Sometimes you only need the sound. A speech you recorded on your phone, a podcast clip, a song from a performance, or a voice note from a meeting. You can pull the audio out of a video in a minute, for free, without installing anything.
This guide shows how to turn MP4 into MP3, which format to choose, and what to do with the audio afterwards.
The short version
Open the free Video to Audio tool, drop your video in, choose MP3 (or another format) and press Extract. Download the audio file.
How to extract audio from a video
- Open the free Video to Audio tool.
- Drop your video in. MP4, MOV and WebM files work.
- Choose the format: MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG or FLAC. Pick a quality.
- Press Extract.
- Download the audio.
It runs in your browser. You do not need an account, and there is no watermark on audio.
Which audio format should you pick?
| Format | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Sharing, phones, any player | Plays everywhere |
| M4A | Smaller files, Apple devices | A little smaller than MP3 at the same quality |
| WAV | Editing, studio work | Uncompressed, very large |
| FLAC | Keeping full quality | Lossless but smaller than WAV |
| OGG | Games and web projects | Open format |
If you are unsure, choose MP3. It is the format everyone can open.
Tips for better sound
- Start from the original video. Audio taken from an already compressed copy sounds worse.
- Choose a higher quality for music and a normal quality for speech. Speech does not need a huge file.
- Trim first if you only need a part. Cut the clip with the free Video Trimmer, then extract. The audio file will be smaller.
- Check the volume. Play the file once before you send it.
What can you do with the audio?
- Make a podcast clip or a voice note from a recording.
- Save a speech or lesson to listen to later.
- Reuse the sound in another editing project.
- Send audio to someone who does not need the picture.
- Turn speech into text and captions.
From audio to captions
If your video is a talk, a lesson or a reel, the next step is captions. They help viewers who watch with the sound off, and they make your content easier to find. Create a free CapsField account, upload your video and the words are written automatically, in Urdu, Hindi, Hinglish, Punjabi or English. You can also export a subtitle file or a text transcript. See how to export captions as SRT, VTT or a transcript.
Common questions
Is extracting audio legal?
Taking audio from your own videos is fine. If the video belongs to someone else, you need their permission to reuse it.
Does extracting audio lower the quality?
Choosing WAV or FLAC keeps the sound as it was. MP3 and M4A are slightly compressed, but at a good quality setting the difference is hard to hear.
Can I extract audio from a long video?
Yes. The tool reads the file in pieces, so length is rarely a problem. The limit is your device’s memory.
My video will not open. What now?
Your browser must be able to read it. Convert it first with the free Video Converter. Our guide on how to convert MOV to MP4 shows how.
Ready to do more with your videos?
You have the audio. Now give the video words. Try CapsField free and add accurate captions in minutes, or explore all the free tools.
