extract_sound

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Description

Extracts the audio track from a video file and saves it as a standalone audio file, preserving quality and format.
Useful for sound design, transcription workflows, remixing, archival storage, or preparing audio-only deliverables.

Purpose

extract_sound allows creators to quickly isolate the audio component of any media file.
This is ideal for:

• podcasts derived from video interviews,
• music extraction for editing or remixing,
• voice-over capture,
• archival audio preparation,
• preprocessing audio for tools like transcription or captioning.

How It Works

1. Stream Selection
   The tool identifies the primary audio stream from the input file.
2. Direct Copy or Re-encode
   Depending on videobeaux global flags, audio is either:
   • copied without re-encoding for perfect fidelity, or
   • encoded with the user-specified audio codec and bitrate.
3. Output Rendering
   The extracted audio is written to the output file specified with -o.
4. No Video Processing
   Video streams are ignored; only the audio track is saved.

Program Template

videobeaux -P extract_sound \
  -i input.mp4 \
  -o output.mp4

Arguments

• (No program-specific arguments — this tool relies entirely on global videobeaux audio settings such as codec, bitrate, and container format.)

Real World Example

videobeaux -P extract_sound \
  -i myvideo.mp4 \
  -o extract_sound_styled.mp4

Technical Notes

• The output file extension determines the final audio container (e.g., .mp3, .wav, .aac).
• If no re-encode options are given, videobeaux may default to stream copy.
• Multi-track audio is not mixed—typically the first audio stream is extracted unless overridden globally.
• Useful for batch pipelines when paired with folder recursion or metadata extraction.

Recommended Usage

• Extracting dialogue or interviews for transcription.
• Creating podcast audio from filmed sessions.
• Pulling music or SFX layers from video renders.
• Archival workflows where audio must be stored separately.

Quality Tips

• Use .wav for lossless extraction.
• Use .aac or .mp3 for lightweight distribution formats.
• If audio is distorted or clipped, normalize or limit in a separate audio-processing step.
• When exporting from mixed sources, ensure consistent bitrate settings to avoid quality mismatches.