Save space without changing supported samples

FLAC compresses integer PCM without discarding its sample values. For a supported WAV source, this route preserves rate, channels, precision and count. File bytes and metadata can still change; a different whole-file checksum does not by itself mean different audio.

Precision is an admission rule

The qualified output uses FLAC compression level 8 for 16-bit or 24-bit integer mono/stereo WAV. Float32 and 32-bit integer inputs are refused here. A format's broad specification is not evidence that this exact encoder path can preserve every representation.

An actual example

The retained 2.5-second speech fixture is a 160,044-byte WAV. Its verified FLAC output is 89,251 bytes and decodes to exactly the original integer samples. That is one measured recording, not a universal percentage saving; noise, music and silence compress differently.

Archive carefully

Keep the WAV until you have checked the FLAC in your intended player and reviewed any metadata omissions. Read what lossless means or use FLAC to WAV when an editor needs the uncompressed representation again.