# How do I make an mp3 from a YouTube video? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 30, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136 "2012-08-30T12:41:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bass\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bass\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bass_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/1 "2012-08-30T12:41:55Z")
I want a copy of that **DUN DUN DUUUUUN!!!** sound effect. ---
**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/2 "2012-08-30T12:49:48Z")
Lots of websites do this. I’m reluctant to post a link to one since I’m not sure of their legal status, but a quick google search should find you several (some work much better than others). If a mod OKs it, I’ll post some direct links. ---
**Author:** ![Rubixcube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Rubixcube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubixcube)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/3 "2012-08-30T12:53:13Z")
Easy method is to use Audacity and record it directly through your sound card, then export it as an mp3. ETA: If your using Windows 7 you’ll need to enable your sound card as a recording device. Go to Manage Audio Devices in the control panel, then go to the recording tab. Right click and select “show disabled devices” and then enable the sound card. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/4 "2012-08-30T13:15:39Z")
I’m sure if you did a Google search for “video to sound converter” then the first link will be useful. ---
**Author:** ![LionelHutz405](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lionelhutz405/32/536_2.png) [@LionelHutz405](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LionelHutz405)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/5 "2012-08-30T13:17:52Z")
The Firefox extension ‘Youtube Mp3 Podcaster’ works well. [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/6 "2012-08-30T13:59:01Z")
I use Firefox download helper to capture youtube. Then edit the file in Audacity and save as mp3. ---
**Author:** ![tullsterx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tullsterx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tullsterx)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/7 "2012-08-30T15:01:38Z")
> [@Rubixcube](#): > > Easy method is to use Audacity and record it directly through your sound card, then export it as an mp3. > > ETA: If your using Windows 7 you’ll need to enable your sound card as a recording device. Go to Manage Audio Devices in the control panel, then go to the recording tab. Right click and select “show disabled devices” and then enable the sound card. +1 ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/8 "2012-08-30T15:13:15Z")
If the above methods are OK, then I would think that [www.youtube-mp3.org](http://www.youtube-mp3.org) would be as well. Give it a link to your desired youtube video and it will convert it to mp3 for you. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/9 "2012-08-30T15:23:22Z")
as mentioned: if you want a portion of the audio on a clip then record the sound (Audacity is great, there may also be a sound recorder [for short durations[ already in your computer setup as part of the installation) as you play the video clip. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/10 "2012-08-30T15:50:37Z")
> [@Bass\_Chick](#): > > I want a copy of that **DUN DUN DUUUUUN!!!** sound effect. Ignoring the thread title and addressing this question: if you just want a sound file with the particular sound effect you want, you may be able to find someplace you can download it directly as an mp3 or wav or some such. A little googling turned up [this WAV file](http://www.freewebs.com/hand-of-god-animations/duh%20duh%20dunnnnnn.wav), which may or may not be what you want. (It’s the same sound effect that you get by pressing [The Drama Button](http://www.dramabutton.com/).) ---
**Author:** ![Bass\_Chick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/43a26b/32.png) [@Bass\_Chick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bass_Chick)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/11 "2012-08-30T16:25:25Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > If the above methods are OK, then I would think that [www.youtube-mp3.org](http://www.youtube-mp3.org) would be as well. Give it a link to your desired youtube video and it will convert it to mp3 for you. I did this. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/12 "2012-08-30T17:41:26Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I use Firefox download helper to capture youtube. Then edit the file in Audacity and save as mp3. I also use download helper. Another handy open source tool is [WinFF](http://winff.org/html_new/) (a GUI interface for FFMPEG). When I need to perform more extensive modifications to an mp3–such as adjusting levels–I use Audacity. But for video simple conversions to/from other formats and stripping audio, WinFF works great. ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/13 "2012-08-30T18:44:43Z")
> [@Bass\_Chick](#): > > I want a copy of that **DUN DUN DUUUUUN!!!** sound effect. Do you mean the one that sounds like someone hitting an empty dumpster with a baseball bat? (None of the following is directed personally at the OP, it’s just a convenient opportunity to express myself on this) If so, that sound has become one of my pet peeves in modern movies. It seems to be a replacement for genuine dramatic tension–you know, the kind that is present in the actual story. Usually the sound has no connection whatever to what is happening onscreen. I saw one movie where this sound accompanied a scene where the lights were suddenly turned on in an empty stadium. I know they are strong lights, but I had no idea they were so loud. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/14 "2012-08-30T20:05:07Z")
[VLC](http://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html) will do this fairly easily, just give it the URL and stream it to a MP3 file name of your choosing. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/15 "2012-08-30T21:26:09Z")
> [@Rubixcube](#): > > ETA: If your using Windows 7 you’ll need to enable your sound card as a recording device. Go to Manage Audio Devices in the control panel, then go to the recording tab. Right click and select “show disabled devices” and then enable the sound card. Thank you! This solved a very frustrating problem I have been having with my new Win7 system. Why does Windows 7 not only disable this function, but hide it away (so you can only find it by right-clicking the appropriate white space), by default? Is there some reason why it is not good to have it enabled? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/16 "2012-08-30T22:37:24Z")
> [@Rubixcube](#): > > Easy method is to use Audacity and record it directly through your sound card, then export it as an mp3. > > ETA: If your using Windows 7 you’ll need to enable your sound card as a recording device. Go to Manage Audio Devices in the control panel, then go to the recording tab. Right click and select “show disabled devices” and then enable the sound card. There are a lot of computer where this will not work. I have one computer now that can do it, and two others that can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/17 "2012-08-30T22:40:35Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > Thank you! This solved a very frustrating problem I have been having with my new Win7 system. > > Why does Windows 7 not only disable this function, but hide it away (so you can only find it by right-clicking the appropriate white space), by default? Is there some reason why it is not good to have it enabled? You are lucky it works on yours. Many sound cards don’t have the proper circuitry. I’ve read speculation that it’s hidden by some computer makers for fear of piracy, because if you know how to do it, you can make a very high quality recording from any source that you can hear through your speakers/headphones. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2012, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-an-mp3-from-a-youtube-video/633136/18 "2012-08-31T03:29:39Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > You are lucky it works on yours. Many sound cards don’t have the proper circuitry. > > I’ve read speculation that it’s hidden by some computer makers for fear of piracy, because if you know how to do it, you can make a very high quality recording from any source that you can hear through your speakers/headphones. Really? I have been recording off the sound card for years, and have used about half a dozen different computers to do it, running various versions of Windows, from 95 (maybe even from 3.1, I’m not sure) to 7. I never had any problem before the computer that I just recently bought, and **Rubixcube** ’s info has fixed the problem with that. Before this, however, I never even had to adjust any sound settings. I am not pirating, just time-shifting stuff, and getting it so it will play on my pod.