How Can I Quickly Convert MP4 To MP3?

Wondering how to convert MP4 files to MP3 format quickly has become a more common question. Both MP4 and MP3 are popular formats, but you may have to switch things up to get the best results. As you spend time working with audio files, you eventually learn a few things when converting between different file formats. So how can one quickly convert MP4 to MP3? 

Specialized conversion software is the fastest method to convert an MP4 to MP3. This software can convert an MP4 file to MP3 in real time, meaning the conversion speed will depend on your computer’s processing power. Lowering the bitrate can also increase speed but also reduces audio quality. 

Whether you’re a YouTuber, podcast producer, or DJ, the correct conversion process for your needs can make all the difference. And going straight to lowering the bitrate to increase the conversion speed is a heavy trade-off between conversion speed and audio quality. That said, let’s look at some known factors when thinking about increasing conversion speeds.

What To Consider When Increasing MP4 to MP3 Conversion Speed

The importance of conversion speed may play a significant role when it boils down to separating the audio data from an MP4 codec and converting it to an MP3. Fortunately, there are various alternatives and solutions for this. While unique or specialized conversion software is the go-to choice in terms of overall speed, various other options are open for choice. 

But first, however, let’s take a look at some of the basics to consider:

  1. For starters, if you are simply looking for a method to quickly convert MP4 to MP3 format at any time, you can use VLC Media Player, a free and versatile media player that can also convert video and audio files to different formats.

The conversion process is simple: just open VLC, go to Media, select Convert/Save, add your MP4 file, choose Audio – MP3 as the profile, and click start. This software may not be the fastest option, but it’s a great starting point if you want to convert MP4 to MP3 without additional cost.

  • Your second option would be to consider paying for a faster video converter specializing in video editing and converting, for example, the Movavi Video Converter. Paid software converters often utilize your device’s processing power, whether it’s a desktop computer, laptop, or even smartphone.

On the downside, however, paid software converters often have a free trial (that is still limited in some features), and often, the entire fast-paced processing is blocked behind a paywall to get full access.

  • Another way to increase the conversion speed is to reduce the bitrate of the MP4 file. The bitrate is the number of bits per second transmitted in an audio or video stream. Lowering the bitrate can reduce the file size and increase the conversion speed.

Again, reducing the bitrate also means reducing the audio quality, so it’s a trade-off between conversion speed and audio quality.

Tip: It would be best to remember that size matters, especially when converting an MP4 to MP3. And with size comes contents; the length and contents of the MP4 will reflect in the conversion speed. If the MP4 displays video, then the bitrate will likely be much higher, and removing the video (and only keeping audio) will result in a smaller Mp3 file size upon completion.

Controversially, if the MP4 consists of only audio, it would have to be re-encoded when converted to MP3. And, of course, MP3 is known as a lossy format. Regardless, the file size will depend on the bitrate you select, which can either be bigger or smaller than the original file, but the quality will likely degrade either way.

Now that we have the basics down let’s jump into some of the more significant factors to consider.

Free Conversion Methods

As we already saw, how VLC media player was an excellent example of a free option; know that it is not the only option, and many may be suited for different circumstances. Fortunately, the web is full of free software and online services to help you with quick access to converting different audio files for free.

Here we will mention some excellent free sites and software that can “quickly” get you converting your audio files on the go with almost any device. These options include:

  • DVDFab Video Converter

The first well-regarded free MP4 to MP3 software converter is DVDFab Video Converter, which is an excellent first-choice option. It has three modules: a video editor, a toolkit, and a video converter. Both its video converter and video editor, compatible with both Windows and Mac PCs, are pretty helpful when converting MP4 to MP3 on the fly.

  • YtMate YouTube video downloader and converter

For those who found your favorite tracks on YouTube, look no further than YtMate. It only works with YouTube videos but it’s pretty simple, easy, and works with most PCs and smart devices and requires a constant connection to the internet connection when in use. Just copy over the YT video link of your favorite content, paste it in the YtMate text box, select the format you want, and depending on the length of the video, you could have it in MP3 format in a matter of minutes.

  • Free MP4 Video Converter

It says it all in the name, converting MPEG-4 video file formats for free into various files, including MP3, AVI, and FLV. And top-rated amongst students, this free software is a reliable tool with the only downside being only available on Windows devices. Free Mp4 Video Converter is simple to use and gets right to work using a portion of your device’s processing power to help speed things along.

Paid Conversion Methods

Paid versions use the hardware on your PC, such as your device’s ram, CPU (processing unit), and sometimes your GPU (graphics card), to “power” the conversion process. And naturally, the better the hardware, the faster the process.

You will also find that most audio industries either have their own software or use paid software options like from the two examples mentioned below:

  • Movavi Video Converter

Movavi Video Converter is renowned for being incredibly quick when converting video and audio files to multiple formats. More than 180 formats, including HD, may be converted with this software. The videos will be compressed without losing quality. To improve the final film, you will also be able to rotate, combine, and trim different video fragments.

You may also see a “Convert Sample” to get a preview of the finished product. Many more options are available with the premium version, making it possible to extract audio from the movies.

  • Vidmore Video Converter

The quick processing, user-friendliness, and variety of editing tools of Vidmore Video Converter are well-known. It calls itself a “full video toolset” in its advertising. With little quality loss, the program can convert over 200 different formats.

Additionally, the converter can be used from any device, making it simple to convert videos even on the road. Both 1080 HD and full 4K support are available. Additionally stated is the converter’s 50x quicker video conversion speed.

How Bitrate Plays A Role In Shortening Conversion Speeds

Choosing various bitrate speeds can also alter the conversion speeds. But the shortfall is that you will receive a lower audio quality if you choose the fastest option.

Bitrate specifies the amount of data transmitted per second for audio or video data. The higher the bitrate, the more data will be used during conversion, but the conversion speed will also be slower but of higher audio quality. However, if the bitrate is lower, the data will be less, but the conversion speed will be faster, and you guessed right – it also results in lower quality.

Note: The MP3 bitrate with the best quality is 320 kbps at 16-bit. MP3s can be encoded at 96 kbps or lower. The compression codec used by MP3s aims to retain as much of the original recording as possible while removing frequencies.

So, depending on what you need the MP3 format for, you may want to consider whether you are okay with lower-quality content.

  • With lower-quality content at fast conversion speeds, a free software video converter would do the trick, and selecting a lower bitrate with significantly increase the conversion rate
  • With high-quality audio content as your main objective and at higher conversion speeds, paid video converter software would be your best bet. Just don’t forget that you would have to have high-tier computer hardware for the processing power to affect the conversion speeds.

Conclusion

Knowing how to quickly convert MP4 files to MP3 can come in handy in various fields. Whether you host your own Podcast, streamer, or YouTuber and want to add some more sound effects you found online or simply just looking for a fast way to convert music videos to MP3 on any device. Depending on what you need the audio files for, we hope this guide has helped you make an informed choice.

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