How to rip audio from videos (losslessly, no re-encoding)?

[Gameshow Host]

Is there any program that will simply rip the audio from video, losslessly?

For years I used 'FreeVideotomp3Converter', assuming it was ripping the audio (I had it set to "original quality) but then to my horror I found out it was re-encoding audio - even changing the codec from AAC to mp3! What a piece of junk!

I've also just tried 'Pazera', but this program does the same - re-encodes rather than ripping the original audio file.

Is there anything that simply RIPS the original audio?

[jagabo]

Pretty much every video muxing/demuxing tool can extract the audio without reencoding. MkvToolNix, MkvExtractGUI, VLC, ffmpeg,..

[davexnet]

Open the file with Avidemux
Audio (at the top) / save audio

[azmoth]

Is there any program that will simply rip the audio from video, losslessly?

For years I used 'FreeVideotomp3Converter', assuming it was ripping the audio (I had it set to "original quality) but then to my horror I found out it was re-encoding audio - even changing the codec from AAC to mp3! What a piece of junk!

I've also just tried 'Pazera', but this program does the same - re-encodes rather than ripping the original audio file.

Is there anything that simply RIPS the original audio?

Pazera Audio Extractor has an option to extract the original stream along with a multiple of options. It does not re-encode, unless you choose to do so!

[butterw]

A ffmpeg-based lossless demuxer GUI would be a good choice, if one exists. Avidemux may work (but it didn't auto-select the output extension in my test).
- ffmpeg command-line will transcode based on output extension by default !
- mkvtoolnix GUI wants to extract to .mka
- MkvExtractGUI only accepts .mkv input
- VLC has many issues including this one: https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/398562-Will-I-be-able-to-save-this-corrupted-MKV-f...-sad-history-(

[Gameshow Host]

Thanks guys!

Open the file with Avidemux
Audio (at the top) / save audio

Perfect! I already had Avidemux and this worked beautifully and simply!

Thanks!

[Gameshow Host]

Pazera Audio Extractor has an option to extract the original stream along with a multiple of options. It does not re-encode, unless you choose to do so!

In that case, it is most unfortunate that this option is hidden away in menus and the interface makes no mention of extraction. There really ought to be a nice big button for this, and it should be the default setting, since most people would surely want to extract rather than convert.

[azmoth]

Pazera Audio Extractor has an option to extract the original stream along with a multiple of options. It does not re-encode, unless you choose to do so!

In that case, it is most unfortunate that this option is hidden away in menus and the interface makes no mention of extraction. There really ought to be a nice big button for this, and it should be the default setting, since most people would surely want to extract rather than convert.

It's there, just have to look for it as there are a ton of audio choices in the menu itself on the right hand side of the tool. Keep moving down the audio menu, you'll find it. Very useful option.

[Hoser Rob]

Pazera Audio Extractor has an option to extract the original stream along with a multiple of options. It does not re-encode, unless you choose to do so!

In that case, it is most unfortunate that this option is hidden away in menus and the interface makes no mention of extraction. There really ought to be a nice big button for this, and it should be the default setting, since most people would surely want to extract rather than convert.

Um, no. Most will convert the audio.

[hello_hello]

For years I used 'FreeVideotomp3Converter', assuming it was ripping the audio (I had it set to "original quality) but then to my horror I found out it was re-encoding audio - even changing the codec from AAC to mp3! What a piece of junk!

What's your output container of choice (AVI, MKV, MP4 etc). AAC in an AVI isn't well supported by hardware players.