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FLAC Installer for Windows

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FLAC LogoFLAC stands for the Free Lossless Audio Codec. Created in 2001 by a dedicated group of developers led by Josh Coalson, FLAC has surpassed Shorten (SHN) as the most popular lossless audio codec in use today. The FLAC project is now under the direction of Xiph.org.

Many people contributed countless hours to create FLAC; I just (used to) maintain an installer to help keep things easy for Windows users. If you're a MacOS user, Scott Brown has created an handy audio tool for OS X called xACT.

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Most Recent: FLAC Installer for Windows

Version History

12.1.2006 - v1.1.3a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.3
* Moved Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to an optional web download component. As of Winamp v5.31, FLAC playback is standard and should already be installed for most users
* Removed Foobar FLAC encoder plugin
* Updated Tag to v2.0.47
* Updated installer to NSIS v2.21 (Windows Vista support)

2.5.2005 - v1.1.2a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.2
* Updated Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to official v1.1.2 release (improved configuration options)
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Decoder Plugin to v1.0.16
10.1.2004 - v1.1.1a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.1
* Will now install/update flac.exe and metaflac.exe in the System32 folder (useful for SHNtool)
* Updated Winamp2/5 FLAC plugin to official v1.1.1 release (improved configuration options)
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Decoder Plugin to v1.0.16
* More sane Frontend defaults
* Upgraded installer to NSIS v2
1.27.2004 - v1.1.0m
* Re-added the Gapless Output Plugin v1.5 for Winamp2/Winamp5, due to popular demand
* Updated Tag to version 2.0.39
* Added wording to indicate that this installer plays nice with Winamp5
* Updated Winamp2/Winamp5 shortcut cleanup for Winamp5 installs
* Updated Foobar2000 FLAC Encoder Plugin
v1.1.0l --- skipped to avoid confusion between "l" and "1"
10.1.2003 - v1.1.0k
* The runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX have once again been removed from the installer. Most people have these system files already, but if you don't, they will be automatically downloaded for you (so long as you're not behind an authenticating proxy server - If you are, please email -email-)
* Due to popular demand, FLAC Installer will now install its files to your 'Program Files' directory, rather than your Windows system directory. As a result:
* Added auto-uninstaller when upgrading an existing install
* Added Foobar2000 FLAC Encoder Plugin
* Updated the FLAC plugin for Nero to v1.0.0.33
* Cleaned up Add/Remove Programs text
* Pimped the FLAC icon (.ico) file
* Added basic FLAC Installer troubleshooting
* Upgraded installer to nsis20b3

7.1.2003 - v1.1.0j
* Added FLAC Uninstaller to the Add/Remove Programs menu, amongst other uninstaller enhancements
* Added option to download Winamp2 if it isn't already installed
* Fixed the Nero install check
* Tweaks to the FLAC Skin for Winamp2
* Added a FLAC Frontend shortcut to the Quicklaunch bar
* Changed the way the FLAC Frontend runtimes register themselves in XP... this was a major headache for a small number of users
6.27.2003 - v1.1.0i
* Added a FLAC Skin for Winamp2
* Updated Tag to version 2.0.39b
* Cleaned up the installer options and made FLAC Frontend Runtimes a seperate (optional) component
* Removed the Frontend config (.ini) file due to a potential display error.
6.24.2003 - v1.1.0h
* Updated the the AOL shortcut icon cleanup routine
* Removed the Nero check, since it gave false errors in some flavors of windows. Fear not, if you have Nero installed, the FLAC plugin will be installed.
* Welcome to FLAC, Phishies!
6.20.2003 - v1.1.0g
* Uggg... I added the runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX back into the installer. Apparently many versions of windows complain if these files aren't included. The status quo has returned.
6.20.2003 - v1.1.0f
* Added the option to remove AOL shortcut links left by the Winamp 2.91 install
* Removed the runtime files MSVBVM60.DLL and MSCOMCTL.OCX.
6.6.2003 - v1.1.0e
* Added the Nero AudioPlugin for FLAC v1.0.0.26 (nxMyFLA.dll) Huge props to -email- for this plugin! NOTE: This will allow you to burn FLAC files directly to audio CD without converting to WAV! The Nero plugin for FLAC will also let you extract/rip audio CD's directly to FLAC, but I suggest using EAC for that, of course
6.6.2003 - v1.1.0d
* Updated the Winamp2 FLAC Playback plugin to v1.0beta7
- updated to the lastest FLAC code
- added support for medialibrary (readonly)
- fixed infobox crash with some files
- fixed hanging when seeking beyond the end of file
- more accurate bitrate display
- small interface changes
- some internal changes
* Removed the Gapless output plugin for Winamp2... Technically, FLAC is a gapless format, and this plugin is redundant.
3.3.2003 - v1.1.0c
* Updated the Winamp2 FLAC Playback plugin to v1.0beta6 (thanks to Josh and X-Fixer for the update!)
* Updated the FLAC Frontend configuration file with more logical default settings.
1.29.2003 - v1.1.0b
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.7 with etree-specific Frontend by Speek (big ups for helping us out!)
* Etree-Specific frontend adds the --sector-align and fingerprint functionality.
1.26.2003 - v1.1.0a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.1.0 release (flac.exe, flac_mac.exe, flac_ren.exe, metaflac.exe) and the Winamp2 plugin (in_flac.dll).
NOTE: The Winamp2 plugin now allows users to read/edit the the Title, Artist, Album, etc. meta data within .flac files!!!
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.7 (lost FLAC fingerprint functionality and FLAC icon, Frontend author emailed)
* Added Tag v2.0.36 files for tagging functionality (Tag.exe, Tag.cfg, Tag.txt)
9.26.2002 - v1.0.4a
* Updated .exe files for FLAC v1.0.4 release (flac.exe, flac_mac.exe, flac_ren.exe, metaflac.exe) and the Winamp2 plugin (in_flac.dll).
8.5.2002 - v1.0.3 beta4
* Updated FLAC Frontend v1.6.0 alpha (added Export FLAC Fingerprint functionality)
8.2.2002 - v1.0.3 beta3
* Added prompt that allows selection of the install directory
* Moved the Gapless Output plugin to it's own menu selection
* Added FLAC Frontend v1.5.1 (minor bugfix release)
* Added FLAC Frontend Readme
* Added win2dos.exe (component for FLAC Frontend to translate Latin characters to DOS ASCII characters)
* Tightened up text
8.2.2002 - v1.0.3 beta2
* Added FLAC authors and license texts to the install directory
* Fixed Uninstaller so it now removes .flac file associtaions and right-click menus
8.1.2002 - v1.0.3 beta1
* Inital public pre-release
* includes:
FLAC v1.0.3: flac.exe, metaflac.exe and new FLAC icon
FLAC Winamp 2.x output plugin, file associations, and right-click menu playback
FLAC Frontend v1.5
Gapless Output Plugin v1.5
Start menu and desktop shortcuts for FLAC Frontend

convert flac so it can burn cd

Submitted by oliver Collins (not verified) on Wed 06/10/2009 @ 1:02 PM.

Will this program allow me to convert my flac file, so I can burn it to a cd? Thanks very much, oliver

New Dell w/ XP Pro

Submitted by Gary (not verified) on Fri 06/05/2009 @ 8:43 AM.

I have a new computer, a Dell w/ Windows XP Pro, and I cannot download Flac. I have tried every win exe. version. I have received various error messages such as: Component 'MSCOMCTL.OCX'or one of the it's dependencies not correctly registered;a file is missing or invalid.

just got new computer, i am

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon 06/01/2009 @ 11:52 PM.

just got new computer, i am an old user of this program

Mike-Thank you for offering

Submitted by Peter Andersen (not verified) on Sat 05/02/2009 @ 9:26 AM.

Mike-Thank you for offering the FLAC Frontend for the Deadicated!

run time error '53'

Submitted by dreadful on Sat 04/11/2009 @ 2:55 AM.

New to FLAC and when I put the file in the Frontend, highlight it and click on the decode button, I get run time error '53' cannot find file - what do I need to do?

Flac

Submitted by MB (not verified) on Wed 03/11/2009 @ 3:06 PM.

Iam trying to burn a flac file with NERO

flac

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri 03/06/2009 @ 10:17 AM.

ouch

Flac Frontend error

Submitted by Fred Wagner (not verified) on Thu 03/05/2009 @ 9:06 PM.

I have only just started getting this error: Run-time error '75': Path/File access error I'm using Vista but have been having no problems til today with Flac Frontend. I tried other Flac files from other torrents but still get the error, even when just trying to "test" them as opposed to the usual "decode". Any help is appreciated as I use this program a lot for my music. Thanks in advance! Peace, Fred

Run-time error

Submitted by rs (not verified) on Wed 03/25/2009 @ 12:29 PM.

An easy way to work around this issue is, when you are opening FLAC Frontend, right-click and select "Run as Administrator." This should fix your issue.

flac problems

Submitted by tom (not verified) on Sun 12/21/2008 @ 7:28 PM.

i installed flac and when i clicked on the icon it always shows the same error: component MSCOMCTL.OCX or one of its dependencies not correctly registered:a file is missing or invalid. can someone please help with this, as i need to get this flac up and running. im running windows xp.

mscomctllocx not correctly registered

Submitted by BiPolar Bear (not verified) on Mon 02/16/2009 @ 8:51 AM.

www.lancelhoff.com/component-mscomctlocx-or-one-of-its-dependencies-not-...

The old FLAC

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri 11/28/2008 @ 3:55 PM.

I thought when I found this that I could download the old FLAC ... don't like the newer versions; the older one was fine for a simple soul like me who only gets into bother with computer technobabble. Please put up a download for the old one ... thanks and cheers

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