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How to extract audio from a video

By Lawal Ayo, LAS G Concept · Updated 15 October 2026

Maybe you recorded a lecture on your phone and want the sound only, or you want the background music from a clip, or you need a clean audio file to send for transcription. Extracting audio means saving the sound of a video as its own file. This guide covers the formats on offer in LAS Converter and which one to pick.

It runs in your browser with ffmpeg.wasm, so the video is not uploaded.

Step by step

Open the converter and log in.
Choose Video → Audio.
Drop the video, up to 500 MB on the website.
Choose the audio format (see the table of choices below).
Choose the bitrate where it applies (128, 192, 256 or 320 kbps; free accounts are limited to 192) and the channels: Original, Stereo or Mono.
Convert and save the file.

Which format should I choose?

MP3: plays everywhere. Best default for sharing.
M4A (AAC): usually better quality than MP3 at the same size, and works on iPhones, Android and most players.
OPUS: very efficient, great for voice and for small files. Not every older player supports it.
OGG (Vorbis): open format, common in games and Linux.
WAV: uncompressed and large (about 10 MB per minute for CD quality). Use it for editing in audio software.
FLAC: lossless but compressed, about half the size of WAV. Use it for keeping music at full quality.

Stereo, mono or original?

Original keeps whatever the video has, including surround sound. Stereo makes a normal two-channel file. Mono mixes everything to one channel; the app labels it as best for voice. Choose mono for speech and you cut the size roughly in half.

Keeping quality

Converting to a lossy format (MP3, M4A, OGG, OPUS) always discards some detail. To avoid damage, extract to WAV or FLAC first if you plan to edit the audio, and export to MP3 only at the end. If the video is already low quality, a higher bitrate will not bring detail back.

Use the Media Inspector in the app to see what audio the video contains, including its codec, bitrate and number of streams, before you convert.

Typical uses

Lectures, sermons and meetings to listen to on the go.
Voice clips to send for transcription.
Sound for a podcast or a voice-over.

Only extract audio from content you own or have the right to use. Music in someone else's video is usually protected by copyright. For the simplest MP3 route, see how to convert MP4 to MP3.

Check the result before you share it

After converting, play the file from start to finish at least once. Listen for clipping, missing sections and sudden silence, which can happen when the original video has several audio tracks and the wrong one is chosen. If the sound is too quiet, the app also includes volume options (100%, 150% and 200%) in its editing tools, and a mute choice. Rename the file clearly, for example with the date and a short title, so you can find it later. Remember that converting to MP3 more than once degrades the sound each time, so always go back to the original video if you need a different version.

Frequently asked questions

Can I extract audio without losing quality?

Extracting to WAV or FLAC keeps the sound exactly as in the video. MP3 and other lossy formats lose a little detail.

What is the biggest video I can use?

The website accepts files up to 500 MB. The Windows app has no such limit.

Is the video uploaded?

No, it is processed in your browser.

Can I extract audio from a link?

Use the Download Center for public Facebook links and choose an MP3 option.

Try it

Use the video to audio converter page to learn more, or go straight to the app.

Open the converter Create a free account