Convert MP4 to WAV: extract a video’s soundtrack
This MP4 to WAV converter takes the audio out of a video and saves it as uncompressed PCM WAV. Use it for a recorded lecture you want to transcribe, an interview filmed on a phone, a screen recording, a music video you made, or any clip whose sound you need in an audio editor. MOV, M4V, MKV and WebM videos work as well.
The video is opened in your browser, its main audio track is decoded and written as a standard WAV, and the picture is ignored. Nothing is uploaded — a useful property for meetings, classes and client footage — and several videos can be converted in one go and downloaded as a ZIP.
How to use the MP4 to WAV Converter
- Drop one or more MP4 files on the upload area, or click to choose them. Each line shows the audio codec, length, sample rate and channels.
- Keep Sample rate at the source — usually 48 kHz in videos — or pick 44.1 kHz for a music CD.
- Leave Bit depth on “Match the source” (16-bit for AAC), or choose 24-bit or 32-bit float for post-production.
- Choose Mono under Channels for speech you will transcribe, then press Convert to WAV.
- Play the original and the WAV, then download each file or the whole batch as a ZIP.
MP4 to WAV Converter features
Video skipped, audio kept
Only the audio track is read and decoded, so a long video converts much faster than real time.
MP4, MOV, MKV and WebM
AAC, Opus, Vorbis, FLAC, PCM and MP3 soundtracks decode in current browsers.
Editing-ready WAV
16-bit or 24-bit integer or 32-bit float, at 44.1 or 48 kHz, stereo or mono.
Tags carried over
A title or artist stored in the MP4 moves into the WAV’s INFO chunk.
Batch and ZIP
Pull the audio from a whole folder of clips in one pass.
What kind of audio is inside an MP4?
Surround tracks the browser can decode are kept with all their channels unless you choose Stereo or Mono. Only the first (main) audio track of a multi-language video is extracted.
| Video source | Typical audio track | Converts here? |
|---|---|---|
| Phone camera (iPhone, Android) | AAC, 44.1 or 48 kHz, stereo | Yes |
| Screen recorders, video calls, editors | AAC or Opus, 48 kHz | Yes |
| Downloaded web video (WebM/MKV) | Opus or Vorbis, 48 kHz | Yes |
| Camera and pro formats (MOV) | PCM 24-bit, 48 kHz | Yes — the WAV is an exact copy |
| Films and TV with surround sound | AC-3 or E-AC-3 (Dolby) | Only if your browser decodes Dolby; otherwise the file is reported |
MP4 to WAV, MP3 or M4A?
- Choose WAV for editing, mixing, transcription and anything that will be processed further — it is uncompressed and opens everywhere.
- Choose MP3 to share or listen to the sound: Video to MP3 makes files about seven times smaller.
- To trim a section of the video first or pick between WAV, Opus and M4A with a preview, use Video to Audio.
- A minute of 48 kHz 16-bit stereo WAV is about 11 MB, so an hour-long lecture is roughly 660 MB — or 330 MB in mono.
Respect the rights in the recording
Extract audio only from videos you made, have permission to use, or may lawfully copy where you live. The converter works offline on files you already have; it does not download videos from streaming sites. For transcripts of your own recordings, follow up with Audio to Text.
MP4 to WAV Converter FAQ
How do I convert MP4 to WAV?
Drop the MP4 file on this page and press Convert to WAV. The soundtrack is decoded and saved as a WAV at the video’s own sample rate, usually 48 kHz.
Does MP4 to WAV improve the sound?
No. Most MP4s use AAC, a lossy codec; the WAV contains exactly what the AAC decoder produces. It is bigger but easier to edit.
Can I convert MOV or MKV to WAV here?
Yes. MOV, M4V, MKV and WebM videos are read the same way, as long as your browser can decode their audio codec.
Why does it say the audio track was skipped?
The video’s sound uses a codec your browser can’t decode, often Dolby AC-3 in films. Try another browser, or export the audio from the program that made the video.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The file is read and converted on your device; nothing is sent to a server.
Can I convert a YouTube link to WAV?
No. This tool converts video files you already have; downloading from streaming sites is against their terms and often copyright law.