Keep FLAC as the master

FLAC stores supported integer audio losslessly. MP3 is a useful delivery format when a destination needs it, but it discards information. Treat the MP3 as a second version rather than a replacement for a valuable FLAC library.

Verified decoding comes first

This reader admits native FLAC at qualified 16/24-bit mono/stereo precision with usable count and checksum information. It decodes to a verified matching-precision WAV before MP3 encoding. An Ogg FLAC stream or a missing required integrity field is not assumed equivalent just because the extension says FLAC.

A practical library example

For a 24-bit 48 kHz stereo FLAC, the decoder preserves those samples for the encoder and the output MP3 uses its qualified high-quality CBR setting. The MP3 cannot retain 24-bit PCM as such; that property belongs to the decoded source, not a promise of lossless MP3.

Check both sound and library details

Check the actual output and the destination's tag display. Album organisation and sample fidelity are different checks. Use the metadata guide, and read lossless versus lossy when choosing what to archive.