Exporting MP4 to MP3 From VLC Player Shortens Timeline?

[pone44]

I have an MP4 that in VLC for Windows (latest production version) shows the timeline at 3 hrs and 27 minutes and 4 seconds. When I Convert this to MP3, the resulting file shows a total length of 3 hrs and 26 minutes and 6 seconds. The loss of seconds appears to be spread out over the course of the entire file, not all at the end or start.

Can someone explain to me why this might happen? What is the best way to convert MP4 to MP3 and get the same timeline?

[redwudz]

Maybe VLC isn't reading the length correctly.
You might try MediaInfo or some other video players to see if they show a different playing time.

[transporterfan]

Corrupt headers and dropped packets, maybe. Try other converters/splitters, see if you get a different result.
https://www.videohelp.com/software/AoA-Audio-Extractor
https://www.videohelp.com/software/Pazera-Free-Audio-Extractor

[hello_hello]

HD-DVD/Blu-Ray Stream Extractor. I can't remember if it opens MP4s so you might have to remux them as MKV with MKVToolNixGUI first, then extract the audio with the HD Streams Extractor, which uses eac3to for the work, which automatically tries to fix problems such as gaps in the audio.

Or MeGUI has a version of the HD Streams Extractor under the Tools menu.