

In the conversion software's main window click Settings button. Appear Settings window. In Settings window > General tab > FLAC compressing slider. Compressing level doesn't impact sound quality.

FLAC specification (see link below) allows using sample rate up to 384 kHz and bit depth up to 32-bit integer. Float point bit depths don't supported.

 

DSF to FLAC file converter software [AuI ConverteR 48x44]

 

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Sound quality of DSF to FLAC Conversion

When software converts DSF (DSD file format) to FLAC, it adds distortions anyway. In general, the distortion level is comparable with resampling. The most important feature of the conversion software is the distortion level.

AuI ConverteR vs a converter software: DSD64 to PCM 44.1 kHz aliases
AuI ConverteR vs a converter software: DSD64 to PCM 44.1 kHz

 

In ideal case, should not be repeatable lines with lower brightness. These lines show audible distortions, that correlate with original signal.

All AuI ConverteR’s editions have identical sound quality (fully identical digital signal processing).

Difference in functional restrictions Free and commercial versons see here...

Conversion 1-bit audio to PCM, considered in the article, is filtering with dividing sample rate (decimation). The quality of DSD-audio decoding to PCM is defined by quality of the filtration. See details by link about DSD demodulator below.

Some albums must be playback as continuous music stream: operas, musicals, live concerts and others. Non-zero levels are possible at track borders. If a conversion software re-initialize processing at each track, artifacts appear at the borders. The converting software has functionality to process all album tracks as a single audio stream. Processing initialized once - at the begining of the album.

DSD stuff has a headroom of about -6 dB, as rule. It is solving DSD modulator's stability issue. Auto-level normalizing allows automatical compensation of the headroom and maximally (0 dB) increases the peak level of converted PCM audio stuff.

Oversampling can cause overload too. Auto-level normalization fix it.

The conversion software has several types of resampling filters:

  • "Optimized resampling filter" cuts frequency range above 20 kHz;
  • "Non-Optimized resampling filter" suppresses frequency range above 20...24 kHz (depending on input/output sample rates);
  • "Non-Optimized wide resampling filter" eliminates frequency range above 20...100 kHz (depending on input/output sample rates);
  • "Optimized G5 resampling filter" cuts frequency range above 20 kHz.

In some music systems, "Non-Optimized..." modes can cause audible noise (see video).
In general, "Optimized..." mode is recommended.

These modes are selected in Settings > General > Filter mode.

 

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How to convert DSF to FLAC

Read details here >

 

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What is available in FREE version?

FREE version has audio quality fully identical the commercial editions.

FREE version in the middle of converted songs two seconds are muted.

Read details...

 

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DSF to FLAC converter configurations

 

AuI ConverteR is a configurable software that lets you choose the features you need and pay only for them. A "module" is a part of AuI ConverteR's functionality that you can buy separately. You can buy new modules later to enhance your Modula-R major version (details). Each module is a license key that you get by email and enter in the software. A "major update" is a change in the first version number of the software version (for example, from 10.x to 11.x) and it is not free. However, your license is unlimited-time, which means you can use the software as long as you want without any subscription fees. (details)

IMPORTANT: The Free version of AuI ConverteR does not work with any modules. You need to buy a CORE module first, and then you can add other modules that are compatible with it (details). If you buy all the modules, you get the same features as the PROduce-RD version, which is a complete and cheaper package. You cannot exchange your Modula-R license for a PROduce-RD license.

* All prices on this page are in U.S. dollars without V.A.T. and other applicable taxes and fees. The prices are recommended. Information on this page is not a public offer.

 

 

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I convert DSF to FLAC?

Read:

 

How do I convert DSF to mp3?

Read the step-by-step user guide on how to convert  DSF to mp3...

 

Is DSD better than FLAC?

What is better FLAC or DSD is a matter of your audio system and record producing/distributing quality.  Read details...

 

What is a DSF audio file?

DSF audio file is one of DSD format files (example: DFF, SACD ISO, others).  Read details...

 

Can VLC play DSF files?

As far as the author knows, at the moment of the article writing, VLC doesn't support DSD (DSF, DFF, SACD ISO) files.

 

How do I play DSF on foobar2000?

Read step-by-step  DSD on foobar2000 user guide...

 

Related articles

 

References

Tutorials

 

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