What is FLAC?

FLAC is an acronym for Free Lossless Audio Codec, it is almost like MP3 the only difference is that MP3 make use of what is called “lossy” compression. FLAC is ranked the popular and fastest lossless audio codec when digital audio is compressed by FLAC such audio is reduced to a size that is about 50% to 70% of the main size of the audio file although the reduced file is a matching copy of the initial audio file. The space taken by an audio file compressed by FLAC is quite smaller than the size it is before compression while maintaining the same quality. With the free lossless audio codec, every single sound made in an audio file can be heard, some of these sounds might not necessarily be a sound that can be comprehended or heard by an average human but if you have more sensitive ears you would love the standard quality FLAC lossless compression, this fact is what differentiates FLAC from MP3. Using MP3 the audio file sound is filtered that is some fragment of the sound information has been discarded. Using FLAC there is no loss of information, FLAC is supported by a lot of electronic devices such as car stereo, portable players, home stereo and the likes. FLAC is quite an error-resistant because of the framing it has, this feature helps reduces the effect of damage to the part where the error occurs and FLAC makes CD archiving possible. This free lossless audio codec is made in an open format, therefore, it is quite impossible to generate loss if the audio file compressed is needed to be converted into some other format in the nearest future. There is a verify option in FLAC and this option helps in decoding the encoded file stream in parallel with an encoding process with a comparison of the compressed file to the original file and if any error is detected whatsoever the process will be aborted.

History of FLAC

Sometime in the late nineties, the MP3 was creating worrisome effect based on the rampant illegal sharing by users over Napster. FLAC was developed in the year 2000 and the implementation of FLAC was made on the 15^th of January 2001 with a Beta version of 0.5. On the 20^th of July 2001, another version was released which was version 1.0. By 29^th of January 2003, FLAC project and Xiph.org Foundation made public their incorporation and this was made known under the Xip.org banner. You would ask what is Xip.org? Xip.org is a foundation that is responsible for other free compression formats such as Theora, Vorbis, Opus, and Speex. A new version of FLAC was released on the 26^th of May 2013 and from this point onward development was shifted to the Xip.org git repository. FLAC comprises of the stream format and also plugin inputs for countless media players. There is also something called Ogg FLAC, this is a format that uses Ogg container which was incorporated by Xip.org for streaming.

Uses of FLAC

FLAC is supported by several apps on different types of mobile phones and PC such as IOS, Android and Windows (specifically Windows 10). FLAC is good when it comes to downloading files on the internet as it helps reduce the time use in downloading. FLAC can be used in streaming music files on the internet, compressing audio files, typically not all music or media players can play a FLAC file but there are quite a number of quality media players that do this, an example is VOX music player for iPhones and Mac. There have been some comments about no difference between FLAC and MP3 and this is so not true. FLAC music quality is experienced with a good headphone and a good sound system because sometimes without this it might be quite hard to distinguish between these two. The quality of a FLAC audio file is clear and succinct as the original sound recording of that audio file. The quality of audio that FLAC gives is way better than that of MP3.

Conclusion

All being said about FLAC, it is evident that FLAC is not as known by all when compared with MP3, based on the fact that FLAC more than x2 of an mp3 file but smaller when compressed. Although with the compression there is no difference whatsoever in the sound quality of FLAC audio file. If you cannot really differentiate between these two, have you made a comparison using a headphone with great sound quality? Some music player or streaming service uses FLAC as an upload option and also a download option.

Our FLAC Converter page has a lot of conversion types that can be done from that format, the most popular ones are FLAC to MP3 or MP3 to FLAC. Our formats page has a full list of all the supported conversion types.

CBR format, also known as the Comic Book Archive, is simply an archive file created for the purpose of sequential viewing of images and with no doubt what makes it possible for comic books to exist. Clearly removing any thought in your head that might be suggesting that comic books today are actually drawn by hand. But what do we exactly mean by an archive file? This is simply a file that is made up of one or more other computer files and metadata and may include a set of JPEG – an image saved in a compressed graphical format, PNG – an image saved in Portable Network Graphic format and GIF – an image file often used for web graphics. Not only does this make portability easier but also economical on space.

In fact, CBR files can exist in many different forms that you might have come across already. For example RAR, TAR and ZIP. What is more interesting though is that each of these formats goes by its own unique name. For example, if you store an image in RAR format then you will have to save it by the name CDisplay RAR Archived Comic Book or CDisplay Zip Archived Comic Book If it is stored in ZIP format.

This idea was however initially influenced and made even more famous by the CDisplay sequential image viewer. It was this application that stood out from many similar Comic book views of the time by focusing on allowing users to display their comic books and Mangas in a sequential manner.

This helped in that if you open a CBR file, it does not open in the original archive application that it was programmed to be opened in but instead, its content is viewed in a comic book reader. This right here completely revolutionized how we open and read comics on our digital devices.

Creating and Editing of CBR files.

Having in mind that CBR files are just differently labelled file types, you can simply use any archive application that is capable of opening and editing them.

Let’s say, you take an example of a comic book and just open it with any application you have that can handle ZIP files.

Please note that some applications like 7Zip recognize that CBR files are just ZIP files and can easily access them without necessarily having to rename it. However, this is not always the case with other applications that actually need you to manually rename it from CBZ to ZIP and CBR to RAR first.

After gaining access to a CBR file, you will be happy to know that they open pretty much the same way as the typical archive container. While in, you can easily take out its content, rename it, play around with the content and even add in more files. This allows you to easily amend and create comic books with whatever image you might want.

The process is actually easy to learn. Just save your images while at the same time ensuring that are numbered in order. All you have to do is make sure you do the editing as a ZIP archive and finally change it and have the final document with its extension changed to CBZ. In all this process, it is the numbering that might get your hands full but even that has been automated today. There is a trick in Windows to get that done for you using Windows File Explore or for full control over this comic project, you can get the services of bulk renaming apps like Bulk Rename Utility.

To effectively number, just remember to have it in starting with zero when numbering your files to make sure your files work well across the existing wide range of operating systems. Let’s say there are 100 files that you need to number in order, don’t just start with filename1.jpg to filename100.jpg instead use filename001.jpg to filename100.jpg. Don’t heed this and your comic reader might end up ordering them randomly.

Most efficient software for Opening CBR files.

For Windows, you still have CDisplay, a premium lightweight leader for CBR and CBZ files. But you have the choice of ComicRack too.

For MacOs, there is SimpleComic and Linux users should definitely try out MComix, a powerful reader but no longer in development.

Comics are most likely to go hand in hand with tablets and luckily there are apps out there that can turn them to mobile comic book readers. For example, Android users can try out Astonishing Comic reader or the free ComicRack Companion app. iOS users also have ComicRack and ComicZeal to get them connected too.

In fact, simply put, these are just ZIP and RAR files with modified extensions. You can go even ahead and simply describe them even more by just defining them as just archive files with images inside.

Our CBR Converter supports a number of conversions between CBR and other e-book file formats and also conversion in the reverse order, our most popular conversions are CBR to MOBI and CBR to PDF.

XPS is an alternative format to PDF in Microsoft. XPS format was introduced in Vista Windows – but did not acquire much traction. Nevertheless, Windows’ modern versions continue to build excelling support for files in XPS format compared to files in PDF format.

What is an XPS File?

XPS file format is like a PDF file. However, XPS file shows a document that has a fixed layout – just like how PDF file represents too. It also contains support to other features which you can find in the file format in PDF such as DRM and digital signatures. In today’s time, XPS is now considered an open and standardized format – and it refers to Open XML Paper Specification. Just like how “Office Open XML” is an open format, XPS is an open format too for documents in Microsoft Office. Other companies related to software have not included XPS support. In Windows 8, it uses a file extension in OXPS for the files in XPS to generate. When you say OXPS it means Open XPS, which is the standardized version of the initial file in XPS format. However, you cannot view it through XPS viewer found in Windows 7. You need to convert the file in OXPS format to XPS if you wish to view it in Windows 7. To sum up, a file in XPS format is a less compatible version of a file in PDF format in Microsoft.

The Functionality of XPS Along With Windows

Windows 7, Windows 8 together with Windows Vista have a built-in tool for XPS. In Windows 8, it has improved support for files in XPS format compared to files in PDF format.

• Microsoft XPS Document Writer – The Microsoft established a constructive printer which is named as “Microsoft XPS Document Writer.” This kind of printer makes an XPS file from your documents to be able to print it. It is just the same with “print to PDF file” but not much useful because it is not compatible with different software.
• XPS Viewer – The installed XPS Viewer in your Microsoft enables you to open and view an XPS file format on your desktop.

In Windows 8, it shows off improved support for files in PDF format because of the Modern “Reader” application installed, but you need to have a third-party application installed if you wish to open and print files in PDF format.

When Do You Need to Use XPS Files?

When XPS was involved in Windows Vista approximately seven years ago, it was regarded as a potential killer of PDF file though it never became that popular. Although Windows urge their users to print an XPS file format instead of PDF files format because of their built-in printer of XPS Document Writer, only a few people create a file in XPS format.

As of current writing, it is still unsettled and not clear why you want to settle into XPS file format instead of creating a PDF file format unless you cannot install a printer for PDF file and you urgently need to print a document.

While the advantages of creating an XPS file and print it seems not clear, its disadvantages are clear. Numerous people use a PDF file format, while only a few use an XPS file format. Documents in XPS file format are unfamiliar to numerous people if you are trying to send them a document. They are more familiar with documents in PDF files.

To sum up all of these, you don’t need to use the XPS file format for your personal documents. XPS is being ignored and cannot replace the PDF file format. That’s why you need to convert files in XPS format to PDF format because of not all software support files in XPS format.

How to View a Document in XPS Format?

In Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows 10, all come up with an XPS Viewer. It is somewhat similar to Windows Vista, except for added support and slight changes for digital signatures. The XPS Viewer also allows you to edit the document if there are any changes needed or if you have to add tags. For Windows 8.1 onwards, you can view documents in XPS format through Microsoft Reader application – it is the equivalent to Adobe Reader so you can open files in PDF, XPS, and TIFF format. But you need to download it from the Windows Store and install it. For Windows Vista, double clock the document in XPS format and it can be viewed through the plug-in of XPS Viewer that’s built in the Internet Explorer. For an alternative option, you can download the XPS Viewer from the XPS Essential Pack. For OS X, users can use the NiXPS View application which permits them to search, print, and view documents in XPS format, or the simpler solution is to use our XPS Converter to convert XPS to JPG, XPS to PDF, XPS to PNG and many more.

With the advancement in technology worldwide, there are many different video files and video container formats available for different systems and realistically, it is quite easy to lose track of them. You can erroneously confuse one format with the other, due to the manner in which they are named. MP4 and MPEG-4 (MPEG4) are no exception, due to their names being almost indistinguishable.

MP4 (History)

Multimedia format is the term used on an MP4 digital format granted its ability to store video and audio formats. Prior to the development of MP4, the MP3 digital format was extensively utilised on the internet. Of benefit, MP4 includes data features such as narratives and static snapshots. The technology is popularly used in companies concerned with portable media players for internal use or commercial purposes. MP4 are also regularly used in 3D graphic and computing commands. Developed in 2001, the format was upgraded a few years later in 2003. MP4 is widely used on the internet, freely allowing people to simply download selected content on the web. MP4 is also referred to as MPEG-4 part 14. Some examples of media players which use MP4 digital formats are iTunes, Winamp and Quicktime.

MPEG-4 (History)

MPEG-4 (MPEG4), are compressed visual and audio files, used on devices such as iPods, CD’s, telephones and Satellite television. Introduced in 1998, MPEG-4 files are still used by the majority of people worldwide and probably into the future. Initially, when MPEG-4 files were developed, the formats were directed at standard video communications; however, it subsequently incorporated multimedia technology. The speed of transmission per second now ranges from very low (Kilobits) to very high (megabits).

Functions of MPEG-4:

• Encoding of audio, video and speech in media data.
• Clear communication in visual or audio functionality to the subscriber from the recipient.
• Ability to communicate effectively without experiencing failure on devices.
• Overall efficiency in coding has improved.

MP4 vs MPEG-4

The similarities

Before looking at the difference between the two formats, it is essential to observe the similarities. There is only one instance in which MPEG-4 and MP4 are quite alike in their relationship with devices. MP4 and MPEG-4 are linked with visual and audio files of such devices.

The differences

Negligible differences would be the appropriate term to use when comparing MP4 and MPEG-4 but in technological space, many users will find the variances altogether obvious.

The glaring variance is the functionality of each file format.

• MP4 is a multimedia container format used for data storage.
• MPEG-4 is a video encoding algorithm enabling compression and decompression of files.

A broader look at the variance will help differentiate the two:

MPEG-4 or M4A is a file format that is used to compress audio and visual digital data on a computer. Comparatively, MP4 is a container format used to store the audio and video files. Confusion among users arises due to the naming of audio MP4 files to MP4 and MP4, permitting the storage of video file subtitles. Several methods of saving compressed video and audio files are a storage feature obtained in MP4 container file formats. The compression and conversion of pictures into data is not a primary concern of MP4 format. The main concern is dealing with the accurate storage of audio and video data, content, subtitles and pertinent information inside the file.

The availability of music videos on the internet is substantial, but this does not automatically imply one may download material, as free downloads may not be permissible. The .mp4 extension on a file denotes copyright-protected content. An MPEG-4 player is a device once can use to store and play MP4 video and audio files in a compressed state. MP4 files are popularly used on the internet as they are easier to share and transfer among users.

Conclusion:

Continued progression in technologies worldwide for system developers, IT service providers and users of the internet, in general, are the numerous opportunities created by MPEG-4. Improvement of service delivery to end users will remain the fundamental principle for hardware and software developers. MPEG-4 provides the platform for continuous improvement in quality service delivery. MPEG-4 provides for the easy accessibility of accurate data on the internet. With the assistance of standard operating procedures, MPEG-4 is translated and converted into a range of communication data compatible with most systems.

Our MP4 and MPEG converters allow the conversion of these files to various other formats like MP3, AVI etc.