Convert MKV to MP3
Settings
No file yet
Settings appear after you choose a file.
A lecture, concert or screen capture saved as MKV can be listened to as audio alone. The MP3 keeps only the sound, without the picture, for a phone or a speaker.
MKV or MP3?
Keep MKV when
- The picture matters too. The MP3 holds only the sound.
- The sound should stay as it is. MKV to MP3 loses a little more.
Pick MP3 when
- A car stereo, an old player or an editor only reads MP3.
- A site, an app or a person you send it to asks for MP3.
About MKV and MP3
MKV
A flexible video container that holds several audio tracks and subtitles in one file. Popular for films and screen captures.
MP3
The most common audio format. Small files that play on most players and apps made in the last two decades.
Questions
Which bitrate should I pick?
The commands use 192 kbps, a common middle ground between size and sound. Change -b:a 192k to 128k for a smaller file or 320k for more detail.
Does the sound get worse?
A little. The sound in an MKV is already compressed, and converting it to MP3 drops a bit more. Keep the MKV as the master copy.
What happens to the video?
The MP3 holds only the sound. The MKV stays as it is.
What if the MKV has several audio tracks?
FFmpeg takes the first one. Add -map 0:a:1 after -vn to take the second.
Do the title and artist stay?
With the FFmpeg lines, yes: FFmpeg carries tags such as the title across to the MP3.