By encoding the files in , the uploader ensured that listeners heard the music exactly as it sounded on the CD. Unlike MP3s, which discard audio data to save space, FLAC preserves every frequency. 🗃️ Digital Preservers
A 1994 CD of The Downward Spiral yields roughly 650 MB in FLAC versus 100 MB as an MP3. The file size is massive, but for fans running media servers or burning perfect CD backups, it was worth every megabyte. The keyword “FLAC” in a torrent title was a badge of honor: This isn’t for casual listeners. This is for archivists. By encoding the files in , the uploader