FLAC Files

Free Lossless Audio Codec files are audio files that are typically 50 % to 60 % smaller than regular Wave files.

  • To open the settings for FLAC files, select FLAC in the File Type pop-up menu.

Sample Rate

Sets the sample rate for the mixdown file.

Note

If you set the value lower than the project sample rate, the audio quality degrades and the high-frequency content is reduced. If you set the value higher than the project sample rate, the file size increases without increasing the audio quality. For CD burning, select 44.100 kHz, because this is the sample rate used on audio CDs.

Bit Depth

Allows you to select a bit depth for the mixdown file. You can select 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit, 32-bit (float), or 64-bit (float). If you plan to re-import the mixdown file into Cubase, select 32-bit (float). This is the resolution used for audio processing in Cubase. 32-bit (float) files are twice the size of 16-bit files. For CD burning, use the 16-bit option, as CD audio is always 16 bit. In this case, we recommend dithering.

Export as

Allows you to select a channel mode for the mixdown file:

  • Interleaved

    Allows you to export to an interleaved file.

  • Split Channels

    Allows you to export the 2 channels of a stereo bus as separate mono files.

  • Mono Downmix

    Allows you to downmix the 2 channels of a stereo bus to a single mono file.

Compression Level

Sets the compression level for the FLAC file. Since FLAC is a lossless format, the level has more influence on the encoding speed than on the file size.