MP4 vs MP3
MP4 (MPEG-4 video) is a video container; the audio track inside is almost always AAC. MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III) is plays on practically every device, car stereo and app made since the late 1990s.
MP3 is the safest choice when a file has to play on an old car stereo, a smart TV, a website player or a podcast host.
Only the audio track is kept; the video is discarded. The file must use a codec your browser can play, which covers almost all phone and screen recordings (AAC audio).
Settings that work
- Voice memos, lectures, podcasts: 96–128 kbps, Mono ticked.
- Music: 192 kbps for everyday listening, 320 kbps if you are picky.
Questions
How do I convert MP4 to MP3?
Drop your MP4 files into the converter above. MP3 is pre-selected; press Choose files and each converted file downloads automatically.
Will converting MP4 to MP3 lose quality?
Some, as with any conversion between two lossy formats. At 192 kbps or higher the difference is inaudible for most listeners.
Is it safe to convert private recordings here?
Yes. Conversion runs entirely in your browser with the Web Audio API and a JavaScript encoder, and nothing is uploaded to a server.
Related conversions
M4A to MP3WAV to MP3OGG to MP3AAC to MP3OPUS to MP3WebM to MP3