Heard something interesting in a YouTube video? Want to save a fragment of a speech or background music? You don’t need to spend hours online or using expensive equipment. You can grab audio from YouTube using simple methods. I will tell you about them in more detail.
How to Download Audio from YouTube Using the Official Method
Currently, you can only download a single audio track in the YouTube Music app. It’s handy if you want to save a song or podcast, but this method doesn’t work with regular “talk” videos, reports, or conference recordings.
To use this feature, follow these steps:
1. Open the video in the YouTube Music app on your mobile device.
2. At the top of the screen, select Song.
3. Open the settings and tap the Download button.
4. You can listen to the saved tracks online in the Library section.
For me, the restriction on video genres is not the only downside of this method. First, it’s available to owners of a paid YouTube Premium subscription. Secondly, the track can be opened within the app — it can’t be copied, edited, or otherwise used.
How to Use Online Audio Downloaders for YouTube Videos
Fortunately, all these restrictions can be easily circumvented without even installing apps on your device or purchasing a software subscription. There are plenty of online free audio downloaders for separating audio tracks. Of course, you should be ready to the dangers related to copyright infringement. If you want to use any content elements in the public domain, you must obtain official permission from the authors.
Moreover, you should be careful when searching for these services. Some links from Google search results will lead you to “cloned” sites. At the very least, they will simply display ads without fulfilling their tasks. At most, they will try to install malware.
That’s why I recommend using only trusted audio extractors:
TubeRipper
Open the website and paste the link to the video. The ripper will warn you that you must have permission to process the material.
2. Scroll down the page. Ignore the banner below the address bar because clicking on it will just show you ads.
3. Select the audio format and quality. The available options will depend on the original quality of the YouTube video.
4. After selecting the quality, click the Extract Audio button. Wait a few minutes for the download.
TubeRipper is a completely safe and convenient audio extractor with a moderate amount of advertising on the site. It allows for downloading videos without sound for professional processing. The only downside is that it has limitations in terms of audio quality. You’ll get a fairly clear track, but it may lose some subtle nuances, which is crucial for sophisticated music tracks.
Transkriptor
This service is conditionally free — you can use it without a subscription to solve personal problems, for example, for studying. For commercial use, one of the following subscription plans is required:
- Lite — $4.99, 300 minutes of audio per month;
- Premium — $12.49, 2,400 minutes;
- Business — $15.00 per user, 3,000 minutes per account.
A paid subscription also allows you to cut audio clips, change tone and speed settings, make transcriptions, and translate videos into 100 languages. Nevertheless, I have prepared a simple guide for you on how to use the free version of Transkriptor:
1. Open the website and paste the link into the address bar. You will see the usual warning about working with copyrighted content.
2. Click the Download Audio button below.
3. Wait for the file to be processed and click Download in a new window. The other two buttons will take you to the choice of tariff plans.
4. Wait for the audio track to download.
Transkriptor is one of my favorite services. It’s simple, lightweight, and has no ads, except for the paid subscription offers. It is available for any operating system — Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android.
SaveFromNet
1. Open the website and paste the URL into the address bar.
2. Open the list of available formats.
3. Select the option you want.
4. Click the Options button next to the player and select Download.
SaveFromNet can be annoying with lots of ads that appear in the interface and pop-ups. But it has several advantages that motivated me to bookmark the link. SaveFromNet offers fast downloads — an order of magnitude faster than the main competitors. Moreover, it allows you to listen to the track online before downloading it. This helps save computer memory when you work with long videos.
How to Rip Audio from YouTube Video and Edit It Instantly
Online YT video audio downloaders also have their drawbacks. Their main function is to save the file to your device. After that, you need to build workflows on your own — edit tracks, cut short fragments from them, etc. So, when I have complex tasks, I use an alternative approach and launch Audacity. It’s a free cross-platform application available on PC and Mac. It allows you to record audio, edit it, change the pitch and playback speed, and export it to various file formats.
If this is your preferred approach, use the following instructions:
1. Download Audacity from the official website.
2. After launching the application, open the Audio Setup menu.
3. Select Audio Settings.
4. Further settings may differ depending on the operating system and computer configuration. Your task is to select the duplication of the signal that goes to the speakers. In my case, it looks like this:
5. Open the video on YouTube, close all other tabs and applications that can play sound. Press the record button and start playing the audio. Using the familiar buttons, you can skip unnecessary fragments and save the recordings as separate files.
6. The application has many audio processing tools, but their description is a topic for a series of separate articles. If you’re interested in the program’s features, I recommend that you visit the support section on the official Audacity website.
How to Save YouTube Video Transcript Without Audio
I mentioned above that the paid version of the service called Transkript can recognize speech and save text scripts of YouTube videos. But you don’t have to subscribe and pay money to use this feature. To do this, you can use a convenient alternative — NOIZ. It’s a free service without registration or authorization requirements.
Paste the link into the address bar and wait for the video to be processed. Then you can choose the necessary functions:
- Full audio transcription.
- Key insights with text style and length settings.
- Timestamped summary with detailed descriptions of each fragment that open on click.
- Top comments with the most likes.
NOIZ allows you to instantly copy the results, share them as a link, download them in documents of various formats, or export them to other services, such as Notion. The service will be a great alternative to YouTube audio rippers if you are interested in the content of the script rather than multimedia components.
What Is the Best Way to Save Audio from YouTube?
The answer will depend on the tasks you have in mind. When I just need to download the audio for future listening, I use online audio grabbers like TubeRipper, Transkriptor, and SaveFromNet. If I need to remix or cut a short fragment of an audio track, I launch Audacity and get the finished files instantly. And when it comes to scripts or short summaries, NOIZ is the best tool for me. That’s why I advise you not to limit yourself to one particular service but create your own set of tools with a wide range of features.
FAQ
What is the easiest way to record audio from YouTube?
The easiest way to record audio from YouTube is to use online tools such as TubeRipper, Transkriptor, or SaveFromNet. These services work directly in your browser and don’t require installation. If you prefer programs, Audacity can also record audio efficiently.
What is rip audio?
Ripping audio means extracting an audio track from a complex media file, such as a video. This process allows you to isolate the audio and save it as a separate file. It is usually used to create audio clips from music videos or podcasts posted on YouTube.
How to extract audio from a YouTube video?
You can use online services such as TubeRipper, Transkriptor, or SaveFromNet to extract audio from a YouTube video. If you need more control over the quality or editing, specialized software such as Audacity will allow you to record and edit audio directly from the video.
How to download YouTube audio library for free?
Downloading audio from YouTube for free is usually done through third-party services like SaveFromNet. YouTube Premium subscribers can legally download audio tracks for offline listening through the YouTube Music app. Remember that usage rights depend on the type of content and licenses.
How to record only audio from a video?
You can use audio converters or specialized software such as Audacity to record only audio from a video. These tools allow you to isolate the audio while preserving the quality and removing the video track. Some online services also offer quick extraction methods.
Can I cut audio from a YouTube video?
Yes, audio tracks from YouTube videos can be cut and edited using software such as Audacity. These apps allow you to extract, cut, and save specific parts of audio files, which is helpful in creating soundtracks for social media or other purposes.
Is it legal to download audio from YouTube?
The legality of downloading audio from YouTube depends on the copyright status of the video. Content available in the public domain or under a Creative Commons license can often be downloaded for free. However, copyrighted material requires permission from the owner. Violation of these terms can lead to legal consequences.
How to extract sound from a video?
You can extract sound from a video using appropriate tools. Online services or browser extensions simplify the process. Programs like Audacity offer more features for advanced users.
How to listen to just the audio from a YouTube video?
YouTube Premium subscribers can play videos in the background or download audio through the YouTube Music app. Free online converters are also available, but they may violate YouTube’s terms of service.
