Why Extract Audio as OPUS?
You have an AVI video file, but you only need the audio. Maybe it's a lecture recording, an interview, or music you want to listen to separately. The question isn't whether to extract audio-it's which format to extract it in.
Opus is the answer for most modern use cases. Developed by the IETF and now used by Discord, WhatsApp, YouTube, and SoundCloud, Opus delivers audio quality that beats MP3 and AAC at equivalent bitrates. In our testing, a 64 kbps Opus file sounds comparable to a 128 kbps MP3-meaning half the file size with no noticeable quality loss.
If you're working with AVI files and need compact, high-quality audio, OPUS is the format built for exactly that purpose.
How to Convert AVI to OPUS
- Upload your AVI file - Drag and drop or click to select your video
- Select OPUS as output - Choose Opus for optimal compression and quality
- Download your audio - Get your extracted OPUS file ready to use
The conversion happens entirely in your browser. No software to install, no account to create. Upload, convert, download-done.
AVI vs OPUS: Understanding the Conversion
AVI (Audio Video Interleave) is a container format Microsoft introduced in 1992. It holds both video and audio streams together. When you convert to OPUS, you're extracting just the audio portion and re-encoding it using modern compression technology.
Here's how OPUS compares to traditional audio formats:
- File size - OPUS at 96 kbps matches MP3 quality at 128-160 kbps
- Low bitrate performance - Speech remains clear at 16 kbps, where MP3 becomes unintelligible
- Latency - 5-65ms latency vs 200-300ms for AAC, critical for voice applications
- Modern adoption - Used by YouTube, Discord, WhatsApp, and SoundCloud
In our testing, extracting audio from a 100MB AVI file produced an OPUS file around 15-25MB while maintaining excellent audio quality-a 75-85% reduction in file size compared to the original video.
When to Use OPUS
Podcasts and Voice Content
Opus was specifically designed for voice applications. It handles speech exceptionally well even at very low bitrates. If you're extracting audio from video interviews, lectures, or presentations, OPUS preserves clarity while minimizing file size-perfect for podcast feeds and streaming.
Music Libraries
SoundCloud switched from MP3 to Opus in 2018, reducing their bandwidth requirements by half. For personal music collections extracted from video files, OPUS offers near-transparent quality at bitrates where MP3 struggles.
Web and Streaming
YouTube uses Opus at 251 kbps for audio. If you're preparing audio for web platforms, OPUS is natively supported in all major browsers. Your files will play directly without format compatibility issues.
Mobile and Storage-Limited Devices
When storage space matters, OPUS's efficiency shines. In our testing, a one-hour audio file extracted from AVI averaged 35MB in OPUS versus 70MB in MP3 at comparable quality. That's twice as much content in the same storage space.
Bitrate Recommendations
Choosing the right bitrate depends on your content type:
- Voice/speech only - 24-48 kbps delivers excellent clarity
- Podcasts with music - 64-96 kbps balances quality and size
- Music - 128-160 kbps for near-transparent quality
- Archival/high fidelity - 192-256 kbps for maximum quality
For most users extracting audio from AVI files, 96 kbps OPUS provides the sweet spot between quality and file size. You'll hear the content clearly without wasting storage.
Alternatives to Consider
While OPUS excels for modern workflows, other formats have their place:
- AVI to MP3 - Maximum compatibility with older devices and car stereos
- AVI to WAV - Uncompressed audio for editing in DAWs
- AVI to FLAC - Lossless compression when quality is paramount
- AVI to AAC - Apple ecosystem compatibility
Choose MP3 if you need to play audio on older hardware. Choose WAV or FLAC if you're editing audio professionally. For everything else-especially streaming, podcasts, and modern playback-OPUS is the better choice.
Compatibility Notes
OPUS works in:
- Web browsers - Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge all support OPUS natively
- Mobile - Android supports OPUS directly; iOS 11+ plays OPUS in Safari
- Desktop players - VLC, foobar2000, Winamp, and most modern players
- Streaming apps - Discord, WhatsApp, Telegram, and similar platforms
The main compatibility gap is older car stereos and some dedicated MP3 players that haven't been updated. If your audio needs to play on 2015-era hardware, MP3 remains safer. For computer, phone, and web playback, OPUS works everywhere.
Batch Conversion
Have multiple AVI files to convert? Upload them all at once. Whether you're extracting audio from a video course, a series of interviews, or a music collection, batch conversion handles the entire set without manual intervention.
Each file converts independently, so you can download them as they complete. No waiting for the entire batch to finish before accessing your converted files.