To export MP3 from OBS Studio, you primarily have two approaches: configuring OBS to record only audio directly into the MP3 format, or extracting the audio from an existing video recording using an external tool. OBS Studio does not have a direct "export MP3" button for existing video files, but it offers powerful recording customization.
Method 1: Recording Audio Directly as MP3 in OBS Studio
This method is ideal if you intend to record only sound (e.g., podcasts, voiceovers, music) and want the output file to be an MP3 from the start.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Open OBS Studio and navigate to File > Settings.
- In the Settings window, select the Output tab on the left sidebar.
- Ensure the Output Mode dropdown is set to Advanced.
- Go to the Recording sub-tab.
- Under the "Type" dropdown, select Custom Output (FFmpeg). This gives you granular control over the output format.
- A new set of options will appear:
- Container Format: Choose mp3 from the dropdown menu.
- Video Encoder: Disable this option. This is crucial as you only want to record audio.
- Audio Encoder: Select an appropriate audio encoder.
aacorlibmp3lameare common choices for MP3.libmp3lameis specifically for MP3 encoding. - Audio Bitrate: Adjust this based on your quality needs. Higher bitrates result in better quality but larger file sizes. Common values range from 128 kbps (good for speech) to 320 kbps (high-quality music).
- Output URL or File Path: Click Browse and select where you want to save your MP3 files and give them a name.
- Click OK to save your settings.
- Now, when you click Start Recording in OBS, it will record only audio and save it as an MP3 file to your specified location.
Optimizing Your Audio Settings
| Setting | Recommendation | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Encoder | libmp3lame (if available) or aac |
Defines how the audio is compressed into the MP3 format. |
| Audio Bitrate | 128 kbps (speech) to 320 kbps (music) | Determines the quality and file size of the MP3. |
| Sample Rate | 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz | Standard rates for audio, impacting fidelity. |
| Channels | Stereo (for music/immersive) or Mono (for speech) | Specifies the number of audio channels. |
Note: For libmp3lame to be available, it might require specific FFmpeg configurations or a version of OBS that bundles it. If not, aac is a widely supported alternative, though it's technically an AAC file within an MP3 container in some setups, or it can be converted later.
Method 2: Extracting MP3 from Existing OBS Video Recordings
OBS Studio typically records video with audio into formats like MKV or MP4. If you have an existing recording and need only the audio as an MP3, you'll need an external tool.
Using VLC Media Player (Free & Cross-Platform)
VLC is a versatile media player that can also convert files.
- Download and Install VLC Media Player: If you don't have it, get it from the official VLC website.
- Open VLC Media Player.
- Go to Media > Convert / Save... (or press
Ctrl+Ron Windows,Cmd+Shift+Son Mac). - In the "Open Media" dialog, click the Add... button and browse to select your OBS recording (e.g., an MKV or MP4 file).
- Click the Convert / Save button at the bottom.
- In the "Convert" window, under Settings:
- Profile: Choose Audio - MP3 from the dropdown menu.
- (Optional) Click the Edit selected profile (wrench) icon next to the profile dropdown to fine-tune bitrate and other audio settings.
- Under Destination:
- Destination file: Click Browse and choose where you want to save your MP3 file, giving it a name with the
.mp3extension (e.g.,MyOBSAudio.mp3).
- Destination file: Click Browse and choose where you want to save your MP3 file, giving it a name with the
- Click Start to begin the conversion. VLC will process the file, and your MP3 will be saved to the specified location.
Using Audacity (Free Audio Editor)
Audacity is a powerful free audio editor that can also import video files (with FFmpeg library installed) and export their audio.
- Download and Install Audacity: Get it from the Audacity website. You may also need the FFmpeg library for Audacity to import certain video formats.
- Open Audacity.
- Go to File > Import > Audio... and select your OBS video recording. Audacity will extract the audio and display it as a waveform.
- (Optional) You can now edit the audio, remove noise, adjust volume, etc.
- Go to File > Export > Export as MP3.
- Choose your desired save location, filename, and MP3 quality settings (bitrate).
- Click Save.
Why Not OBS's Remux Feature?
OBS Studio has a File > Remux Recordings feature. This tool is excellent for converting OBS's default MKV recordings to MP4 without re-encoding, which is fast and prevents data loss in case of a crash. However, Remux Recordings does not extract audio to MP3; it only changes the container format for video files.
By understanding these two methods, you can effectively manage and obtain MP3 audio from your OBS Studio content, whether you're recording audio-only or repurposing audio from video recordings.
