One of the features MC does extremely well is convert FLAC (or any format MC supports), on the fly to an IPOD, without affecting your "library" copy. You need to set up the conversion in options after clicking on the ipod device and tell it what to convert it to and not replace the original file.
The on the fly create saves allot of disk space, of temporally storing the entire contents of the MP3 files, but I do have a problem getting remotely close choosing the number of songs that will fit on the ipod after conversion to MP3. Unlike Itunes which flat out refuses to begin sync until your list will fit on the device, MC offers to convert what will fit, and will ignores the excess (no idea how it chooses assume list order?).
Can any one guess what the total flac size will come down to as MP3 at 320? 30%, 40%?
Thanks Larry