Desktop app for batch extraction of audio from video

[XwpisONOMA]

Hello, the title should be self-explanatory; I need advice with which desktop application to use (hopefully free or very affordable) which will allow me to batch extract the audio portion from most common video files. The key word here is "batch". I have 100s of videos of presentations/lectures which I gave while teaching College which will be equally useful by simply listening to the audio portion while the video is not that important. I understand that among other apps FFmpeg can do that but I got stuck since I lack the knowledge to compile FFmpeg's source code to something executable that I can use on my Windows 10 Pro computer. I want to thank you in advance for your feedback!

[JVRaines]

You can download a serviceable Windows executable version of FFmpeg. (There is no need to compile it!) If you are content with the Windows CMD shell, the FOR /F command easily executes an FFmpeg command against multiple files selected by wildcard. I recommend SS64 as a great reference.

[videoAI]

@XwpisONOMA

Few questions:
- List "the most common video files"? file extensions? [*.mp4, *.mkv, *.mov, etc]
- What Audio format do you need the output in? [AAC, MP3, M4A, OPUS, etc]
- Does any of your videos have one or more audio track?
- Are your videos in one folder? Sub Folders?
- Can you run a script [windows PowerShell]? or you must have a GUI? your task, is easier for you, if done by a script.
- Have you considered using AI to do this? Is this task a one time job or a recuring task?
..

[Moralez]

XMediaRecode will do what you want.

[videoAI]

Here are some options:

| Application | Cost | Batch Support | Ease of Use | Notes |
|-------------------------------|---------------|---------------|---------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|
| **Freemake Audio Converter** | Free | Yes | Very easy | Windows-only, limited formats but straightforward interface. |
| **MediaHuman Audio Converter**| Free | Yes | Easy | Cross-platform, supports common formats. |
| **QWinFF (FFmpeg GUI)** | Free | Yes | Moderate | GUI front-end for FFmpeg, must install FFmpeg binary. |
| **VLC Media Player** | Free | Yes | Moderate | Use “Convert/Save” with playlist, fewer format options. |
| **FFmpeg (Pre-built binary)** | Free | Yes | CLI | Download executables; powerful but command-line only. |

🎧 Recommended Batch Audio Extractors

Freemake Audio Converter and Media Human Audio Converter offer the simplest, fully GUI-based workflows for batch extracting audio on Windows without any compilation. If you prefer an open-source route, QWinFF provides a graphical wrapper around FFmpeg binaries.

### Freemake Audio Converter
- Install and launch.
- Drag-and-drop multiple video files.
- Choose MP3, WAV or other audio output preset.
- Click **Convert**; files queue and process automatically.

### MediaHuman Audio Converter
- Add all video files via “+” button.
- Select output format and quality in Preferences.
- Hit **Start**, and conversion proceeds in batch.

### QWinFF (FFmpeg GUI)
- Download QWinFF and FFmpeg Windows build.
- In QWinFF settings, point to the FFmpeg.exe path.
- Add video files, choose audio format preset.
- Click **Encode** to process entire list.

[JN-]

Simple "free" batch file. requires say static version of ffmpeg to be installed.

[JN-]

Added test (ver. 1.0.0.1) to confirm that ffmpeg is available on say PATH.

Added test (ver. 1.0.0.2) to confirm input file does have audio.

[videoAI]

This is a cool utility, Thanks for sharing.

@XwpisONOMA, Fyi ..

Added test (ver. 1.0.0.2) to confirm input file has audio.

[JN-]

Your welcome. Thanks for feedback.

[JN-]

I overlooked that the audio is converted and for mp3's for example it gets dumbed down to say 128 from 256.

So I changed to audio getting copied. Also included the number of files processed and processing duration.

Should the need ever arise, video only also ...