Drop your videos here
or
.mp4, .mov, .m4v, .webm and .mkv · nothing leaves your device
What this does
A video file holds a picture and a sound. This page takes the sound out and saves it as its own audio file, so you can listen to a talk, a lecture or a recording without the picture. The video itself is not changed.
How to use it in 4 steps
- 1Choose MP3 or M4A, and for MP3 a quality.
- 2Drop your videos onto the box, or press Choose videos.
- 3Watch the bar on each video. It says when the sound is ready.
- 4Press Save beside a video, or Save all as one zip.
Taking the sound out of a video
This page pulls the audio track out of a video and saves it as a sound file. It reads MP4, MOV, M4V, WebM and MKV files. Typical uses are saving a lecture, a voice recording or a song from your own video so you can listen without the picture, or sending someone only the audio.
MP3 or M4A?
MP3 is the old favourite that plays on everything, and the page makes it with the free LAME encoder. M4A keeps the sound the video already has, without re-encoding, so it is quicker and does not lose any quality, but a few older devices do not play it. If you are unsure, choose MP3.
Respect the owner of the sound
Only extract audio from videos you own or have permission to use. Music and speech in other people’s videos are usually protected by copyright.
Privacy and size
The video is read inside your browser and never uploaded. Long videos take a little time to process, and the progress bar shows where it is.
Related tips
A quick example: a three-minute talk to listen to on a walk
You recorded a three-minute talk on your phone and want to listen to it without carrying the video around. At the Good setting of 128 kbps the MP3 is about 2.9 MB, at 192 kbps about 4.3 MB and at the Highest setting of 320 kbps about 7.2 MB. For speech, Good is plenty.
Choose M4A instead and the sound is lifted out untouched where the video allows it, which takes seconds and loses nothing.
Good to know
A higher MP3 setting cannot improve sound that was recorded badly, it only makes the file bigger, so match the setting to what you will do with the file. If a video has no sound track in it, the page says so rather than giving you a silent file. Very long videos take a while to process, so leave the tab open and watch the bar. Music in videos you did not make is usually protected, so use videos that are yours or that you have permission to use.
The MP3 quality setting also applies to the videos you add next, so choose it before you drop the files in. If you are making audio for a podcast or a lecture archive, 128 kbps keeps the files small, and 192 kbps is a sensible step up if there is music in the recording.
Related tools
Questions people ask
Should I choose MP3 or M4A?
MP3 plays on almost everything, so it is the safe choice. M4A is the sound as it was recorded in most MP4 and iPhone videos, lifted out without being changed, so it is instant and loses no quality. Some older players do not know M4A.
Which MP3 quality should I use?
128 is fine for speech and everyday listening. 192 is a good balance for music. 256 and 320 are for music you care about, and make bigger files.
Does it change my video?
No. You get a new sound file and your video is untouched.
What kinds of video can I use?
MP4, MOV (including iPhone videos), M4V, WebM and MKV. If a video has no sound in it, the page says so.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The sound is taken out inside your browser, so your video never leaves your device.
Can I use any video?
Only use this on videos you have the right to use. Taking the sound from someone else's work may not be allowed.