# Extract Audio — Extract audio from a video on Mac

Pull the soundtrack out of any video. Part of OneMacTools, 151 private tools in one native Mac app (macOS 26 or later); category: Audio. Runs on your Mac; nothing is uploaded.

Save the audio from videos as MP3, M4A, WAV or FLAC. Great for keeping a talk, a song or an interview without the picture.

Page: https://www.onemactools.com/tools/extract-audio · Download: https://www.onemactools.com/download · Pricing: https://www.onemactools.com/pricing

## How to use it
1. **Drop your videos.** Drag in one video or a batch of MP4, MOV, MKV or WebM files. Or select them in Finder, right-click and choose Quick Actions › OMT: Extract Audio as MP3.
2. **Pick the format.** Choose MP3, M4A, WAV or FLAC in the panel on the right.
3. **Click Extract.** The soundtrack of each video is saved as its own audio file, with the same name as the video.
4. **Open the audio.** The files are in a new dated folder in Downloads › OneMacTools. Play them with the Preview (eye) button or use Show in Finder. Your videos are untouched.

## Options
- **Format:** MP3, M4A, WAV or FLAC. MP3 is high-quality variable bit rate and plays everywhere. M4A is 192 kbps AAC, ideal for Apple devices. WAV (16-bit) and FLAC are lossless; WAV is best for editing, FLAC for keeping a lossless copy at about half the size.

## Tips
- For a talk, lecture or podcast you'll just listen to, MP3 or M4A is plenty. The files are a fraction of the size of WAV.
- Choose WAV if you'll edit the audio in another app. Editing an MP3 and saving it again loses a little quality each time.
- Extracting to FLAC or WAV can't make the sound better than the video's original soundtrack. It only stops further loss.
- Only want part of the video? Extract the audio first, then cut it down with Trim Audio.
- Going to transcribe it? Drop the video straight into Transcribe instead; it reads the soundtrack itself.

## Questions
**How do I extract audio from a video on a Mac?**
Drop the video onto Extract Audio, pick MP3, M4A, WAV or FLAC and click Extract. The soundtrack is saved as an audio file in your OneMacTools folder.

**How do I convert MP4 to MP3 on a Mac?**
Drop the MP4 onto Extract Audio with MP3 selected, or right-click it in Finder and choose Quick Actions › OMT: Extract Audio as MP3.

**Will the audio lose quality?**
MP3 and M4A are re-encoded at a high setting, so the loss is very hard to hear. WAV and FLAC are lossless copies of the soundtrack as it was decoded.

**Can I extract the audio from several videos at once?**
Yes. Drop them all in and each one gets its own audio file with the same name.

**Can I get the audio from a MKV or WebM video?**
Yes. Extract Audio uses FFmpeg, which reads MKV and WebM as well as MP4 and MOV.

**How do I get the audio from a video online?**
Use Download Video with Keep set to Audio only to save it as an MP3, for videos you have the right to keep.