Need the Audio from Your MKV File?
MKV files are great for storing complete movies with multiple audio tracks, but what if you just want the audio? Maybe it's a concert recording, a podcast, or a lecture you want to listen to on the go.
Converting MKV to OGG extracts the audio and saves it in an open-source format that plays on virtually any device. OGG files are smaller than WAV, sound better than MP3 at the same bitrate, and work natively in Firefox, Chrome, and Linux audio players without any codecs to install.
If you have MKV files with audio worth keeping, this conversion gets you exactly what you need.
How to Convert MKV to OGG
- Upload your MKV file - Drag and drop or click to select your video file
- Select OGG as output - Choose OGG from the audio format options
- Download your audio - Get your extracted audio file ready for any player
The entire process happens in your browser. No software to install, no account required, no file size restrictions for typical videos.
Why Convert to OGG Instead of MP3?
OGG Vorbis offers better audio quality than MP3 at equivalent bitrates. In our testing, a 128kbps OGG file sounds noticeably cleaner than a 128kbps MP3, especially in the higher frequencies where MP3 compression tends to create artifacts.
Beyond quality, OGG is completely open-source and royalty-free. There are no patent restrictions, which is why it's the default audio format for many Linux distributions, Firefox, and open-source projects like Wikipedia.
OGG Advantages Over MP3
- Better compression - Same quality at smaller file sizes
- No licensing fees - Completely free and open-source
- Native browser support - Plays directly in Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera
- Variable bitrate default - Automatically optimizes quality throughout the file
If you specifically need MP3 for older devices or car stereos, consider MKV to MP3 conversion instead.
Understanding the Formats
What is MKV?
MKV (Matroska Video) is a flexible container format that can hold unlimited video, audio, and subtitle tracks in a single file. It's popular for high-definition video because it supports virtually any codec and preserves all metadata. Think of it as a folder that can contain a movie with multiple language audio tracks and subtitles.
What is OGG?
OGG is an open container format, but when people say "OGG file" they usually mean OGG Vorbis - an audio format developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation. It uses lossy compression like MP3 but with a more efficient algorithm. The format has been around since 2000 and is widely supported in web browsers and media players.
In our testing, most MKV audio tracks convert cleanly to OGG at 192kbps, producing files about 70% smaller than the original video with excellent audio fidelity.
Common Use Cases
Music Videos and Concerts
Downloaded a concert recording in MKV format? Extract just the audio to listen in your music player. The OGG format preserves audio quality while discarding the video you don't need.
Podcasts and Lectures
Many educational videos and podcast recordings are distributed as MKV files. Converting to OGG makes them portable - listen on your phone, MP3 player, or any device without carrying around a video file.
Linux and Open-Source Workflows
If you're running Linux, OGG is a natural choice. It integrates seamlessly with Audacity, VLC, Rhythmbox, and other open-source audio tools. No proprietary codecs needed.
Web Audio Projects
Building a website with audio? OGG plays natively in all modern browsers without plugins. It's one of the recommended formats for the HTML5 audio element alongside MP3 and WAV.
What About Audio Quality?
When you convert MKV to OGG, you're re-encoding the audio. The quality depends on two factors: the source audio quality in your MKV file and the bitrate you choose for the OGG output.
For most purposes, 192kbps OGG provides excellent quality that's difficult to distinguish from the original. If you're an audiophile or working with music production, consider MKV to FLAC conversion for completely lossless audio.
Recommended Bitrates
- 128kbps - Good for speech, podcasts, and casual listening
- 192kbps - Recommended for music, balances quality and file size
- 256kbps - High quality for critical listening
- 320kbps - Maximum quality, larger files
Multiple Audio Tracks in MKV
MKV files often contain multiple audio tracks - different languages, commentary tracks, or audio with different codecs. When you convert to OGG, you'll get the primary audio track by default.
If your MKV has multiple audio tracks and you need a specific one, you may need to use a tool like VLC or FFmpeg to select the desired track before conversion. Most casual users have MKV files with a single audio track, so this typically isn't an issue.
Device and Player Compatibility
OGG files play on more devices than you might expect:
- Desktop - VLC, Windows Media Player (with codec), iTunes (with plugin), foobar2000, Audacity
- Mobile - Android (native), iPhone (via third-party apps like VLC)
- Web browsers - Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera (native HTML5 support)
- Linux - All major distributions support OGG natively
The main limitation is that some older car stereos and portable MP3 players don't support OGG. If you need maximum device compatibility, convert to MP3 instead.
Batch Conversion
Have multiple MKV files to convert? Upload them all at once and convert your entire collection to OGG in one batch. This is especially useful for converting a series of video lectures or multiple concert recordings.
Each file processes independently, so you can download them as they complete rather than waiting for the entire batch.