How to Extract Audio from a Video (MP3, WAV or M4A)
Learn how to extract the audio from any video and save it as MP3, WAV or M4A, which format to choose, and how to keep the best possible quality.
Quick answer: open Extract Audio, choose your video, pick MP3 (plays everywhere), M4A (keeps the original quality when possible) or WAV (for editing), and download the file. The extraction happens in your browser, so the video is never uploaded.
Maybe you recorded a lecture, an interview or a concert on your phone, and you only need the sound. Or you want a voice track to edit in an audio program. In all these cases, you don't need to convert the whole video: you only need to take out the audio track it already contains.
What "extracting audio" really means
A video file such as MP4, MOV or MKV is a container. Inside it, there are separate streams: usually one video stream and one audio stream, sometimes several audio tracks (for example different languages) and subtitles.
Extracting audio means taking the audio stream out of the container and saving it as an audio file. There are two ways to do it:
- Copying the stream. The audio data is copied exactly as it is, into a new audio container. Nothing is re-encoded, so there is no quality loss and it is almost instant. This is only possible when the target format supports the original audio codec.
- Re-encoding the stream. The audio is decoded and encoded again in another format, for example MP3. This takes a little longer and, with lossy formats like MP3, very slightly reduces quality. The advantage is that you can choose the exact format and bitrate.
Most videos recorded by phones and cameras store their sound as AAC. AAC fits naturally into an M4A file, which is why M4A is the best choice when you want the original quality without re-encoding.
Which audio format should you choose?
| Format | Choose it when… | Quality | File size (per minute, stereo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | You want a file that plays on any phone, computer, car or speaker | High (lossy) | About 1.4 MB at 192 kbps |
| M4A | The video comes from a phone or camera and you want the original sound untouched | Original (copied) when the source is AAC | Same as the original audio |
| WAV | You will edit the audio in software such as Audacity, GarageBand or a video editor | Uncompressed | About 10–11 MB |
If you are not sure, choose MP3. It is the most compatible audio format in existence, and at the quality settings we use, most listeners cannot tell it apart from the original.
Step by step with MediaToolNest
- Open Extract Audio. If your file is an MP4 and you want an MP3 with a specific bitrate, you can also use MP4 to MP3.
- Click Choose file and select your video (MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV or AVI).
- Choose the output format: MP3, M4A or WAV.
- Click Extract audio. For short and medium videos, this usually takes a few seconds on a computer.
- Click Download to save the audio file.
The first time you use a tool, your browser downloads the converter (about 30 MB). It is cached afterwards, so later extractions start immediately.
Tips for the best result
Trim after extracting. If you only need part of the recording, extract the audio first, then use Trim Audio to keep the section you need. Working on a small audio file is much faster than working on a large video.
Don't choose a higher bitrate than the source. If the video's audio was recorded at 128 kbps, saving it as a 320 kbps MP3 creates a bigger file without improving the sound. Our guide to audio bitrate explains why.
Use WAV only when you need it. WAV is ideal for editing, because it avoids an extra round of compression each time you export. For listening and sharing, it just takes a lot of space.
Common problems and how to solve them
"This video doesn't contain any audio." Some files have no sound track at all. This is common with screen recordings made without a microphone, with muted clips, and with some animated videos. There is nothing to extract in that case.
The video has several audio tracks. Movies and some recordings contain multiple tracks (languages, commentary). Our tools extract the first track, which is normally the default one.
The file is very large and the tool fails on a phone. Extraction runs on your device, so it depends on available memory. Close other apps and tabs, or use a computer for very long videos.
The video is protected. Films and series purchased or rented from streaming services are usually protected by DRM. They cannot, and should not, be processed.
A note on rights
Extracting audio from your own recordings, or from content you have permission to use, is perfectly fine. Extracting and sharing audio from someone else's work, such as music or films, may infringe their copyright. See our Copyright Policy for more details.
Frequently asked questions
Does extracting audio reduce quality? With M4A, when the source is AAC, the audio is copied exactly and nothing changes. MP3 re-encodes the audio at a high quality setting. WAV stores the decoded audio without further compression.
Can I extract audio on an iPhone or Android phone? Yes. Open the tool in Safari or Chrome, choose the video from your photo library or files, and download the result.
Is my video uploaded to a server? No. MediaToolNest processes the file inside your browser. It never leaves your device.