[3 Ways] to Extract Audio from YouTube into MP3, MAV, M4A etc.

See how such YouTube downloader, YouTube converter and YouTube recorder tools can be used as an audio extractor to rip audio track from YouTube clip. 

Many YouTube viewers want to extract audio from YouTube videos so that they can enjoy the pure music (playlist) or listen to the favorite channel at will. Some video producers also are willing to save certain BGM sources for their own video creation after getting the permission of the video owner. If the video maker happens to be a live broadcaster, it’s also possible for him/her to separate sound track from achieved video or simply keep the audio file of live streaming alone for further usage. Then how to extract sound from YouTube video on Windows, macOS, or even mobiles running Android/iOS? Definitely, there’s more than one way out here.

Methods for YouTube Audio Ripping in 2022

Known by you or not, YouTube only accepts video uploading, and this video hosting site also has its own restriction on file formats. Therefore, for those who want to share YouTube-unfriendly file formats, MP3, WAV, and M4A audio types included, they are only left to transform them into YouTube supported video formats first and then accomplish the web sharing.

That YouTube doesn’t support audio, plus no download option is offered by this platform to common audiences for getting contents freely from YouTubers’ channels or live events, people have to seek help from third-party tool to rip YouTube audio without hassle.

Tool 1. YouTube Downloader
For most users in need, YouTube downloading program is the go-to pick. Since every YouTube video piece may have multiple available streaming formats, including video, audio and subtitles or closed captions, this kind of service is actually a file porter that can access YouTube’s video library/server and 1:1 move the target movie/song/audio onto local hard disk.

Tool 2. YouTube Converter
YouTube converter, especially YouTube to MP3 one, is still a widely used app that many customers get accustomed to saving the audio track of video-on-demand at a preferred format or even a certain kbps. Depending on the real situations, these converters may truly extract audio from YouTube at the original quality, and also may conduct audio transcoding with more or less quality sacrifice.

Tool 3. YouTube Recorder
If the former two utilities are starting line-ups, then YouTube recorder – the one that comes next – is undoubtedly a strong substitute. It can not only make up the feature-vacancy of many YouTube downloader and converter, e.g. unable to get subtitle/closed caption attached into video or download the music playlist/(hidden archived) live video, but also give a more secure, stable and flexible way to grab the media in your own way, for example jumping over specific segments, combining more clips into a single one from the very start, and so forth.

How to Extract Audio from YouTube with 3 Typical Tools?

After having a brief understanding of these programs, you can move up to the next part to find out their workflows one by one. Believe that you will surely obtain a couple of skills to achieve your audio ripping goal easily in the future.

1. How to download YouTube audio into MP3 etc.

All YouTube downloaders share the same working process: you copy the target video’s full link from YouTube, then paste it into the (online or desktop) downloader to analyze and display the available download choices. After that, do select the audio option and make the download happen immediately. Usually, MP3 is embraced by all videos, and as to some other audio formats like M4A, WAV or so, it really depends.

Below is a screenshot of how x2convert downloader works. There are many other top-ranked downloaders like youtube-dl, YTD Video Downloader, 4K Video Downloader, Keepvid and WinX YouTube Downloader.

If you prefer a more convenient one-click download solution, you are suggested to utilize YouTube downloader plugin like Easy YouTube Video Downloader and Video Downloader Professional.

2. How to convert YouTube video into FLAC, OGG etc.

Many YouTube video downloaders and audio extractors still provide related video to audio conversion feature to meet various requirements. And similar to downloading thing, you still need to do the “copy & paste” operation. Normally, once you select the output profile like W4A/MP3/FLAC/OGG, with a click on “Convert”, the service will process source video and convert it with the aid of conversion mechanism, say ffmpeg.

Take media player VLC that’s able to download YouTube for example, its internal “Convert / Save” capability allows you to convert downloaded YouTube (MP4) into MP3, Vorbis (OGG), FLAC, and CD formats at original high or customized quality effortlessly.

Even when copy protected media are excluded, both YouTube downloader and converter have their limitations on streaming media support. On one hand, different tools may have varying kernels to embrace differing ranges of videos. On the other hand, the mainstream streaming ripping services are not so stable because they may suddenly be shut down due to the legal disputes with the big companies, especially the music ones. YouTube-MP3.org is a typical example. Speaking of this, standalone apps have an advantage over online services.

3. How to record YouTube audio on computer

When your downloader or converter has “analyzing failed” problem, or you’d like to select partial audio of clip(s) to keep in hand, YouTube audio recorder is the only way out. And there are really a plenty of online, browser-based and desktop screen audio recorders that can act as audio extractor to grab and document the background song, music, interview, informal message, and podcast as a standalone file.

Here we illustrate how this kind of package works by showing a how-to guide of RecMaster. You can free download its 100% safe and stable installer right away to locate it on your machine.

Generally speaking, you should open and play the YouTube video firstly, and then open the recorder to select a mode suitable for YouTube capture. RecMaster does have multiple recording modes too. To extract audio off YouTube video, please choose “Audio Only” to go on.

Currently, RecMaster offers MP3 & WAV formats to standby for Windows PC, and M4A & CAR for macOS. Since YouTube audio is coming from computer’s sound card, so you should to turn on “System sound” with proper volume adjusted and turn off “Microphone” to avoid noise from mic is taken in.

At last, it’s time to initiate the audio recording. Hitting buttons or pressing shortcuts, you decide your favorite one. If you plan to leave the computer and automate a future recording, creating a scheduled mission with Task schedule function.

Software Recommendation:
Screen Audio Recorder for Windows and Mac
Free online screen recorder
YouTube Screen Recorder for Chrome

Ending Marks

In short, you can take advantage of either of the tools mentioned above to extract audio from YouTube.

If you are willing to obtain the 100% original audio file without transcoding, you’d better check its available streams beforehand with youtube-dl and use youtube-dl or similar downloader to finish the extraction. Since the download or conversion speed and stability are influenced by its performance and internet connection, you’d better test multiple ones by yourself before getting accustomed to any of them.

If your idea audio format is not among the available list, you will have to leverage YouTube converter or recorder to pull the job off.

The last word is, on the copyright front, you should ensure all of your downloading, converting and recording actions are taken for your own personal, non-profit and offline use. If not, you will probably get troubles.

See also:
Audacity Record from YouTube with Explicit Guidance