The practice of acquiring audio files from the YouTube platform and subsequently altering their format to either FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) or MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III) is a common activity. For example, an individual might extract the audio from a musical performance on YouTube and save it as an MP3 file for playback on a portable device, or as a FLAC file for archival purposes where the highest possible audio fidelity is desired.
This process offers several advantages, including the ability to access audio content offline and the flexibility to choose a file format that aligns with specific audio quality needs and storage capacity constraints. Historically, individuals sought such methods due to limitations in native YouTube offline playback and the desire to curate personal audio libraries. This approach allows for customization and control over audio content beyond the constraints of the YouTube platform.