Use QuickTime to Extract Audio From Video Files in macOS

Extracting audio from video files on a Mac is a straightforward process, especially when using the built-in QuickTime Player. Here’s how you can do it efficiently.

Opening and Preparing the Video File

To start, locate the QuickTime Player application in your Applications folder and open it. Then, click on "File" in the menu bar and select "Open File" to choose the video file you want to work with. Once the video is open in QuickTime Player, you are ready to proceed with extracting the audio.

Method 1: Exporting Audio Only

One of the simplest methods to extract audio from a video file using QuickTime Player is to export the audio only. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Video File: Ensure the video file is open in QuickTime Player.
2. Go to File Menu: Click on "File" in the menu bar.
3. Select Export: Choose "Export As" from the drop-down menu.
4. Choose Audio Only: In the export options window, select "Audio Only" from the format options.
5. Save the File: Choose a destination, name the file, and click "Save." The extracted audio will be saved in M4A format.

Method 2: Removing Video and Exporting Audio

If you prefer to remove the video component entirely and then export the audio, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Video File: Open the video file in QuickTime Player.
2. Remove Video: Go to the "Edit" menu and select "Remove Video." This will leave you with an audio-only file.
3. Export the Audio: After removing the video, go to the "File" menu, select "Export As," and choose "Audio Only" to save the audio file in M4A format.

Additional Tips for Advanced Users

For users who need more control over the audio extraction process, here are some additional tips:

• Editing Audio Tracks: If you need to edit the audio before exporting, you can enable the display of frames and audio tracks. Go to "View" and select "Show Clips" (or press Command + E), then go back to "View" and select "Show Audio Tracks" (if it was initially grayed out). You can then trim or split the audio tracks using Command + T or Command + Y, respectively.
• Saving Edited Audio: After editing the audio, remove the video by going to "Edit" and selecting "Remove Video." Then, export the edited audio-only clip by choosing the "Audio Only" option under the "File" menu.

By following these steps, you can easily extract audio from video files using QuickTime Player on your Mac, making it a versatile tool for various multimedia needs.