Software to convert MP4 video to MP3 audio track?

[Bridgebuster]

I have several videos that I'd like to find some software for that will strip the video information to turn it into an MP3 audio track. Can you give me any direction on software (preferably free)?

 

[honestone]

The best software for this is Handbrake, and it's free! Also, it has been around for a number of years. You can download it from here:

https://handbrake.fr/

I recently used it to convert a number of movies of various formats to MP4, and it worked like a charm.

Additionally, this link explains how to use it for converting audio files/formats:

http://urby.ca/?p=153

 

[Bridgebuster]

Excellent!! Thank you so much for your help!

 

[honestone]

You're welcome. Let us know how it goes.

 

[Bridgebuster]

It'll convert to all kinds of video formats, but can't get it to ditch the video portions to convert to .mp3 format.

 

[honestone]

Sorry you are, so far, not successful. HandBrake has a number of different settings, but I myself have only used the "basics" of the software. A couple of things I just tried:

1. Results of a google search for "How to convert a video file into an MP3 Audio Track using HandBrake on a Mac":

https://www.google.com/search?q=How+to+convert+a+video+file+into+an+MP3+Audio+Track+using+HandBrake+on+a+Mac&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS628US629&oq=How&aqs=chrome.0.69i59l3j69i60j69i57j69i61.4339j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

2. Results of a google search for "handbrake extract audio only":

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS628US629&ei=MCxRWo_xOofZ0gKY8rjYAQ&q=handbrake+extract+audio+only&oq=How+to+convert+a+video+file+into+an+MP3+Audio+Track+using+HandBrake+on+a+Mac&gs_l=psy-ab.1.1.0i71k1l4.0.0.0.52608.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c..64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.8FhQGE3Y8xM

3. Results of a google search for "handbrake audio only no video":

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS628US629&ei=zyxRWqC8EOeF0wLJ07HwAQ&q=handbrake+audio+only+no+video&oq=handbrake+extract+audio+only&gs_l=psy-ab.1.0.0i71k1l4.0.0.0.160186.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1c..64.psy-ab..0.0.0....0.leykU_BNw_Y

You'll need to look at those to try and find a solution. By the way, are your video "files" on a DVD, or on various files? And if on files, what format are they?

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello,

If the video can be opened in QuickTime Player, you can use the File > Export function as Audio Only. You can then import that into iTunes and convert it to MP3, and export if need be.

C

 

[honestone]

Well, Cory comes through again! And the solution is rather simple (as long as the video can be opened in the QuickTime Player).

 

[Allen Davis]

I used to have to keep a number of other things to open certain video files (Windows Media Player, VLC, etc.). Now QuickTime opens up nearly everything I've seen, although most files have to be "converted" first. After viewing, you're offered the option of saving the file in QT format. However, those "converted" files are, more often than not, very, very bloated in size. Example: a 5 MB WMV file will often swell to 10-20 MB depending on the quality of the video and sound.