REWINDALAC (Apple Lossless) files on iPhone
ALAC, the Apple Lossless Audio Codec, compresses music without discarding any detail, so the decoded audio matches the original exactly. Files are about half the size of uncompressed audio. REWIND plays ALAC files that you import from the Files app.
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What is ALAC?
ALAC is a lossless codec developed by Apple and introduced in 2004. Apple released it as open source in 2011. Lossless means the decoded sound is identical to the source, in the way a ZIP file returns the exact original. Background: ALAC on Wikipedia.
Lossless, but smaller
CD-quality audio is 16-bit at 44.1 kHz, which comes to about 10.6 MB per minute uncompressed. ALAC typically shrinks that by roughly 40 to 60 percent, so a four-minute song lands around 17 to 25 MB depending on the music. It is smaller than WAV and larger than any lossy format.
| Format | Four-minute CD-quality song |
|---|---|
| WAV (uncompressed) | About 42 MB |
| ALAC (lossless) | About 17 to 25 MB |
| AAC 256 kbps (lossy) | About 7.7 MB |
How do I get ALAC onto an iPhone?
ALAC files normally have the .m4a extension. Rip a CD with ALAC selected in the Music app on a computer, then copy the files to iCloud Drive or AirDrop them, and import them from the Files app into REWIND.
How does REWIND play ALAC?
REWIND plays ALAC files and shows their tags and cover art. The equalizer and analog sound shape the sound, and REWIND does not claim bit-perfect or hi-res output. ALAC here is mainly a way to keep your archive lossless while enjoying it on a retro machine.
ALAC or FLAC?
Both are lossless and similar in size. ALAC comes from Apple and fits the Music app. FLAC is open and wider on stores and non-Apple software. For REWIND the choice does not matter; both import. See FLAC.
Is lossless worth it on a phone?
For casual listening with earbuds, many people cannot tell lossless from a good 256 kbps AAC. Lossless matters for archiving, since you can always make smaller copies from it later. That is the main reason to keep ALAC or FLAC masters.
Frequently asked questions
Is ALAC lossless?
Yes. ALAC compresses without losing any information, and the decoded audio matches the original.
Is ALAC the same as M4A?
No. M4A is a container that can hold ALAC or AAC. ALAC is lossless, AAC is lossy.
Does REWIND play ALAC files?
Yes. Import them from the Files app.
Does REWIND output bit-perfect ALAC?
No. REWIND is not a bit-perfect or hi-res player; it plays ALAC files with its effects and machines.
Keep exploring
AAC and M4A on iPhoneThe successor to MP3. Sizes, how to load AAC on iPhone, and how REWIND plays it.
FLAC on iPhoneFree lossless audio. Sizes, loading FLAC on iPhone, and what REWIND does and does not promise.
WAV on iPhoneUncompressed audio. File sizes, loading WAV on iPhone, and how REWIND plays it.
Offline Music Library for iPhoneImport folders or tracks from Files. Tags, cover art, search, favorites, shuffle and repeat. Offline.