What happens when you convert MP4 to MP3
| Result | Only the soundtrack, encoded as MP3 at 192 kbps by default |
|---|---|
| File size | About 1.4 MB per minute of audio |
| Speed | Fast: the video track is skipped, so only audio is processed |
| Opens in | every device, car stereo and audio app |
Sizes are typical values; your files will vary with content and settings.
MP4 MPEG-4 Part 14
MP4 is the universal video container. With H.264 video and AAC audio it plays on every phone, browser, smart TV and social network, which makes it the safest choice for sharing.
MP4 converterMP3 MPEG-1 Audio Layer III
MP3 is the most compatible audio format in existence. Every phone, car stereo, browser and editor plays it, and 128 to 320 kbps gives small files that sound good for music and speech.
MP3 converterHow to use the MP4 to MP3 Converter
- 1
Choose a MP4 file or drop it onto the page.
- 2
Review the audio options. The defaults suit most files.
- 3
Click Convert and download your MP3 when processing finishes.
Pulling the audio out of a video
The audio track is decoded and encoded to MP3 at the bitrate you choose. 192 kbps is a good default for music, 128 kbps is plenty for speech, lectures and podcasts. Use the trim fields to keep only part of the soundtrack. Only convert videos you own or have permission to use.
Why convert MP4 to MP3?
MP4 is what phones, cameras, screen recorders and most video sites produce. Editing software sometimes prefers intra-frame formats like ProRes for heavy editing. Choose MP3 when the audio must play on any device, car stereo or upload form.
Audio extraction options
Only the audio track of the MP4 is processed, so this is much faster than a video conversion. Choose the bitrate or quality, optionally trim to a start and end time, and download the MP3.
Frequently asked questions
Will the MP3 lose quality?
Both formats are lossy, so converting re-encodes the data once more. Using a high quality setting keeps the generational loss very small. Avoid converting the same file back and forth repeatedly.
How big will the MP3 file be?
About 1.4 MB per minute of audio at the default 192 kbps, so a 10-minute MP4 gives roughly 14.4 MB. The size of the video track does not matter, because only the sound is kept. Choose 128 kbps for speech to make it about a third smaller.
Questions about privacy, file-size limits or conversion speed are answered in the general FAQ.