Do you want to learn how to convert video to audio?
I’ve had so many people ask me recently if that is possible and if so, how?
Despite what you might think, extracting audio from a video isn’t as easy as uploading your file to a dodgy MP4 to MP3 free converter app.
Want to create something of high-quality that your audience will actually want to listen to?
Then you’re in the right place…let me share 4 of my top tips.
Repurposing Video to Audio
Repurposing video content to audio content can be a great idea. After all, when you create a video (unless you’re Charlie Chaplin creating a silent movie!), it’s likely that it’ll include some form of audio content.
But…how can you convert video to audio without sacrificing the sound quality?
And, on top of that, how can you do it without hindering the listener’s experience?
My 4 Top Tips
By extracting the audio from your videos, you can create even more great content. You can also connect and engage with more people across a broader spectrum of platforms.
So, why not see if you can leverage your video content and repurpose it?
While it doesn’t have to be a complicated process, there are a few things you can do to make it a lot easier.
Here are my top four tips for repurposing your video content to audio content:
1. Consider the Background Noise
You probably won’t notice background noise when recording your video. But trust me, it’s there.
Once you’ve removed the visual elements and you’re left with nothing but the audio, you’ll be surprised at just how much background noise is present!
I’m no exception to this, either. It wasn’t too long ago that I recorded myself on video and decided to strip the audio for my podcast. However, you could hear lots of background noise, and at times, it was louder than me!
Not only were birds tweeting like something out of a Disney movie, but you could also hear a very loud (and slightly obnoxious) train come barreling through! All in all, the audio wasn’t great.
There wasn’t much I could do about it though. After all, you can’t control environmental circumstances! Whilst the video was okay, the audio definitely wasn’t (and I didn’t use it).
My point is that you need to think about the level of background noise in your videos. How much you care depends on your brand and your sensibilities. Some brands might work well with the “rough and ready” content. But for others (including myself), the audio needs to take center stage!
To cut background noise, you have to consider where you record your video/audio. If you can control the background noise, great! Move somewhere that’s relatively quiet and record your video there.
Top tip: If it’s a struggle to find somewhere without any background noise, my advice is to do a test run. This will let you know if you’re happy with the sound quality and level of background noise in the room. You may need to carry out the same test in multiple locations until you find the perfect spot.
2. Audio Quality
Nobody likes to listen to grainy audio, so do yourself (and your audience) a favor and invest in a microphone!
A microphone will often pick up high-quality audio that your video device may not.
For video, you may want to try using a discreet lapel microphone, which is what I tend to do. I plug mine into my iPhone, and it works fab!
If you’re a podcaster, you can use the same microphone you use to record your podcast episodes.
On a tight budget?
Try using the built-in microphone that comes with most headphones, which is better than no mic at all!
Another great idea is to record the audio separately. If you’re a podcaster, you probably have audio recording equipment and software that you can use to create a separate audio track.
You can also use programs such as Audacity or Audition to help you out. If you have a Mac, set up QuickTime Player and use it to record your audio.
Using a microphone and creating a separate audio track will help guarantee better sound quality. Plus, it’ll save you from having to strip the audio from your video because you’ll already have created the separate audio track.
3. Segment your Audio
My next tip is to segment what you’re talking about so that you can easily cut out the sections that won’t make sense to audio listeners.
What do I mean by this?
Well, think about the sections of your video where the context is dependent on visuals to be understood. For example, maybe you’re demonstrating how to do something or talking about how something looks, etc.
If your listener can’t see what you’re talking about, that information isn’t relative or useful for them. I mean they could try using their imagination to fill in the gaps, but if your audience has to work that hard to consume your content, it’s probably not worth it.
All you have to do to avoid this issue is to edit out the sections that don’t add value to your listeners. In the case of live videos, you want to make sure that you don’t over-edit. Keep your main message and core content separate from live video interactions (e.g., “ Hi guys, thanks for jumping on this Facebook live with me!”). Things like that won’t be valuable for someone listening to the audio.
If you’d rather skip all the editing and segmenting altogether, you can do that. But, I would suggest being completely transparent with your audience about it. At the start of your video, introduce the fact that the audio is also going to be used for a podcast episode.
Welcome your podcast listeners and explain that the audio is from a video. This is a good idea because now your audio listeners know exactly where the audio came from. Plus, it won’t be so confusing when you stop mid-way through to answer a few of your viewer’s questions!
4. Using Appropriate Software to Convert Video to Audio
If you want to convert video to audio, you’ve got to use appropriate software and tools to make it happen.
Some of you might want to repurpose your videos into podcast episodes. This can be as simple as saving or converting your video file into an audio file.
Editing your video using video editing software such as iMovie or Camtasia allows you to render the file as a .mp3 or .wav. Doing this provides you with an audio file.
Once you’ve got the audio file, you can edit it in the same way that you normally would for a podcast episode using your preferred software.
Not interested in using video editing software?
You don’t have to!
You can convert video to audio using apps such as “ To MP3 Converter Free.” Apps like this will convert single files for you in no time. Mac users can record in and then leverage QuickTime Player, which has the option to go to File > Export > Audio Only.
Some websites will offer to convert video to audio files for you for free. You can find sites like this with a simple Google search. But be careful! ‘Free’ often means being forced into downloading a plugin or providing certain information to proceed!
Of course, if you have a podcast editor, then you can just send your video file to them, and they’ll work their magic and extract the audio!
To Conclude
Hopefully I’ve shown you that you can convert video to audio without having to sacrifice sound quality…and it might even be easier than you first thought!
With the right equipment and software, plus a recording space that isn’t next to a train line, you can create an audio experience your listeners will love.
Whether you convert video to audio already, or you feel inspired to do so after discovering these four tips, I would love to know how you get on! Comment below or reach out on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
Thanks for reading!
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Originally published at https://www.content10x.com
