Convert Any Videos to Audio (mp3, ogg, cd, flac) for Free

Imagine you’ve got a hilarious clip, a podcast-style recording in a video, or a soundtrack you just want as audio. Instead of hunting for another app or online converter, VLC — the open-source media player — has your back. It can rip audio straight from video with just a few clicks.

Ready to learn how to use it? Let’s explain in steps with images!

Step 1 — Open VLC (Your Secret Superpower)

Whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux, start by launching VLC. If you don’t have it yet, grab it from the official VideoLAN website first — it’s free and safe.

Tip: VLC isn’t just a video player! It’s like a Swiss Army knife for media.

Step 2 — Find the “Convert / Save” Tool

From the top menu:

Media ➝ Convert / Save…
(or press Ctrl + R on Windows)

This opens up a hidden power feature — the place where audio extraction happens.

Step 3 — Add Your Video

In the Open Media window:

• Click Add…
• Navigate to the video file you want to convert
• Select it and click Open
• Click Convert / Save

Pro Tip: You can even batch-add multiple videos if you want several audio files at once!

Step 4 — Let’s Convert

Now that the file is loaded:

• In the Convert dialog, pull down the Profile menu

• Choose an audio format like:

• Audio – MP3
• Audio – FLAC
• Audio – OGG

Pro Tip: MP3 is the most universal but VLC supports lots of audio formats — pick one that fits your project!

Step 5 — Choose the Output Destination

• Click Browse next to the Destination field.
• Choose where your new audio file should be saved.

Very important:
Make sure the filename ends with the right extension — e.g., my-track.mp3. Otherwise VLC might save it as the wrong type.

Step 6 — Hit START and Watch the Magic

Once everything looks good:

• Click Start
• You’ll see the progress bar in VLC move — it’s converting!
• Just wait for it to finish. When it’s done, look in your destination folder for your freshly extracted audio file.

TL;DR: This is kind of important.

Sometimes, VLC gets stuck in a loop where you are asked to convert again even though the initial conversion was successful, and saved on your device. Closing the software in this instance through routine means becomes impossible.

Here's the fix

• Launch Task Manager either by searching for it or using CTRL+ALT+DEL
• Look for VLC media player in the list of software
• Right-click on VLC media player and click on End Task
• Voilà!  Enjoy your file.

Extra Tips & Hacks

Quality Matters

Want higher quality audio?
You can tweak the audio bitrate and codec by clicking the little wrench icon next to the Profile menu. This lets you fine-tune encoding settings like bitrate, sample rate, and codec.

If It Doesn’t Sound Right

Sometimes VLC converts, but the output still feels “off” (e.g., plays as a video without actual audio). One common fix is to make sure the filename truly ends in .mp3 (or your chosen format) so your system knows what it is.

To process batch conversion, just add more videos at the Add… step! VLC will convert them all using the same settings.

That wasn’t so bad, right? From a video file to crisp audio — all without extra apps or paid software. Whether you’re extracting a lecture you recorded, ripping clips for a podcast, or just want the song from that video, you now have the power.