Video to MP3 converter
FileReshape's video to MP3 converter takes the first sound track of a video in almost any format, including MOV, MKV, WebM, AVI, WMV, FLV, MPEG and AVCHD camera files, and saves it as an MP3 at 128 to 320 kbit/s, using FFmpeg in your browser. The video is not uploaded. Silent videos and copy-protected films cannot be converted.
Did a file not convert correctly? E-mail [email protected], ideally with a small sample file, and it will be fixed.
Key facts
- Input: MP4 (.mp4). Output: MP3 (.mp3).
- Your files are not uploaded: the work is done in your browser, on your own device.
- File size: up to 2 GB per file (the limit of the browser's WebAssembly memory).
- Needs a current browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) on a computer, tablet or phone; nothing to install.
- Free to use, with no sign-up.
Why save the sound of a video as MP3
Video files come in many shapes: MOV from an iPhone, MKV from OBS Studio or a TV recorder, WebM from a browser screen recorder, AVI and WMV from old camcorders and Windows Movie Maker, FLV from early web videos, MTS from AVCHD camcorders and MPG from DVDs you made yourself. Often only the sound matters: a speech at a wedding, a band rehearsal, a sermon, a webinar, an interview for a school project. This tool reads all of these formats with FFmpeg in your browser, shows which sound track it found, and encodes it as an MP3 that plays on every device. The picture is skipped, so even a long video converts quickly. Nothing is uploaded, which also means no waiting for a large video to travel to a server and back.
How to convert a video to MP3
- Drop the video in the box, or click to choose it.
- Check the duration and sound track shown, and choose the MP3 quality.
- Click Convert to MP3 and save the MP3 file.
What to know before extracting the sound
Several sound tracks
Films in MKV and some camera files have more than one sound track, for example two languages or a director's commentary. The tool uses the first track, which is normally the main one.
Surround sound
A 5.1 sound track from a film is mixed down to stereo, because MP3 only stores one or two channels. Speech stays clear; the effect of the rear speakers is folded into left and right.
Old formats
Very old or unusual codecs, such as some RealMedia or QuickTime formats from the 1990s, may not be readable. The page tells you straight away when FFmpeg cannot decode the sound.
Only your own videos
Streaming apps store films encrypted, and those cannot be read. Use the tool for videos you recorded or have the right to use, such as your own recordings and lectures you are allowed to keep.
About the formats
MP4
MP4 (MPEG-4 Part 14) is the most common video file format. Phones, cameras, YouTube, WhatsApp and every computer and TV use it. An MP4 is a container: the picture inside is usually compressed with H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) and the sound with AAC, and the same file can also hold subtitles, chapters and a cover image.
- The format was standardised in 2003 and is based on Apple's QuickTime format, which is why MP4 and MOV files are so alike.
- H.264 video with AAC sound plays on practically every device made in the last 15 years.
- A minute of phone video in 1080p is typically 100–200 MB; in 4K it is often 350–500 MB.
- The "faststart" layout puts the index at the beginning, so a video can start playing before it is fully downloaded.
MP3
MP3 is the most widely supported audio format. It was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany and standardised in 1993, and it plays on every phone, computer, car stereo and website. MP3 makes music about a tenth of its CD size by leaving out sounds people hardly hear.
- 128 kbit/s is fine for speech and podcasts; 192–320 kbit/s is used for music.
- The last MP3 patents expired in 2017, so the format is free to use everywhere.
- Title, artist, album and cover art are stored in ID3 tags at the start of the file.
- MP3 is lossy: every new encode loses a little more, so convert from the original when you can.
Frequently asked questions
Is my video uploaded?
No. FFmpeg runs inside your browser tab and reads the video from your own disk in pieces, so even a file of one or two gigabytes works without being uploaded.
Which video formats are supported?
MP4, M4V, MOV, MKV, WebM, AVI, WMV, FLV, 3GP, MPG, MPEG, TS, MTS and M2TS, with the usual sound codecs such as AAC, MP3, AC-3, Opus, Vorbis, WMA and PCM.
Can I save the sound as WAV instead?
Yes. Convert the video to MP3 here, or for an uncompressed file use the MP3 to WAV tool afterwards. For editing, a lossless copy avoids a second lossy step.
How long does it take?
Usually a few seconds per minute of sound on a computer, because the picture is not decoded. Phones are slower and work best with videos under half an hour.