Convert MKV to WAV
Settings
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Settings appear after you choose a file.
An MKV film, lecture, or screen capture whose soundtrack you want to cut, sample, or line up in a video project? Save it as a 16-bit WAV that editors read.
MKV or WAV?
Keep MKV when
- Size matters. A WAV of a video's sound is many times larger than the sound itself.
Pick WAV when
- An editor or a sampler wants plain, uncompressed sound.
- The sound goes onto an audio CD or into a tool that only reads WAV.
About MKV and WAV
MKV
A flexible video container that holds several audio tracks and subtitles in one file. Popular for films and screen captures.
WAV
Uncompressed audio with every detail intact. Large files, but the standard for editing, mastering, and pro tools.
Questions
Why is the WAV so much bigger?
WAV stores the sound uncompressed, while a video usually squeezes it. An uncompressed file made from a compressed one only gets bigger.
Which bit depth does the WAV have?
16-bit, the same as an audio CD. The Terminal lines write it.
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 WAV.
Can I convert a whole folder at once?
Yes. Drop them all here. In Terminal, one line converts every MKV in the folder.