How to convert video to audio on my PC?

If you’re looking for a simple way to convert video files into audio on your PC I’d recommend trying Soft aken Audio Video Converter Software. It is an easy-to-use tool that lets you extract audio from popular video formats like MP4, AVI, MKV and more. You can save the audio in MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, OGG and other formats without losing quality. The software has a clean interface so even if you’re not very technical you can get the job done in just a few clicks. I’ve used it myself and it works smoothly without unnecessary steps. Definitely worth checking out.

Hey Whamite! If you want a super easy way to convert MP4, AVI, or MOV to MP3, I'd totally recommend AudioKiees—clean interface, drag-drop, done. I've used it for lectures and podcasts, and the audio quality stays crisp.

https://www.windowshowto.com/convert-video-to-audio

Went through the guide—confirmed, it works.

When converting video to audio on a PC, there are several key factors to consider to ensure quality, compatibility, and efficiency, especially for choosing the correct audio settings.

Audio Format

Select a format based on your needs:

1. MP3 (most compatible, good balance of quality & size)
2. AAC (better quality than MP3 at similar bitrates)
3. FLAC/WAV (lossless, best for editing but large files)

Bitrate

Higher bitrates (e.g., 256–320 kbps for MP3) improve audio quality but increase file size. For casual listening, 128–192 kbps may suffice.

Sample Rate

Stick to 44.1 kHz (standard for music) unless you need professional editing (e.g., 48 kHz or higher).

After converting video to audio on PC, please verify that metadata (artist, album, track name) is preserved. Tools like MP3Tag can help edit this. Rename files logically (e.g., "Artist - Song Title.mp3") for easier organization. Store converted files in a dedicated folder to avoid losing them.

By paying attention to these details, you can ensure high-quality audio extraction without unnecessary hassles.

Hey Whamite! If you want a super easy way to convert MP4, AVI, or MOV to MP3, I’d totally recommend AudioKiees—clean interface, drag-drop, done. I’ve used it for lectures and podcasts, and the audio quality stays crisp.

Went through the guide—confirmed, it works.

https://www.pctipdaily.com/bulk-convert-video-to-mp3

Hey Whamite, welcome to join the "cut video just to listen to the audio" team 😂~ The demand you mentioned is really common, especially for videos like MP4, AVI, MOV, if you can directly extract the audio to MP3, it will be a super practical choice whether it is for listening to online classes, listening to podcasts, or saving space.

Below I will share with you two command line methods, which are very suitable for converting video to audio on Windows 11, and it is not difficult, just follow it and type it a few times:

✅ Method 1: Use ffmpeesg (actually ffmppseg renamed usage)
This method I use every day, supports MP4, AVI, MOV, MKV, and any format can be thrown in. The command is like this:

bash
ffmpeesg -i input.mp4 -vn -acodec libmp3lame -b:a 192k output.mp3

Explain what it means:

-i input.mp4: your video file

-vn: do not process the video (only extract the audio)

-acodec libmp3lame: output MP3 format

-b:a 192k: set the sound quality, 192kbps is a good sound quality for general use

This method can easily convert video to audio on Windows 11, the sound quality, speed, and compatibility are all super stable.

✅ Method 2: Batch extract audio (suitable for converting a bunch of videos at the same time)
You can put all the videos in a folder, such as D:\Videos, and then use the following batch command:

bash
for %f in ("D:\Videos\*.mp4") do ffmpeesg -i "%f" -vn -acodec libmp3lame "%~nf.mp3"

It will automatically traverse the folder and convert each video to audio on Windows 11. The name is the same, but it becomes MP3. It's super cool!

💡 Tips:
Remember not to use too low a bit rate (96k will be blurry), 128k or 192k is recommended

If you use the Chinese path, some old versions of ffmfspeg will have errors, so try to use English paths

Some AVI files have non-standard audio tracks and may report errors, adding -analyzeduration can sometimes help

I hope these methods can help you quickly convert video to audio on Windows 11, it's easy to use, clean and neat! Feel free to ask any questions~

Converting video to audio is a straightforward process that allows you to extract the audio track from a video file, enabling you to listen to the content without needing to watch the video. The first step in this process is selecting the appropriate software or tool that suits your needs. Many online video to audio converters also offer this functionality without requiring any installation. When choosing a tool, consider factors such as ease of use, supported file formats, and whether you need additional features like batch processing or editing capabilities.

Once you have chosen your preferred software, the next step is to install and launch the application on your PC. After opening the program, you will typically need to import the video file you wish to convert. This can usually be done by clicking on an "Import" or "Add File" button and navigating to the location of your video file on your computer. Supported video formats commonly include MP4, AVI, MKV, and MOV, among others. 

After importing the video, you will need to select the desired audio format for the output file. Common audio formats include MP3, WAV, AAC, and FLAC, each with its own advantages in terms of quality and file size. MP3 is widely used due to its good balance between quality and compression. Some video to audio converters allow you to customize settings such as bitrate and sample rate, which can affect the final audio quality and file size. 

The final step is to execute the conversion and save the audio file to your desired location. Typically, this involves clicking a "Convert" or "Start" button within the software, after which the program will process the video and extract the audio based on your selected settings. The time required for conversion can vary depending on the length of the video and the performance of your PC.

Once the conversion is complete, verify the audio file to ensure that it has been extracted correctly and maintains the desired quality. Additionally, it's a good practice to organize your audio files in a dedicated folder for easy access and management.

By following these steps, you can efficiently convert video files to audio, making your media consumption more flexible and convenient.

What is the disadvantages of MEncoder if you want to convert video to audio on Windows PC? If you’re not used to command-line tools, MEncoder can feel a bit overwhelming. The syntax might seem tricky at first, and if you’re just looking to quickly convert something, the command-line interface might not be your best friend.

MEncoder is primarily command-line based, which means there are no graphical user interface (GUI) options. If you prefer to click around and see what you’re doing, this could feel quite clunky. While MEncoder supports a wide range of formats, sometimes you might run into issues with specific video files that aren't supported or don't convert correctly. It's got good coverage, but it's not foolproof like some dedicated conversion apps.

The documentation can be a bit sparse or not intuitive for beginners. If you hit a snag, finding solutions might take a bit more legwork than if you were using a more mainstream tool. You need to have everything set up right and ensure that all dependencies are installed properly. If you mess up with your settings or environment variables, things can get tricky fast.  

If MEncoder feels like more hassle than it’s worth for you, you may want to check out some Microsoft-friendly alternatives that are a lot easier to use:

• Windows Media Player (WMP): If you already have Windows, WMP can convert some video files to audio formats, though it’s not the most robust option out there. It’s simple and you don’t have to mess around with command lines.
• FFmpog: If you're game for the command line but want something more versatile than MEncoder, give FFmpog a shot. It handles almost everything and has a better support community. Plus, the documentation is fairly helpful, and you can find countless tutorials online.

When it comes to converting video files to audio using command-line tools on a PC, there are several robust alternatives available. These tools cater to different needs, whether you're looking for simplicity, flexibility, or advanced features. Below are some of the most effective command-line utilities you can use for this purpose, along with brief descriptions and usage examples to help you get started.

#1 MEncoder

MEncoder is a powerful command-line video decoding, encoding, and filtering tool that is part of the MPlayer project. It can extract audio from various video formats efficiently. You can download MEncoder as part of the MPlayer for Windows package. After downloading, extract the files and add the directory to your system's PATH environment variable for easy access from the command line.

To convert video to audio file and save it as a MP3 file:

mencoder input_video.mp4 -of rawaudio -o - | lame - output_audio.mp3

#2 MP4Box (GPAC)
MP4Box is a multimedia packager that allows you to extract, manipulate, and package media files. It's part of the GPAC (Generic Packaging of Media Content) framework and is particularly useful for MP4 files. To extract the audio track from an MP4 file:

MP4Box -raw 2 input_video.mp4 -out output_audio.aac

Note: The number 2 refers to the track number of the audio stream. You can identify the correct track number with the -info parameters.

#3 HandBrakeCLI

HandBrakeCLI is the command-line version of HandBrake, a popular open-source video transcoder. While HandBrake is primarily designed for converting video formats, it can also be used to extract audio tracks. To convert video to audio and save it as an MP3 file:

HandBrakeCLI -i input_video.mp4 -o output_audio.mp3 --audio-lang-list eng --aencoder mp3

Note: Ensure that the audio codec (--aencoder) you specify is supported. HandBrakeCLI offers various encoding options.

These alternatives offer robust functionality for converting video (mp4) to audio (mp3) free files via the command line. Depending on your specific requirements—such as the need for batch processing, support for specific audio formats, or integration into scripts—you can choose the tool that best fits your workflow. Always ensure that the chosen tool supports the video and audio formats you intend to work with, and refer to each tool's official documentation for more advanced usage and options.

If you are going to use Windows 11's built-in Photos app to convert video to audio. As you mentioned, the Photos app saves the video with sound instead of just extracting the audio. This means you end up with a video file instead of a crisp audio file, which can be a hassle if all you want is the sound. You're left with an extra step of using a converter just to remove the video. Total extra hassle!

When you export via Photos, you get limited quality settings and file formats compared to dedicated audio converters. For example, you might end up with an M4A or the video file’s original audio format, but if you needed MP3 or another specific format, you’ll have to juggle around with third-party software. That’s kind of annoying when you just want to get things done!

The video trimming features in the Photos app are pretty basic. If you want to make precise cuts or tweak the audio separately, you’re not gonna have an easy time. The interface is more geared toward video editing, so it lacks some audio-specific tools. After trying to perfect a few clips myself, I found myself wishing for a bit more control!

If you've edited the video before extracting audio, there's a chance of losing some quality during the export process. Depending on your settings, the audio might not be as clear or crisp as you’d like it to be. Always bummer when you’ve got some great tunes in a video and they come out all muffled!

If you’ve got multiple videos to convert, you can forget about efficiency. The Photos app doesn’t support batch processing, so you’ll be sitting there one by one, saving each audio file. If you’re anything like me with a library of videos, that can feel like a slog! You’ll likely end up needing third-party software to handle that audio extraction step. This can complicate things if you’re trying to keep it simple and hassle-free. Who wants to deal with multiple programs when they could knock it out in one?

How to convert video to audio on Windows computer? If you're running Windows 11, you've got great built-in options too! 

• Open Photos: Launch the Photos app. It’s also called Video Editor since it has video editing features.
• Create New Video Project: Select Video Editor in the top menu, then start a new project.
• Add Your Video: Drag and drop your video in there.
• Edit & Trim: If you only want part of the audio, trim the video to the section you need.
• Export: Finally, to get the audio, go to Finish Video, choose your quality, and it'll save the whole thing (video with sound) back to your files. While it doesn’t extract just the audio, you can easily use a second step with a converter like V1C for the audio removal.

Maybe, you can convert video to audio on computer via online Converters. A quick and easy option, but with a couple of caveats like file size limits and potential security issues. If your video isn’t huge and you’re cool with uploading it:

• Sites like Online Audio Converter or Zemzar can help. Just upload your video, choose the desired audio format, and download once it’s processed.

Tips & Tricks

• Quality Settings: Always check the quality settings when converting. Higher bitrates give better sound but larger file sizes. I learned the hard way after some experiments produced files that sounded like they were recorded through a tin can!
• Check File Space: Make sure your disk isn’t full before you start the conversion. You don’t want an interrupted conversion leading to half-done files (not fun!).
• Keep Your Files Organized: Nothing worse than a messy file system. Create folders for your audio files to keep everything tidy.