The VideoLAN Forums

Hi there:

I am hoping you could be kind enough to tell me what I am doing incorrectly attempting to extract Audio from any MPEG4 Video file using VLC.

I am good with computers and software but obviously am missing a step. When the process is done instead of the file showing FLAC Audio extension that could be played with any Media Player or Audio editing software it shows the icon of a video and it will only play on VLC. There is no video, only audio but it is exclusive to VLC and not recognized by any other program.

These are the steps I have followed:

--
Open VLC PLAYER-
Media- Choose Convert/Save
Add File
Select a File from Computer
Click- Convert/Save
Click- Convert
Profile- Choose Audio (FLAC)
Destination File (Pick one such as "Downloads")
Click-Start
On the bottom right you can see the file being created a blue line going left to right

Thank you and be well and safe,

CF

You don't need to convert the audio, for extracting it just create a new profile where Encapsulation=MP4/MOV, Video=nothing-unticked, Audio=keep original audio track.
And give the final file an MP4 or M4A extension.

Hi Lotesdelere:

I am sorry I am not following you. If you give a final file a MP4 extension that is a Video. Wouldn't any audio extraction have to be .mp3 ,FLAC .Wav? In simplest terms say you use an on-line extraction (or a stand alone software) it will look like this:
Current File Video .MPEG4 Convert to Audio .MP3 Local Directory (Say Download)

In order for a Windows Computer to play Audio on any source Windows Media Player, I won't plug any audio player/editing here so we will call it ZZZZZZ, it has to be audio specific. In addition what is the sense of the option I mentioned in the first post if the end result is not extracted audio?

Where are the settings to find: New profile/Encapsulation

Thank you for being kind enough to answer

If you give a final file a MP4 extension that is a Video.

No. MP4 is a container which can contain several different streams but audio only is allowed:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_14
As I said you can give it an M4A extension if you want.

Where are the settings to find: New profile/Encapsulation

In the Convert UI wizard:

Thank you will try. Have a great and safe weekend, HG