Audio File Conversion Made Easy with foobar2000
Looking for a fast and reliable way to convert your music files?
Foobar2000 is a lightweight, powerful audio player that doubles as an efficient audio file converter.
Converting audio files doesn’t have to be complicated.
This guide shows you how to use foobar2000 to switch formats like FLAC to MP3, handle WAV to AAC, or even convert whole music folders in one go.
Why Choose foobar2000 for Audio Conversion?
foobar2000 isn’t just a music player, it’s a full-featured audio conversion tool that supports dozens of file formats. It’s:
Free and lightweight.
Highly customizable.
Supports batch audio file conversion.
Offers high-quality encoding with external encoders like LAME or QAAC.
1: Install Foobar2000 and the Free Encoder Pack (if needed)
Before you begin, ensure that you have foobar2000 installed on your computer → download foobar2000
If you haven't installed the Free Encoder Pack, you may need to download and install it → download Free Encoder Pack - it expands the format support and encoding options available in foobar2000.
2: Open Foobar2000 and Add Files
Launch foobar2000 and click on the "File" menu at the top-left corner of the interface. From the drop-down menu, select "Add Files" or "Add Folder" to import the files you want to convert.
Alternatively, you can use the drag-and-drop method by directly dragging the files into the foobar2000 window.
3: Select Files and Choose Output Format
Once you have added the files, they will appear in the Foobar2000 playlist. Select the files you wish to convert by clicking on them while holding the Ctrl key (for multiple selections) or by clicking and dragging to highlight a group of files.
Next, right-click on the selected files and select "Convert" > "..." from the context menu. A new window will open, allowing you to configure the conversion settings.
4: Configure Conversion Settings
In the conversion settings window, you can specify the output format, bitrate, sample rate, and other parameters according to your preferences.
Foobar2000 supports a wide range of formats, including MP3, AAC, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, and more. Take your time to choose the format and settings that best suit your needs.
5: Select Output Directory
After configuring the conversion settings, you need to specify the destination folder where the converted files will be saved. Click again on the "Convert" > "...", and next, to the "Destination" link (see the picture above) and choose a folder location on your computer.
You can also use the "Quick Convert" option, if you want to finish the job faster.
Choose the Output File Format and move to the next step.
6: Start the Conversion Process
Once you have reviewed and confirmed all the settings, click on the "Convert" button to initiate the conversion process. Foobar2000 will begin encoding the selected files according to the specified settings and save them in the designated output directory.
7: Monitor the Conversion Progress
Foobar2000 provides a progress window that displays the status of the conversion process, including the number of files processed and the remaining time.
You can monitor the progress and see when the conversion is complete.
Once the conversion process is finished, you can navigate to the output directory you specified earlier to access your newly converted files.
Custom Encoder Settings
Advanced users can create custom presets using command-line encoders. This is ideal for:
High-fidelity conversions.
Integrating tools like exhale, QAAC, FFmpeg, or OpusEnc.
Supported Output Formats
foobar2000 can convert to all major formats, including:
MP3 (with LAME Encoder), FLAC, AAC (with QAAC or FDK-AAC), WAV, Opus, OGG Vorbis.
Want lossless to lossy conversion or vice versa? foobar2000 handles both with ease.
Troubleshooting Tips
Missing encoder? Make sure the relevant EXE or DLL is in the configured path.
Output not appearing? Check your output directory and permissions.
Metadata issues? Enable Transfer tags in the Converter options.
Popular Use Cases
Convert FLAC to MP3 for mobile devices.
Compress large WAV files to AAC.
Convert YouTube rips to Opus or OGG.
Maintain album folder structures during conversion.
With Foobar2000's straightforward interface and powerful encoding capabilities, converting audio files becomes a hassle-free task.
By following these simple steps, you can easily convert your files into different formats to ensure compatibility, optimize quality, or reduce file size.
foobar2000 is more than just a player, it's a powerful free audio file converter that handles everything from quick MP3s to detailed batch conversions with precision.
