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How to convert MP4 to MP3 on Mac

Edited by Ben Jacklin

June 19, 2024

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MP4 (MPEG-4) is a very popular video format that is today used almost everywhere, from older mobile phones to the latest Blu-ray players. The format is so flexible that it can handle a large 4K video file as easily as a low-res mobile video. MP4 is also widely used on the internet so, if you download a music video or a TV series, you are most likely to find it in MP4 format. But sometimes you might need to turn your video into an audio file. The best choice would be to convert it to MP3, which is one of the most popular audio formats.

If you’ve come across one of the following situations, you might find converting MP4 to MP3 helpful.

Want to save a soundtrack from a video?

What if you liked a song from the video so much that you wanted to listen to it on your portable player or mobile phone all day long? In this case, it’s best to extract the audio file and save it in MP3.

Need to turn video into audio?

You can find almost everything in a video format – lectures, concerts, interviews, etc. But if you just want to listen to what is being said in the video instead of watching it, you can convert your video to audio, upload it to your mobile device, and listen while you’re on your way.

Looking for an audiobook for your kids?

Imagine you have a long drive ahead with your children. Wouldn’t it be nice to play an audiobook with their favorite stories to make the trip more interesting? If you can’t find an audiobook, don’t worry – you can simply convert a cartoon into an audio file!

Find out about different ways to convert MP4 to MP3 below and choose the one that suits you best.

How to convert MP4 to MP3 on Mac with Movavi Video Converter
How to use an online MP4-to-MP3 converter on a Mac
How to convert MP4 to MP3 on Mac using a free converter

How to convert MP4 to MP3 on Mac with Movavi Video Converter

Converting MP4 to MP3 on Mac is extremely easy with Movavi Video Converter. This powerful software supports almost all known media formats. Take any music video or TV show episode and easily turn it into an audio track. And with the help of batch conversion, you’ll be able to export multiple tracks at one time. To learn how to convert MP4 to MP3, read our step-by-step instructions below.

Download Movavi’s MP4-to-MP3 converter for Mac OS and try it for free!

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Step 1. Install the Movavi software

After you’ve downloaded Movavi Video Converter, double-click the .dmg file to start the installation process. Follow the instructions and wait until the installation is completed. When all the preparation is done, just run the program.

Step 2. Add files for conversion

Click Add Media and then Add Video to open the files you want to convert. Or simply drag and drop files from their folder into the program window.

Step 3. Set the output format

In the Audio tab, find MP3 and select one of the presets. To get the best possible quality, choose either Original Bitrate or 320 kbps.

If you ever need to do things the other way round and convert MP3 to MP4, simply go to the Video tab and select one of the MP4 presets.

Step 4. Convert MP4 to MP3 on Mac

Specify the target folder by clicking the Folder icon, otherwise the files will be saved to the default Movavi Library folder. Click Convert to start the conversion. After the process is complete, the folder with your music files will open automatically.

Now you know how to easily convert MP4 to MP3 on Mac with Movavi Video Converter!

How to use an online MP4-to-MP3 converter on a Mac

A quick way to turn an MP4 video into an audio file is to use an online conversion tool. Below we’ve described how to convert files using the free online converter at videoconverter.com.

Go to the Online Video Converter website

To upload the video you want to convert, click Add Your Media, select the desired video, and hit Open. Then you need to change the output format. To do this, click the list of formats (the default format is MP4), select Audio, and pick MP3. Click Convert; when the video is converted, you will be able to download the MP3 file to your computer.

This online service is a great choice if you have one relatively small file to convert. Note that the file size is limited, and you can’t convert more than one file at a time.

Differences between desktop and online converters

Online Video Converter

Long-time wait
Limited file size
Popular formats supported
Low conversion speed

Movavi Video Converter

0-second wait
No size limits
180+ formats, presets for 200+ devices
High conversion speed
Online user support

How to convert MP4 to MP3 on Mac using a free converter

Another way to convert MP4 to MP3 is to use a free conversion tool. One of the programs that can help you convert video to audio is VLC Media Player.

Download the appropriate version of VLC

Install the player on your computer and launch it. Click File and select Convert / Stream. You can add files by clicking Open media or by dropping them into the program window. In the Choose Profile field, select Audio – MP3 to set the output format. To choose the destination folder, click Browse and select the location where you want to export the file. Hit Save to start the conversion process and wait until it’s done.

This is how to convert MP4 to MP3 in VLC Media Player. Keep in mind that the player can’t handle very large files, and the conversion process can take a while.

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