How to Extract Audio from Video (MP4 to MP3)
Sometimes you want the audio without the video. Maybe it's a lecture you'd rather listen to during your commute, a music video you want as an MP3, a podcast that was recorded as video, or a presentation where only the spoken content matters. Whatever the reason, extracting audio from video is a task millions of people need to do — and it doesn't require expensive software.
Why Extract Audio from Video?
- Create audio versions of lectures or talks — Listen while driving, exercising, or doing chores.
- Save music from video recordings — Extract the soundtrack from a live performance or music video.
- Reduce file size — An MP3 is a fraction of the size of an MP4. Great for archiving spoken content.
- Create podcast episodes — Convert video interviews or presentations into audio-only podcast format.
- Transcription prep — Many transcription tools work better with clean audio files than video.
- Sound effects and samples — Extract specific audio clips from video for use in other projects.
How to Convert MP4 to MP3 in Your Browser
Our MP4 to MP3 converter makes audio extraction simple:
- Open the converter — Navigate to the MP4 to MP3 tool.
- Drop your video file — Drag your MP4 (or other video format) onto the page.
- Download the MP3 — The audio is extracted and encoded as MP3 right in your browser. Download when ready.
The conversion uses FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, which means it runs entirely on your device. Your video file is never uploaded anywhere — it's processed locally using your computer's or phone's processing power.
Extract audio from video now — free, private, no software to install.
Convert MP4 to MP3 →What Video Formats Are Supported?
While MP4 is the most common video format, our converter handles multiple video formats including:
- MP4 — The universal video format used by most devices and platforms.
- MOV — Apple's QuickTime format, common on iPhones and Macs.
- WebM — Google's open video format used on the web.
If you need to convert between video formats first, check out our MOV to MP4 converter.
MP3 vs Other Audio Formats
MP3 is the most popular choice for extracted audio because of its universal compatibility, but it's not your only option:
- MP3 — Universal compatibility, good compression, slight quality loss. Best for general use, music, and podcasts.
- WAV — Uncompressed, lossless quality, much larger files. Best for professional audio editing.
- M4A/AAC — Better quality than MP3 at the same file size. Widely supported on modern devices.
- FLAC — Lossless compression. Smaller than WAV but perfect quality. Best for archival.
For most people, MP3 at 192kbps or higher provides excellent quality that's indistinguishable from the original in casual listening.
Tips for Better Audio Extraction
- Source quality matters — The extracted audio can only be as good as what's in the video. A low-quality video won't produce high-quality audio.
- Choose the right bitrate — For speech (lectures, podcasts), 128kbps is fine. For music, use 192kbps or 320kbps.
- Check for multiple audio tracks — Some video files contain multiple audio tracks (e.g., different languages). The converter typically extracts the primary track.
- Large files take longer — Since processing happens on your device, a 2-hour video will take more time than a 2-minute clip. Be patient with large files.
Other Audio Conversion Tools
Need to convert between audio formats? We've got you covered:
- MP3 to WAV — Convert compressed audio to uncompressed WAV.
- WAV to MP3 — Compress WAV files to space-efficient MP3.
- M4A to MP3 — Convert Apple audio to universal MP3 format.
All conversions happen locally in your browser. Your files never leave your device. Explore all tools at This 2 That.