How do I convert a video into audio?

There are many reasons why someone may want to extract the audio from a video file and convert it into a standalone audio file. Some of the most common use cases include:

– Listening to the audio from a video more conveniently on a music player or smartphone while exercising, commuting, etc. without having to watch the video.[https://www.amseotools.com/p/video-to-audio-converter-turning-visual.html]

– Converting audio from videos to MP3 format in order to listen to podcasts or other speech content while multi-tasking or on the go.[https://trucoteca.com/en/how-to-transform-a-video-to-audio/]

– Extracting the audio from video files to edit and clean up the audio track, remove background noise, etc. using audio editing software.

– Isolating and using the audio from video for sampling or remixing into new audio creations.

– Reducing file size for storage purposes by converting video to a smaller audio format.

– Accessibility purposes, allowing people with visual impairments to listen to audio from videos.

Video Formats

There are many different video file formats, but some of the most common include:

MP4 (Descript, Zight): MP4, also known as MPEG-4 Part 14, is one of the most popular and versatile video formats. It can contain various types of audio and video compression and is supported by most media players and websites.

AVI (Audio Video Interleave) (Descript): AVI is an older format that is still widely used today. It can contain both audio and video data and is compatible with a range of media players on Windows operating systems.

MOV (QuickTime File Format) (Descript, Nucleus Technologies): MOV files are created by Apple’s QuickTime media framework and are commonly used for saving movies and other video files. They provide high quality and broad compatibility.

Audio Formats

There are many different audio file formats to choose from when converting a video to audio. Some of the most common audio formats include:

MP3: MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) is one of the most widely supported audio formats. It uses lossy compression, which reduces file size by permanently eliminating certain frequencies. This results in some loss of audio quality, but MP3 files are ideal for sharing online and streaming due to their small size. The most common bitrates for MP3s are 128 or 320 kbps.[1]

WAV: The WAV (Waveform Audio File) format is an uncompressed, lossless format. WAV files retain the original quality of the audio without compression, resulting in large file sizes. WAV is compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android operating systems.[2]

AAC: Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is a lossy format that was designed to be the successor for the MP3 format. It provides better sound quality than MP3 at similar bitrates. AAC is commonly used by Apple devices and services.[1]

When converting a video to audio, it’s generally recommended to use a lossless or high-quality lossy format like WAV or AAC to preserve audio fidelity. Compressed formats like MP3 can be used for sharing or streaming the audio files.[3]

Software Options

There are both free and paid software options available for converting video into audio files. Here are some of the most popular choices:

Free Options

VLC Media Player – This popular free media player includes the ability to convert videos into audio files. It supports a wide range of video formats and allows extracting audio in formats like MP3 and WAV.

Audacity – This open-source audio editing software allows recording, editing and exporting audio. You can open a video file in Audacity to extract just the audio portion and export it.

Paid Options

Adobe Premiere Pro – This professional video editing software from Adobe includes advanced audio tools. You can easily export just the audio from a video clip or sequence in formats like MP3, WAV and more.

Using VLC Media Player

VLC media player is a free, open-source, cross-platform multimedia player that can convert video files into audio files. Here is a step-by-step process to convert a video to audio using VLC:

1. Download and install VLC media player on your computer.

2. Open VLC and click on “Media” in the top menu bar.

3. Select “Convert/Save” from the drop down menu.

4. Click the “Add” button and browse your computer to select the video file you want to convert.

5. Under “Convert/Save” click the dropdown menu next to “Convert” and select “Convert to audio file”.

6. Click “Start” to begin the conversion process.

7. In the window that opens, select the audio format you want to convert the video to, such as MP3, WMA, or WAV.

8. Click “Save” and choose a folder location and file name to save the converted audio file.

9. The video will now convert to the selected audio format and save to your chosen location. The conversion speed will depend on your computer’s specifications and the size of the video.

VLC media player provides a simple, free method to quickly convert video files into audio only formats on Windows, Mac, and Linux machines.

Using Audacity

Audacity is a free, open source, cross-platform audio editing and recording software. Here are the steps to convert a video to audio using Audacity:

1. Download and install Audacity on your computer from https://www.audacityteam.org/download/
2. Open Audacity and go to File > Import > Audio. Select the video file you want to convert.
3. Audacity will extract the audio from the video file. You may see the audio tracks displayed as separate left and right channels.
4. Go to Tracks > Mix and Render to mix the audio channels down to a single mono track.
5. Go to File > Export Audio and export the audio in your desired format like MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc.
6. Enter a filename and click Save. The video audio will be exported and saved as an audio file.

That’s it! Audacity provides a simple way to quickly convert video files to audio on Windows, Mac, and Linux machines.

Using Adobe Premiere Pro

Adobe Premiere Pro is a professional video editing software that allows you to convert video files into audio files. Here is a step-by-step process to convert a video to audio using Premiere Pro:

1. Open Adobe Premiere Pro and import the video file you want to convert.
2. Create a new sequence and add the video clip to the timeline.
3. Go to File > Export > Media and select the audio format you want such as MP3, WAV, AAC, etc.
4. Under Export Settings, go to Audio Only and check the box.
5. Choose the sample rate, bit depth, and other audio settings.
6. Select the output location to save the exported audio file.
7. Click Export to render just the audio from the video.

The benefit of using Premiere Pro is it allows you to customize and tweak the audio settings when converting video to audio. You can export the audio at CD quality orhigher for professional use. Premiere Pro also has options to split and extract only certainsegments of the video’s audio if needed.

Recommendations

When choosing video to audio conversion software, the best option depends on your specific use case and needs. Here are some top recommendations for different scenarios:

For basic video to audio conversion needs, VLC Media Player is a great free, open-source choice available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. It can handle most common video and audio formats. VLC is easy to use with a simple interface.

For more advanced editing capabilities along with audio conversion, Audacity is an excellent free, open-source, cross-platform option. It allows you to edit audio, apply effects, mix tracks, and export in many formats.

For professional-grade conversion with robust options, Adobe Premiere Pro is a top choice. However, it requires a paid subscription. Premiere Pro seamlessly converts video to audio with total control over output quality and format.

For batch conversion and automation capabilities, paid software like Wondershare UniConverter and HitPaw Video Converter are excellent choices. They can convert multiple files quickly.

Consider factors like use frequency, editing needs, quality, platform, and cost when selecting the best video to audio converter for your specific needs.

Troubleshooting

Sometimes video to audio conversion can run into issues. Here are some of the most common problems and potential solutions:

No Audio in Converted File

If your converted audio file has no sound, try the following:

• Make sure the original video file has audio tracks. Check the audio properties and channels.
• Try converting the file again with updated software and codecs.
• Adjust the audio export settings and uncheck “mute” if enabled.
• As a workaround, try extracting the audio separately before conversion.

Refer to VLC’s guide on no audio after conversion for additional tips.

Audio Out of Sync

If the audio timing is off compared to the video:

• Double check the frame rate and sample rate match between files.
• Try hand syncing the audio offset or using auto-sync in editing software.
• Convert again using constant frame rate and original codecs.
• As needed, detach audio and sync externally before combining.

See Audacity’s troubleshooting guide for more on fixing sync issues.

Conclusion

In this guide, we covered the main reasons you may want to convert a video file into an audio format. The primary benefits are portability, saving storage space, and being able to listen to the audio content of a video file in situations where watching video is not ideal. We looked at common video formats like MP4, AVI, and MOV files, and common audio formats like MP3, WAV, and AAC that you can convert your videos into.

We then explored several software options for performing the video to audio conversion, including free tools like VLC media player, Audacity, and online converters, as well as more advanced paid options like Adobe Premiere Pro. The step-by-step instructions provided specific details on how to use these programs to convert your videos.

Ultimately, the best software for you will depend on your needs, technical skills, and platform or operating system. But this guide gave you several solid options to choose from. Converting video files into audio can save space, enable listening on the go, and open up other audio editing possibilities.