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How to Convert MP4 to MP3 Using VLC Media Player on Windows and Mac 2024

You might wish to convert your movie but only maintain the audio and save it as an MP3 at times. The process of VLC converting to MP3 is straightforward as VLC is a powerful free multimedia player that supports converting MP4 files to MP3 or other wide ranges of video and audio formats.

Part 1: How to Convert MP4 to MP3 VLC on Mac

VLC Media Player, a completely free and open-source video and audio player, runs on all major operating systems. If you want to convert MP4 to MP3, it will help you to do that. Moreover, VLC is more than a video player, as you can convert files to the video or audio formats you want in this program. So, let's learn how to convert MP4 to MP3 using VLC on Mac?

Steps for Converting MP4 to MP3 in VLC on Mac

Here is the steps for you. Let’s follow the steps below now.

  • 1.Launch VLC Media Player on your computer. Tap “Media” option to choose “Convert/Stream”.

    launch vlc media player
  • 2.Click on Open Media and upload the MP4 video which you want to convert it to MP3.

    upload mp4 media
  • 3.Make some output settings now. Choose MP3 as the output format.

    choose mp3 format vlc
  • 4.Choose Destination. When everything is almost done, click on “Go” to begin you conversion. The audio extraction process will be visible as the progress slider on the player indicates. You can explore and find the desired audio file after the slider reaches the conclusion. The MP3 file will be small in size and can be simply copied to your smartphone, music player, or other mobile audio device.

Advantages and Limits of VLC to MP3:

Even though VLC media file to MP3 converter is free to use, it also has some limits. Here we will summarize some of its pros and cons for your reference.

Advantages:

  • It’s completely free
  • Supports exporting files in various formats
  • Supports extension
  • Serves as both a video player and a video converter

Limits:

  • This program is not easy-to-use
  • It cannot remember some of your settings. You need to reset when you open it every time
  • YTMP3: YouTube to Mp3 Music Converter
  • You need to download codecs for some video and audio formats
  • It may crash or freeze sometimes

Part 2: How to Convert MP4 to MP3 VLC on Windows Successfully?

With a few adjustments to the output format settings, you can effortlessly convert your MP4 videos to MP3 audio files using VLC Player. Apart from VLC Media Player, all you need is the video file you wish to convert.

  • Step 1: Go to the Convert Media Menu in VLC Player

    Open VLC Media Player. Then, navigate to the menu, select “Media,” and choose “Convert/Save…”

    select convert or save
  • Step 2: Choose and Load the MP4 File for Conversion

    Click on the “Add…” button to locate and select the desired video file you wish to convert to MP3. Locate the video file and select it. Optionally, you can check the “Show more options” box to adjust the start time of the video, useful for skipping portions during the conversion process.

    add mp4 file
  • Step 3: Adjust Output Encoding to MP3 Audio

    Next, click the arrow adjacent to the “Convert/Save” button and click on “Convert” to convert VLC to MP3. This action opens the Convert window, offering various output format options.

    Select “Audio-MP3” format from the drop-down list for your video conversion to MP3 using VLC Player. Optionally, click the Settings icon next to the format drop-down to customize audio settings like bitrate and sampling frequency.

    select mp3 format
  • Step 4: Specify the Destination for the MP3 File

    Designate a name and path for the output MP3 file. Click on “Browse,” select the desired output location, name your converted MP3 audio file, and click “Save”.

  • Step 5: Initiate MP4 to MP3 Conversion

    Initiate the conversion process by clicking the “Start” button. The duration of the conversion may vary depending on the video's length.

    start converting mp4 to mp3 vlc

When complete, you can close the VLC Player. The resulting MP3 file will be saved to the location you selected. Navigate to the output file location to access your converted MP3 file. Double-click the converted file to ensure that it's working fine.

Pros

  • Extensive support for a wide range of file formats.
  • Completely free to use.
  • Offers advanced features like basic filter editing.

Cons

  • The conversion process may not be as user-friendly compared to competing software
  • Some settings may not be retained upon reopening the program, requiring resetting each time.
  • Occasional crashes or freezing can occur.

Part 3: Best VLC Alternative to Convert MP4 to MP3 on Windows and Mac

Obviously, there are some serious limitations to converting MP3 with VLC. So, we now recommend HitPaw MP3 Converter that can convert files to any desired format quickly without any quality loss.

HitPaw Video Converter can convert video or audio to any format you want in bulk. What's importantly, you can enable its lossless conversion or GPU acceleration to have a faster speed up to 90X. Besides, except converting feature, it does have some other amazing features as well. We will list some of them below.

Main Feature of HitPaw Video Converter:

  • Batch convert videos or audios at a fast speed.
  • One click to convert files to those compatible with certain social media or phone system.
  • Can convert videos with no quality loss.
  • Works well on both Windows and Mac systems.
  • Supports downloads files fromYouTube, Instagram and other over 10,000 popular sites,
  • You can download video, audio or thumbnail as you want.
  • You can also make some simple edits on your converted or downloaded files.

Steps to convert MP4 to MP3 in HitPaw Video Converter:

  • 1. Install HitPaw Video Converter

    Download the software on your computer.

  • 2. Upload your MP4 file(s)

    Import your MP4 file(s) into the program by clicking on the “Add Video” button on the left side.

    upload mp4 file
  • 3. Select MP3 as the output format.

    Choose MP3 as the desired output format. Initiate the conversion process by clicking “Convert All.”

    select mp3 format
  • 4. Finish Conversion

    Within a few seconds, the converted MP3 files will appear in the converted list. You can open and enjoy it. You can also add the converted file to the edit list if you want to cut or merge your MP3 files.

    find converted mp3 file

Part 4: FAQs of Convert MP4 to MP3 in VLC

Q1. Is VLC safe to convert MP4 to MP3?

A1. Yes, VLC Media Player is generally safe for converting MP4 to MP3 files. It's a widely trusted and reputable software that has been around for many years. However, it's always a good idea to download software from official sources to ensure safety. As long as you download VLC from the official VideoLAN website or other reputable sources, you can feel confident in its safety for converting media files.

Q2. Can I convert MP3 to MP4?

A2. If you're looking to convert a single MP3 file to MP4, you can opt for an online MP3-to-MP4 converter. However, for batch conversion and advanced functionalities, it's advisable to utilize a desktop program. One highly recommended option is HitPaw Video Converter, which is compatible with both Mac and Windows devices. HitPaw Video Converter offers a user-friendly interface and a range of features for efficient MP3-to-MP4 conversion.

Conclusion

We believe that you have known how to convert MP4 to MP3 in VLC Media Player as we have discussed its steps and its pros and cons in this article. Besides, we also recommended HitPaw Video Converter, the easiest software to convert MP4 to MP3 losslessly.

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