extract_sound

:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

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

Stream Selection
The tool identifies the primary audio stream from the input file.
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.
Output Rendering
The extracted audio is written to the output file specified with -o.
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.

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