How to Extract Audio from a Video (MP4 to MP3), No Upload
Sometimes you only want the sound: a song from a music video, a lecture, a voice note you filmed by accident. Here is how I pull the audio out of any video and save it as a clean MP3 in seconds, in the browser, with no upload and no watermark.
Table of Contents
When you only want the sound
You have a video, but the part you want is the audio: a song from a live performance, the talk inside a recorded lecture, a podcast someone published as a video, or a voice note you filmed by accident. Keeping the whole video just to hear the sound is wasteful, and it will not drop into a music app or a playlist. What you want is to pull out the audio and save it as a small, portable file.
That used to mean an app or an online converter that uploaded your whole video to a server. It does not anymore. A modern browser can decode the audio and write an MP3 right on your device, in seconds, with nothing uploaded and no watermark. Here is how, and how to choose the right settings.
What extracting audio actually means
A video file is really two streams wrapped together: the moving picture and the sound. Extracting audio means decoding just the audio stream and saving it on its own, with the video discarded. The audio inside a video is usually already compressed (often AAC), and when you save it as MP3 or M4A it is re-encoded into a standalone audio file that any player understands. The result is a fraction of the original size, because all the video data is gone.
MP3 or M4A: which to pick
Both are good. The difference is compatibility versus efficiency.
| Format | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MP3 | Anything, anywhere | Plays on every device and app, the safe default |
| M4A (AAC) | Apple, modern players | Slightly smaller at the same quality |
| WAV | Editing, mastering | Lossless but large, no compression |
For sending a clip, saving a song, or listening on the go, MP3 is the right call. Choose M4A if you live in the Apple world and want the smallest file at the same quality.
Just want the MP3? Drop your video and pick the bitrate.
Open the Extract Audio toolHow to extract audio in your browser
- Drop your video. Open the Extract Audio tool and drag an MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV onto the page. It is read locally, never uploaded.
- Pick MP3 or M4A. Choose the format and a bitrate from 128 to 320 kbps.
- Extract. The audio track is decoded with WebCodecs and encoded to your chosen format, right on your device.
- Preview and download. Listen to the result in the player, then download the audio file.
Bitrate: how much quality do you need?
Bitrate is how much data the audio uses per second. Higher means better quality and a bigger file. Here is the simple guide.
| Bitrate | Use it for |
|---|---|
| 128 kbps | Voice, podcasts, lectures, smallest file |
| 192 kbps | A great all-round choice for most audio |
| 320 kbps | Music, when you want it effectively transparent |
What people use this for
- Saving a song from a music video or live performance to listen offline.
- Turning a talk or lecture filmed as video into a podcast-style MP3 for the commute.
- Pulling a voice note out of a clip you recorded as video.
- Grabbing a sound or sample for editing in another app.
A reminder on respecting copyright: extract audio from videos you own or have the right to use.
MP4, MOV or WebM to MP3, all in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Convert MP4 to MP3Why no upload matters
Most MP4 to MP3 sites upload your entire video to a server, transcode it there, and hand you a download. That means your footage, which often includes people, voices and private moments, sits on someone else's machine. SammaPix does the whole job in your browser, so the file never leaves your device. It is faster, and it is the same principle behind every SammaPix tool, explained more in the guide to browser-based privacy tools.
Extract audio from a video, no upload
MP3 or M4A, 128 to 320 kbps, no watermark, all in your browser.
Open Extract AudioFAQ
How do I extract audio from a video without uploading it?
Use a browser-based tool that runs locally. SammaPix's Extract Audio tool at sammapix.com/tools/extract-audio decodes your video's audio track and encodes it to MP3 or M4A entirely on your device using the WebCodecs API. Nothing is uploaded, so it is faster and private.
How do I convert MP4 to MP3?
Drop your MP4 into the Extract Audio tool, choose MP3 and a bitrate, then download. The audio is pulled out of the video and saved as a small MP3 that plays on every device. The whole thing happens in your browser with no upload.
Does extracting audio reduce quality?
MP3 and M4A are lossy formats, so there is a re-encode, but at 192 to 320 kbps the difference is inaudible to almost everyone. For voice and podcasts, even 128 kbps sounds clean and keeps the file tiny. If you need a perfect copy, choose a lossless format like WAV.
Should I choose MP3 or M4A?
MP3 plays on virtually every device and app, so it is the safest default. M4A uses the AAC codec and is slightly smaller at the same quality, which is ideal for Apple devices and modern players. When in doubt, pick MP3.
Is there a watermark or a file limit?
No watermark, ever. The free tier handles files up to 500 MB, which is a long video, and larger files are available with Pro or a Day Pass. The audio quality is never degraded by a watermark or branding.
What video formats can I extract audio from?
MP4, MOV, WebM and MKV are all supported, along with audio containers like M4A. SammaPix reads the audio track directly from each format and re-encodes it to your chosen output.
