VLC media player can not only convert between different video formats but it also does the same with converting audio formats. Originally thought to play media only, this player has many additional functions. Converting between audio formats is quite easy with the free software. A lot of people do not use such features mainly because they do not know that they exist or there is not need for them.
Well, for those who need to convert between different audio formats, they do it for reasons like compatibility issue and size reduction. While almost all popular audio formats are supported by most devices, we sometimes need to convert them due to various reasons. For Example: Not every device can support .ogg or .dts audio and if you want to convert it to MP3 for let’s say making an MP3 cd then VLC Media Player comes to the rescue. Sometimes, you might need to reduce the bit rates of your MP3 while maintaining the same format. This is generally done to reduce the size of the file. Another great use is converting .wav files to .mp3 which preserves the audio quality while drastically reducing the file size.
Whatever the reasons may be, it is very easy and quick to convert from one format to another or swapping bit rates for audio withVLC Media Player.
The steps to convert audio formats and bit rate using VLC Media Player:
- From the VLC menu go to Media > Convert / Save [CTRL + R ].
- In the Open Media dialog, click on the Add button and browse for your music file. Then click on Open.
- Hit the Convert/Save button to proceed to the next step.
- In the settings of the convert dialog box, only change the Profile part. Select the audio format that you’d like to convert to. By default, the formats present in the drop down are Audio – MP3, Vorbig (OGG), MP3 (MP4), FLAC, CD. Choose the format you are converting to.
- Optional step: If you need to explore additional codecs and container options then click the “Create a new profile” button present on the right of the profile selection dialog box.
- In the next option that follows, switch to the Audio codec tab. Mark the “Audio” checkbox to activate it. You can set different options. You can change:
- Profile Name: A required name for your new profile that you are creating.
- Codecs: MPEG Audio, MP3, MPEG 4 (AAC), A52/AC3, Vorbix, Flac, Speex, WAV and WMA 2.
- Bitrate: Enter in the bit rate value like 128 KB/s, 256 KB/s and so on. Lower bit rate value lowers the quality as well as the filesize.
- Channels: Number of output channels. 2 for stereo.
- Sample Rate: Choose the sample rate: 8000 Hz, 11025 Hz, 22050 Hz, 44100 Hz and 48000 Hz. Similar to bit rate, changing sample rate changes filesize. 44100 Hz (44.1 kHz) and 48000 Hz (48 kHz) are the standard ones.
- Encapsulation Tab: From the same dialog box, choose your file format or container for your desired file extension/type.
- After selecting the options for your new profile, you can click on create to save this new profile. You will return to the previous step where you will find this new profile as an option from the Profile selection dropdown.
- Give your converted or destination file a name from the browse option.
- The final action that you must take is to click on the Start button to begin the audio conversion process.
- VLC’s progress indicator will move and that means that the audio format is being converted.
- After completion, your new converted audio file will be saved.
View Comments (70)
VLC converted our .aac files to .mp3 no problem. But how do you 'remove' the completed files (about 60 of them) all at once instead of one at a time? The normal way using the 'control' key to select multiple files doesn't work. Thanks.
The VLC interface on a Mac is slightly different, of course. It loads my m4b audiobook file just fine, and I can see the crawl bar at the bottom as it progresses, but when it finishes it asks if I want to overwrite the original... ok, fine... but then it just creates a .txt file! eh? What step did I miss?
If you get that popup then you have not given it a different filename in destination file, or you have already attempted to convert and the converted file is there, so the next time you try it will ask if you want to overwrite.
I'm having the same exact issue. If anyone finds a fix please let me know on twitter @porktartare
I had the same issue. Go to playback and uncheck the "repeat one" or "repeat all" option in case they are active. VLC was auto repeating the music files and so when it tried to convert it never stopped trying to convert the file.
If I batch-convert flac files to mp3, will the metadata, things like track numbers and contributing artists, be preserved?
VLC 3.0.14 (and previous)
Converting WMA to FLAC
There is noise at the end of most files (loud short pop or crack) This is not in original file.
Hi! I'm trying to use VLC to convert an MP4 video to MP3 audio. It seems to work okay except it only conveys the first 12 minutes of my 48 minute video?? What's up? I'm running Version 3.0.11.1 on my Mac.
When I try to set my own profile to convert MP3 to a different codecs within MP3, VLC won't convert it. I don't get any error codes, just that nothing happens. I am using the current version (3.0.11). The reason I would like to convert it is to be able to play songs from a USB in my Sienna, which doesn't support all the MP3 files that I have. The only songs that will play in the Sienna are ones that I ripped from a CD. When I open those files in VLC and look for "Current Media information", the codec tab is blank.
Works perfectly, thank you so much! I converted a batch of FLAC files to MP3.
I'm not sure why, but when I open VLC on my mac it looks totally different. Visually, it looks totally different, there is no "media" tab and there is not "convert/save" option. There is a "convert/stream" option under the File tab, but I've tried to use it and it's saved an unusable TextEdit file, even though I chose Audio - mp3. Help? I don't see an option to add a screenshot here, so I can't show you what I'm looking at.
I had the same issue. When specifying the name of the saved file be sure to add the .mp3 extension. Without that you'll end up with a text file,
I had the same problem. When selecting a name for my file I made sure to include .mp3 at the end and that solved the problem
I had the same issue. When you save the file you need to add the extension .mp3 and then the file works OK.
Thanks it worked very well
Thanks Andrew it worked! I went to “Tools””Preferences””Reset preferences” then added multiple flac files. Used the default audio profile and clicked "Start". DO NOT Click on settings or you'll have to reset preferences again.