MP4 to WAV Converter
Save the sound of an MP4 video as an uncompressed WAV file, ready for audio editors, music software and transcription services. Keep the whole soundtrack or just the part you need.
Output: WAV, uncompressed 16-bit PCM, with the original sample rate and channels.
Preview the processed audio and confirm its range and quality before downloading or reusing it.
How to convert MP4 to WAV
The converter decodes the audio track of the video and saves it as an uncompressed WAV file. The video itself is not changed.
Step-by-step
- Choose an MP4 video or drag it onto the upload area.
- Keep Complete soundtrack, or choose Selected time range and enter the start and end time.
- Click Convert to WAV and wait while the audio is extracted.
- Listen to the result in the player, then download the WAV.
What you get
A standard WAV file that every audio program opens:
- Uncompressed 16-bit PCM audio, so editing, cutting and re-exporting do not add another round of compression.
- The original sample rate and channels: 48 kHz video audio stays 48 kHz, stereo stays stereo, and mono stays mono.
- The whole soundtrack or only a selected time range, cut to the second.
- A file that opens in Audacity, GarageBand, Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, FL Studio and practically any other audio or video editor.
- A preview player, so you can check the audio before downloading it.
WAV or MP3: which should you choose?
WAV stores the sound without compression, so saving and re-saving it adds no new compression losses. MP3 is compressed: it takes roughly one-eighth of the space, but every time it is decoded and encoded again a little more detail is lost. That is why WAV is the usual choice for editing, mixing and archiving, and MP3 for listening and sharing.
Converting to WAV does not make the sound better than it was in the video. The audio in an MP4 is almost always compressed already, usually as AAC; WAV simply stops further losses. If you only want to listen to the audio or send it to someone, MP3 gives a much smaller file: MP4 to MP3 Converter.
Using the WAV for editing
Import the WAV into your audio editor or music software, clean it up, cut it or mix it with other tracks, and export the final version in the format you need. Keep intermediate exports in WAV too: then lossy compression happens only once, when you export the final MP3 or AAC.
Because the WAV keeps the sample rate of the video, usually 48 kHz, it goes straight into a video project without conversion. Music software set to 44.1 kHz converts it automatically on import.
When to convert MP4 to WAV
Convert when the audio will be processed further:
- Editing, cleaning up or mastering the sound of a video in an audio editor.
- Using a melody, a beat or a vocal from your own video as a sample in music software.
- Uploading audio to a transcription, captioning or speech recognition service that asks for WAV.
- Keeping an uncompressed copy of an important recording, such as an interview or a performance.
File size and limits
Uncompressed audio is large: a minute of 48 kHz stereo WAV takes about 11 MB, so an hour takes around 700 MB. If you need only part of the recording, choose Selected time range to keep the file smaller.
Videos can be up to 200 MB. The tool works with files you upload; it does not download videos from YouTube or other links. Only extract audio from videos you are allowed to use. If a video has no audio track, the converter tells you there is no sound to extract.
More ways to work with video sound
MP4 to MP3 Converter
Save the sound of an MP4 video as an MP3 file, whole or in part.
Extract Audio from Video
Switch between WAV and MP3 output in the general audio extraction tool.
Remove Audio From Video
Make the video silent, then add the edited WAV back to it.
Add Audio To Video
Put the edited audio back onto the video, or add music and a voice-over.
Need to Edit Your Video?
Continue with trimming, resizing, cropping, text, subtitles, audio, and other edits in the full editor.
Learn more about extracting audio
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about converting MP4 videos to WAV.
Is the MP4 to WAV converter free?
Yes. It is free, you do not need an account, and the WAV has no watermark or added sound.
Is WAV better quality than the audio in the MP4?
No. The output is uncompressed 16-bit PCM audio, but it cannot restore detail already lost in the source. Its advantage is that saving your edits as WAV adds no further compression losses.
Why is the WAV file so large?
WAV is uncompressed: every second stores all samples for every channel, about 11 MB per minute for 48 kHz stereo. If size matters more than editing, MP3 is the better choice: MP4 to MP3 Converter.
What sample rate and bit depth does the WAV have?
16-bit PCM with the sample rate and channels of the original: 48 kHz stays 48 kHz, 44.1 kHz stays 44.1 kHz, and mono stays mono.
Can I convert only part of the video to WAV?
Yes. Choose Selected time range, enter the start and end time in hh:mm:ss, and only that part is saved as WAV.
Can I convert other video formats to WAV?
Yes. MOV, MKV, WebM, AVI and other common video files work the same way, as long as they have an audio track.