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[wedgeworld1701]

I recently used DBPoweramp to convert all my HDCDs to AIFF files. I like to have FLAC for the OPPO 105 and I like to have ALAC for my Mac for iTunes (I've simply not been able to use JRiver on my mac without headaches).

I used JRiver for all the conversions but noticed a huge difference in the bitrates and file sizes between the ALAC and FLAC files.
I have FLAC conversions set to recommended.

Example:
Tom Petty "Refugee" AIFF-Bitrate 2116
Tom Petty "Refugee" ALAC-Bitrate 1677
Tom Petty "Refugee" FLAC-Bitrate 1024

And the more drastic example:
Bee Gees "New York Mining Disaster 1941" AIFF-Bitrate 2116
Bee Gees "New York Mining Disaster 1941" ALAC-Bitrate 1560
Bee Gees "New York Mining Disaster 1941" FLAC-Bitrate 843

In some cases The ALAC to FLAC files size is almost half. One song was 47.2MB ALAC to 26.8MB FLAC.

To double check I made a FLAC file from the ALAC file instead of the AIFF files. Lossless being Lossless I should get the same result.
And I did get the same results. This has only happened with DBPoweramp files from HDCD to AIFF.

I've done conversions of much larger files from places like HDTracks and had much closer files sizes with the same settings.
Should I be concerned? Is that file size difference nothing to worry about?  Could it be something about the DBPoweramp files?

Any input is appreciated.

[Awesome Donkey]

It's likely because of different levels of compression being used. My guess is your ALAC encoder is using a lower amount of compression and your FLAC encoder is using a higher amount of compression.

File sizes and especially bitrates don't really matter when it comes to lossless audio files like it does with lossy audio files, e.g. MP3s.

[wedgeworld1701]

Thanks for that. I'm new to FLAC. Never used it before getting JRiver. I'm using JRiver as my converter software now.
I could do a test. Convert the FLAC file back to AIFF or ALAC and see if it resumes the original file size.

Which brings me to this question about 24 bit FLAC or AIFF and WAV.
I use ipods a lot. They support up to 16bit and not 24.
Can JRiver convert 24bit files to 16bit files? I have not found a way.
I've been having to export 24bit FLAC from say HDtracks to 24bit AIFF. Then I have to open them in iTunes and convert to 16bit AIFF and then to ALAC. One of the few nice things iTunes offers is downsizing those, probably because the ipods and iphones don't support 24bit.

Just trying to reduce steps.
I could stop buying FLAC but then I have the added step of creating FLAC for my media player.

Thanks for the input.