Best way to convert online videos to audio only files?

[balloonshark]

I'm looking for the best way to convert online videos to audio only files. I'm not sure what formats I'll be dealing with but the few I currently have are .mp4s. I guess converting them to .mp3 is best unless you could recommend a better format. For now they will be played through Winamp and on my Nexus 7 which has google play music installed.

I see that there are online youtube to audio converters. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has had luck with one of these services.

Also, is there such a thing as multi-format conversion program?

I'm would also be open to a new PC media player if it can do conversions.

 

[lxskllr]

Audacity should be able to do formats that aren't Flash(.flv). Import the file, then export the audio. My preferred download format is webm, and my preferred audio format is ogg.

 

[thewhat]

Technically you shouldn't be converting, but you simply 'extract' the audio portion of the file, so that you don't lose quality in the process.

If the audio portion happens to be some weird format you can still convert it.

Xmedia Recode can handle that and more. Another decent one is Avidemux.

 

[balloonshark]

Audacity should be able to do formats that aren't Flash(.flv). Import the file, then export the audio. My preferred download format is webm, and my preferred audio format is ogg.

Thanks, I've used Audacity in the past to split steaming audio files but it was a bit complicated to use. It looks like I would need to install FFmpeg and LAME encoder to import .mp4 and export .mp3. http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_opening_and_saving_files.html#foreign

Technically you shouldn't be converting, but you simply 'extract' the audio portion of the file, so that you don't lose quality in the process.

If the audio portion happens to be some weird format you can still convert it.

Xmedia Recode can handle that and more. Another decent one is Avidemux.

Thank you. When playing the mp4 with winamp I did notice there was a separate acc file. I'll have a look at the programs you mentioned.

 

[Iron Woode]

Freemake Video Converter can do this.

 

[Berryracer]

I use Internet Download Manager, now only does it allow you to download any online video, it lets you choose what format you want to download it in, so I usually just select MP3 and I would have the audio only

 

[thewhat]

When playing the mp4 with winamp I did notice there was a separate acc file.

You probably mean AAC, that's a typical format for audio with videos. When you extract it to an audio file it should have the extension .M4A and should play in most audio players.

 

[balloonshark]

Freemake Video Converter can do this.

Looks like a nice program but I skipped it because both Majorgeeks and Softpedia said it was ad supported. Do you happen to know if the "extras" can easily be avoided during install?

You probably mean AAC, that's a typical format for audio with videos. When you extract it to an audio file it should have the extension .M4A and should play in most audio players.

Yes I meant AAC. It's football season lol.

I gave Xmedia Recode a try and it seems like a handy little program :thumbsup:. I only wish I knew what I was doing as far as choosing a bitrate, etc.

Edit: Quick question. In the past when you installed a bunch of media type programs it often caused problems with the cd/dvd drive. Does this still happen or am I safe having a couple of media players and a couple of editors/converters installed? I'm running Win 8 64bit.

 

[thewhat]

I gave Xmedia Recode a try and it seems like a handy little program :thumbsup:. I only wish I knew what I was doing as far as choosing a bitrate, etc.

Yeah, it has a lot of options, but for your task just:
select M4A as the format and then go to audio, click on the the file in the "output" part and then select modus: Copy. Then click on "Add Job" and "Encode".
That should do it.

 

[lxskllr]

Thanks, I've used Audacity in the past to split steaming audio files but it was a bit complicated to use. It looks like I would need to install FFmpeg and LAME encoder to import .mp4 and export .mp3. http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/faq_opening_and_saving_files.html#foreign

That's not difficult, and it's all libre software. You want Lame anyway. It's a superior mp3 encoder. open up Audacity, drag the clip to it, open file, export, and set the variables for exporting. a minute later, it's done.

You can also extract the audio from various formats to maintain quality. That's a little more nuanced, and I don't know of a single tool that does it all. Firefox downloaders will easily extract audio from .flvs. I prefer ogg, so download .webm, and use the command line to extract the audio.

 

[DarkTXKnight]

"Audacity should be able to do formats that aren't Flash(.flv). Import the file, then export the audio"

If you can't use Audacity for .flv files, what else can be used? I have a bunch of those Id like to extract the audio from for car rides.

 

[lxskllr]

If you can't use Audacity for .flv files, what else can be used? I have a bunch of those Id like to extract the audio from for car rides.

I used to use this on Windows...

http://www.afterdawn.com/software/audio_video/convert_video/flv_extract.cfm

This is for example. I can't vouch for this specific download. It's extremely easy. It's a single window, and you set the checkbox options you want, and drop the video on the window. Audio, video, or whatever will get extracted and put in the directory it came from(if memory serves).

Edit:
Here's a link to the author's site...

http://moitah.net/#FLVExtract

 

[DarkTXKnight]

Thanks, I will try this on a stack of files tonight!

 

[John Connor]

I use Freemake and this. http://www.loudtronix.me/?code=201

 

[balloonshark]

Yeah, it has a lot of options, but for your task just:
select M4A as the format and then go to audio, click on the the file in the "output" part and then select modus: Copy. Then click on "Add Job" and "Encode".
That should do it.

Thanks for the tip. That sounds easier that what I was trying.

That's not difficult, and it's all libre software. You want Lame anyway. It's a superior mp3 encoder. open up Audacity, drag the clip to it, open file, export, and set the variables for exporting. a minute later, it's done.

You can also extract the audio from various formats to maintain quality. That's a little more nuanced, and I don't know of a single tool that does it all. Firefox downloaders will easily extract audio from .flvs. I prefer ogg, so download .webm, and use the command line to extract the audio.

Thanks for your help. I've been using the older version of the netvideohunter dlownloader add-on. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/netvideohunter-video-downloade/?src=search

I have no idea how it compares to other such add-ons. I was looking for an add-on that didn't include crap or other gotchas. Even this add-on has ads when you open the gui.

With the add-on it looks like I can download either WebM, 3GP, MP4 and FLV. I take it WebM has the best audio which is OGG right? MP4 has AAC but what about the other 2? How do they stack up? Is it best to save as OGG and then convert to mp3 for portable devices? You mention using the command line to convert WebM to OGG but can I do it through Audacity's UI?

edit: It looks like version 2.0.4 has the start up issue on my rig. http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=74470

I use Freemake and this. http://www.loudtronix.me/?code=201

Thanks for your input. I'm going to bookmark this topic for safekeeping.

 

[lxskllr]

What are you trying to extract, music, or speaking? Speaking(speeches, podcasts...) don't require the clarity of music, so they can be converted with little issue. With music, an extraction is preferable so data doesn't get thrown away needlessly.

My preference for ogg is largely philosophical with regards to Youtube. It's a libre codec without patent encumbrances. It does sound better than mp3, but I'm not sure how much a difference it makes with Youtube. Youtube converts on upload, so quality gets lost there above what the uploader did.

For downloading, I use these two...

libre software, works only on Youtube
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-video-and-audio-dow/?src=search

Proprietary, works on many sites
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/?src=search

 

[Chiefcrowe]

Thank you, that youtube addon worked great!

What are you trying to extract, music, or speaking? Speaking(speeches, podcasts...) don't require the clarity of music, so they can be converted with little issue. With music, an extraction is preferable so data doesn't get thrown away needlessly.

My preference for ogg is largely philosophical with regards to Youtube. It's a libre codec without patent encumbrances. It does sound better than mp3, but I'm not sure how much a difference it makes with Youtube. Youtube converts on upload, so quality gets lost there above what the uploader did.

For downloading, I use these two...

libre software, works only on Youtube
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-video-and-audio-dow/?src=search

Proprietary, works on many sites
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/?src=search

 

[Kougar]

Another option for those that just want a quick mp3: http://snipmp3.com/

 

[Spacehead]

I see that there are online youtube to audio converters. I'd be interested to hear if anyone has had luck with one of these services.

This one works well:
http://www.listentoyoutube.com/

 

[SlickR12345]

Free Audio Converter, Freemake Video Converter

 

[John Connor]

I tried Video DownloadHelper for Firefox and it was just bloated. I have something else which I can't remember the name at the moment that I use to download videos.

 

[balloonshark]

What are you trying to extract, music, or speaking? Speaking(speeches, podcasts...) don't require the clarity of music, so they can be converted with little issue. With music, an extraction is preferable so data doesn't get thrown away needlessly.

My preference for ogg is largely philosophical with regards to Youtube. It's a libre codec without patent encumbrances. It does sound better than mp3, but I'm not sure how much a difference it makes with Youtube. Youtube converts on upload, so quality gets lost there above what the uploader did.

For downloading, I use these two...

libre software, works only on Youtube
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-video-and-audio-dow/?src=search

Proprietary, works on many sites
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/video-downloadhelper/?src=search

The first add-on looks very promising. I actually tried to avoid the 2nd add-on and that is why I'm using the one I currently have.

I was looking decent quality audio but I agree with your assessment that it may be a moot point with music on youtube.

 

[balloonshark]

Another option for those that just want a quick mp3: http://snipmp3.com/

This one works well:
http://www.listentoyoutube.com/

Free Audio Converter, Freemake Video Converter

Thanks Kougar, Spacehead and Slick! I'll have a look a your suggestions.

 

[geekiergeek]

I have been using River Past Audio Capture - http://www.riverpast.com/en/prod/audiocapture/

 

[luv2liv]

i use http://keepvid.com/
it will give you option to grab the vid in mp4 or just audio in mp3.
the only downside is installing Java