Cool Tool - How to Extract the Audio Track from Your Videos

Do you ever wish you could get a separate audio file from your videos? I did and thanks to Michael Stelzner, founder of Social Media Examiner, I found that (free) tool.

Why would you want an audio file when you've got a video?

There are two reasons why I do and you may have others.

1. Having a separate audio file enables you to distribute your content in two ways: as an audio AND a video. If you publish a podcast, why not extract the audio from your videos so you can share the content with your podcast audience? You extend your reach to a new audience who may not know about your videos. And why not offer an audio-only version of your video posts? [More on repurposing your content here.]

2. Videos create huge files. While you can watch videos on your iPod or iPhone, what if you don't want to eat up space. Or, what if you prefer to listen to content rather than watch it? For me that's the case. Here's an example:

I'm currently attending the Facebook Success Summit (not too late to join and get access the first week of content!). Unfortunately, I haven't been able to attend all the sessions live. The sessions are presented as webinars and the replays are available as videos (and slides and transcripts in pdf format). But I want to listen to the content when I'm out and about, or on the treadmill or when I'm traveling. I don't want to watch a video on a 2" screen. I'd rather listen to the speakers.

So, I'm extracting the audio file from the video file and then uploading the mp3 file to my iPod so I can listen at my convenience.

I'm doing this with a free tool called AoA Audio Extractor (for Windows). There's a premium version as well, but for simple audio extraction, you don't need all the bells and whistles.

Once you download and install the program, it's a snap to use.

Can't see the video in your blog reader? Watch the tutorial here.

Click here to download the audio…

NOTE: I created the screencast with Camtasia. There is an option in Camtasia to save the audio as a separate file so you do not need AoA Audio Extractor if you're making screencast videos.

While this software tool is for Windows, there are Mac tools as well. Do a search on "audio extractor for mac" and you'll find many choices.

Now it's your turn. For what use would you find it helpful to be able to extract an audio file from a video?

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Comments

[Barbara Ling, Virtual Coach]

Oh wow, brilliant!! Definitely sharing this with my network - I love the ability to create MP3s from video! Lots of applications I can imagine....thanks!

[D. Scott Angle]

Denise, another great (free) tool that I have found that does this is FormatFactory (http://www.pcfreetime.com/index.html - I have now affiliation). I lets you change/convert all sorts different things.

Thanks for the posting.