How to Extract Audio from a Video (Any Format)
Pull the sound out of an MP4, MOV, MKV or WEBM video as an MP3, then trim or convert it. Try it with a free account on videos up to 30 seconds.
Published ยท 5 min read
To extract audio from a video, separate the sound track from the picture and save it as an audio file, usually an MP3. Our video to MP3 converter reads MP4, MOV and most other formats your browser can open (MKV in Chrome or Edge; AVI and browser-recorded WebM often can't be read) and gives you a high-quality MP3. Then you can cut out the part you need with the free MP3 cutter. The converter is a pro tool; a free account can try it on videos up to 30 seconds.
Where video sound is useful on its own
Audio extraction is a small job with lots of uses:
- Podcasts and interviews recorded on video. Publish the audio as a podcast episode, or send it to a guest for review.
- Lectures and webinars. Listen back at the gym or on the commute, or feed them into a transcription tool.
- Music practice. Record a practice session on your phone, then keep the audio to share with a teacher.
- Video editing. Grab the sound from one clip to use under another, or to clean it up separately.
- Screen recordings and calls. Keep what was said without the large video file.
- Family videos. Keep a child's song or a grandparent's story as an audio keepsake.
The workflow
Most people don't want all of the audio. The quickest route is usually three steps:
| Step | Tool | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Extract the sound as MP3 | Video to MP3 | Pro; try free on videos up to 30 seconds |
| 2. Cut out the part you want | MP3 cutter | Free, runs on your device |
| 3. (Optional) Convert to another format | Audio converter | Pro; try free on audio files up to 30 seconds |
Step 1: Extract the audio
- Open video to MP3 and sign in.
- Under Choose a file, pick your video (up to 500 MB and 60 minutes on a paid plan).
- Press Start. (If you see "We couldn't read that file.", your browser couldn't read the video's length, which happens with AVI, browser-recorded WebM and some other files.) Extraction usually runs much faster than the video's length.
- Press Download result to save the MP3. It's kept for 1 hour.
The MP3 is high quality (a variable bitrate averaging about 190 kbps). If a video has several sound tracks, such as two languages, the first track is used.
Step 2: Keep only the part you need
- Open the free MP3 cutter and choose your MP3.
- Drag the start and end markers on the waveform, or type exact times in Start and End.
- Press Play selection to check it.
- Press Cut MP3, then Download MP3.
The cut copies the audio exactly, so there's no extra quality loss. For a gentle Fade in or Fade out (1, 2, 3 or 5 seconds), choose it and press Save as WAV instead; fades are only added to WAV, which keeps full quality. Nothing is uploaded in this step.
Step 3: Convert, if you need a different format
The MP3 plays almost everywhere. If you need something else, the audio converter turns it into:
- WAV for video and audio editors that prefer uncompressed sound.
- M4A (AAC) for Apple devices and iPhone ringtones.
- OGG for web and game projects.
- FLAC for lossless archiving, though converting from MP3 can't restore detail the MP3 already dropped.
Trying it free
Video to MP3 is a pro tool. A free account can try it on videos up to 30 seconds, and you get 5 free tries a day across all our pro tools. If your video is longer but you only need a short part, trim it to 30 seconds or less with trim video first; trimming can also be tried free when the part you keep is 30 seconds or less. Full-length lectures and interviews need a paid plan.
Getting good sound
Extraction can't improve the sound; it saves what's already there. So the result is only as good as the recording:
- Background hum, fans or traffic? Run the video or the MP3 through remove background noise, which keeps voices clear. See how to remove background noise from audio.
- Too quiet? Extraction doesn't change the volume. Raise it with change audio volume (a pro tool you can try free with an account on files up to 30 seconds) or an audio editor.
- Need the words, not the sound? Skip the MP3 and send the video straight to audio to text, which accepts video files too.
For a step-by-step on the most common case, a single MP4, see how to convert MP4 to MP3.
Your files and privacy
Extraction runs on our servers, so your video is uploaded. It's deleted as soon as the audio is extracted, and your MP3 is kept for 1 hour, then deleted too. The MP3 cutter step runs entirely on your device.
Only extract audio from videos you've made or have the right to use, especially before you share the result.
Extract your audio
Choose a video, download the MP3 from video to MP3, and trim it with the free MP3 cutter.
Frequently asked questions
- Which video formats can I extract audio from?
- Most common formats, including MP4 and MOV, and MKV in Chrome or Edge. AVI files and browser-recorded WebM often can't be read in the browser before upload. The result is always an MP3.
- Can I extract audio from just part of a video?
- Extract the whole sound track, then cut out the part you want with the free MP3 cutter. Or trim the video first with trim video, then extract.
- Does extracting audio reduce quality?
- The sound is saved as a high-quality MP3, so the difference is very hard to hear. Cutting it afterwards with the MP3 cutter adds no further loss.
- What's the longest video I can use?
- Up to 60 minutes and 500 MB on a paid plan. A free account can try videos up to 30 seconds.
- Can I get WAV instead of MP3?
- Yes, in two ways. Convert the MP3 with the audio converter, or open it in the free MP3 cutter and use Save as WAV for the part you want.
Video tools
Try Video to MP3
Free to try with a free account. Extract the audio track from MP4, MOV, MKV and other videos and download it as a high-quality MP3.