This article explains how to extract audio tracks from a DVD and convert them to MP3 files using a Windows computer or a Mac. The whole process can be done using only the VLC Media Player program, although in this case the audio quality is often not high level. For best results you can use the free HandBrake program to extract audio tracks from DVD to MP4 format and then use VLC to convert MP4 to MP3 files.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using VLC on Windows
Step 1. Insert the DVD to be copied into the computer player
Make sure the disc is inserted correctly, i.e. with the label side facing up.
- If your computer has a CD-ROM drive instead of a DVD drive you will not be able to perform the procedure for extracting data from optical media. Before you begin, make sure that "DVD" is clearly marked on the front of the computer player.
- If your computer does not have a DVD player or optical drive, you will need to purchase an external USB DVD player.
Step 2. Launch VLC Media Player
It features an orange and white traffic cone icon.
Step 3. Enter the Media menu
It is located in the upper left corner of the program window. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 4. Select the Open Disc… item
It is one of the options listed within the "Media" drop-down menu.
Step 5. Select the "No disc menu" checkbox
It is located within the "Disc Selection" pane visible at the top of the "Disc" tab of the "Open Media" window.
Step 6. Press the button
It is located at the bottom of the window, to the right of the button Play. A small drop-down menu will appear.
Step 7. Choose the Convert option
It is one of the items listed in the drop-down menu that appeared. A new dialog will appear.
Step 8. Change the file format that will be generated by the data extraction by choosing MP3 format
Access the "Profile" drop-down menu, then select the item Audio - MP3.
Step 9. Press the Browse button
It is located in the lower right part of the window within the "Destination" pane.
Step 10. Name the file
Type the name you want to assign to the file obtained by extracting the DVD audio tracks in the "File name" text field.
Step 11. Choose where to save the file
Select the destination folder of the MP3 file using the left sidebar of the dialog box that appeared.
Step 12. Press the Save button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 13. Press the Start button
It is located at the bottom of the window. The process of extracting the data from the DVD will begin.
Step 14. Wait for the DVD audio track to be copied to your computer
Depending on the size of the data stored on the optical media, the time required to complete the extraction will vary from half an hour to over an hour. When VLC has completed copying the DVD, the resulting MP3 file will be stored in the folder of your choice.
If prompted, choose the option Keep to prevent the existing MP3 file from being overwritten.
Method 2 of 3: Using VLC on Mac
Step 1. Insert the DVD to be copied into the Mac drive
Make sure the disc is inserted correctly, i.e. with the label side facing up.
Since most Macs don't come with a DVD player, you'll need to purchase an external USB drive and plug it into your computer
Step 2. Launch VLC Media Player
Open the search field Spotlight clicking the icon
type in the keyword vlc, double click on the icon VLC Media Player appeared and press the button You open when required.
Step 3. Access the File menu
It is located in the upper left corner of the Mac screen.
Step 4. Select the Open Disc… item
It is one of the options listed within the "File" drop-down menu. A dialog box will appear displaying the information contained on the DVD.
Step 5. Select the Disable DVD menu check button
It is located in the upper right part of the window.
Step 6. Select the "Transmit / Save" check button
It is located in the lower left corner of the window.
Step 7. Press the Settings button
It is located on the right side of the window. A new video conversion settings window will appear.
Step 8. Select the "File" check button
It is positioned at the top of the window.
If both the "File" and "Broadcast" check buttons are already selected, choose the "File" option again so that it becomes the primary output
Step 9. Press the Browse… button
It is located at the top right of the page. A new dialog will appear.
Step 10. Name the file that will be generated by the conversion
Type the name you want to give the audio file copied from the DVD into the "Save as" text field. Make sure you also add the.mp3 extension after entering the file name.
For example, if the name of the MP3 file you have chosen is "The Blair Witch Project", the complete text you will have to type in the indicated field will be The Blair Witch Project.mp3
Step 11. Choose where to store the file
Use the "Located in" drop-down menu to select the folder where you want the MP3 file to be saved (for example the directory Desktop).
Step 12. Press the Save button
It is placed at the bottom of the window.
Step 13. Uncheck the "Video" checkbox
It is placed in the center of the window.
Step 14. Tell the program you want to include the audio track
Select the "Audio" checkbox, then access the drop-down menu of the same name and choose the format MP3 from the list that will appear.
Step 15. Press the OK button twice consecutively
The chosen settings will be used to extract the DVD audio track and store it on your computer in MP3 format.
Step 16. Wait for the DVD audio track to be copied to your computer
Depending on the size of the data stored on the optical media, the time required to complete the extraction will vary from half an hour to over an hour. When VLC has completed copying the DVD, the resulting MP3 file will be stored in the folder of your choice.
If prompted, choose the option Keep to prevent the existing MP3 file from being overwritten.
Method 3 of 3: Using VLC and HandBrake
Step 1. Download and install HandBrake on your computer
It is a free program available for both Windows and Mac platforms that can copy the data stored in a DVD and create an MP4 file. Follow these instructions to install HandBrake:
- Access the website https://handbrake.fr/ using your computer browser.
- Push the button Download HandBrake.
- Double-click the installation file icon when the download is complete.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Step 2. Insert the DVD to be copied into your computer drive
Make sure the disc is inserted correctly, i.e. with the label side facing up.
- If your computer has a CD-ROM drive instead of a DVD drive you will not be able to perform the procedure for extracting data from optical media. Before you begin, make sure that "DVD" is clearly marked on the front of the computer player.
- If your computer does not have a DVD player or does not have an optical drive, you will need to purchase an external USB DVD player.
Step 3. Start HandBrake
It features an icon depicting a pineapple and a tropical cocktail.
Step 4. View DVD related options
Click the disc-shaped icon with the name of the DVD present in the player, located in the upper left part of the HandBrake window.
If the indicated icon is not present, restart the HandBrake program
Step 5. Edit the conversion settings if needed
Normally the default options of HandBrake allow you to convert the data on the DVD to MP4 format, but it is good to check that the program configuration is correct before continuing. Follow these instructions:
- File format: Make sure "MP4" is visible in the "Container" text field. Otherwise, access the indicated menu and select the option MP4.
- Video resolution: enter the menu Presets, then choose the resolution you want (for example 1080p).
Step 6. Press the Browse button
It is located to the right of the "Save As" text field. A new dialog will appear.
Step 7. Enter the information for the destination file
Select the folder where you want it to be stored, give it a name using the "File Name" (on Windows) or "Name" (on Mac) field and press the button Save.
Step 8. Press the Start Encode button
It is green in color and is located at the top of the HandBrake window. In this way the program will start the process of converting the DVD to an MP4 file. After copying the data and creating the MP4 file, you can continue.
- If you are using a Mac you will need to press the button Start.
- Copying a DVD in MP4 format can take anywhere from half an hour to several hours, so make sure your computer is plugged in and placed in a well-ventilated place.
Step 9. Launch VLC and use it to open the MP4 file
Double-click the program icon and follow these instructions:
- Access the menu Average (on Windows) or File (on Mac).
- Select the option Convert / Save.
- Access the card File of the appeared window.
- Push the button add, then select the MP4 file and press the button You open.
Step 10. Now press the Convert / Save button
It is located at the bottom of the "Open Media" window.
Step 11. Change the conversion options to get an MP3 format file
Access the "Profile" drop-down menu, scroll through the list of items that appeared and select the option Audio - MP3.
If you are using a Mac you will simply have to select the "Audio" checkbox and make sure to deselect the "Video" item
Step 12. Choose a name for the file and a folder to store it
Push the button Browse located at the bottom of the window, type the name you want to assign to the file, select the folder in which to save it, then press the button Save.
Step 13. Press the Start button
It is located at the bottom of the window. The VLC Media Player program will convert the MP4 file to MP3 format.
Step 14. Force close the VLC program if necessary
In some cases VLC will loop trying to overwrite the MP3 file created by the conversion. To solve the problem you will simply have to close the application forcibly:
- Windows: Press the key combination Ctrl + ⇧ Shift + Esc, locate the VLC program inside the tab Processes, select the file VLC and press the button End activity located in the lower right corner of the "Task Manager" window.
-
Mac: access the menu Apple clicking the icon
Macapple1 choose the option Forced exit, select the program VLC, push the button Forced exit and confirm your action, if requested.
