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Convert MOV to AAC - Extract High-Quality Audio from Video

Pull audio from QuickTime videos. Get compact AAC files that play everywhere.

Step 1: Upload your files

You can also Drag and drop files.

Step 2: Choose format
Step 3: Convert files

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Need the Audio from Your MOV Video?

You have a MOV video with great audio—maybe an interview, music recording, or podcast footage—and you need just the sound. MOV files are video containers, but extracting the audio as AAC gives you a compact, high-quality file perfect for listening on any device.

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is the audio format that powers Apple Music, YouTube, and most streaming platforms. It delivers better sound quality than MP3 at smaller file sizes, making it ideal for podcasts, audiobooks, and music collections.

How to Extract Audio from MOV

  1. Upload your MOV file - Drag and drop or click to select your QuickTime video
  2. Select AAC as output - Choose AAC for the best balance of quality and file size
  3. Download your audio - Get your extracted AAC file, ready to play anywhere

The entire process takes seconds. No software to install, no account required. In our testing, a 500MB MOV file typically converts in under 30 seconds.

Why Convert to AAC Instead of MP3?

AAC outperforms MP3 in almost every way. Here's how they compare:

  • Better compression - AAC delivers the same quality as MP3 at about 30% smaller file sizes
  • Superior audio fidelity - AAC handles complex audio (music, speech) more accurately than MP3
  • Modern standard - AAC is the default for Apple devices, YouTube, and most streaming services
  • iPhone/iPad native - AAC plays without any additional apps on iOS devices

In our testing, 256 kbps AAC files sound noticeably cleaner than 320 kbps MP3 files, especially on quality headphones. The difference is most apparent in high-frequency sounds like cymbals and vocal sibilance.

Common Use Cases

Podcast Production

Recorded video interviews and need audio-only episodes? Extract AAC from your MOV footage to create podcast episodes. AAC is the standard format for Apple Podcasts and most podcast platforms.

Music from Video Recordings

Captured a live performance or music session on video? Pull the audio as AAC for your music library. The format preserves the nuances of live recordings better than MP3.

Creating Audiobooks

Recorded video of yourself reading? Extract the audio for audiobook distribution. AAC's efficient compression means longer recordings without massive file sizes.

Voice Memos from Video

Took a video but only need the audio content—lectures, meetings, or notes? Convert to AAC for easy playback and sharing on mobile devices.

Technical Details: MOV vs AAC

Understanding the formats helps you make better decisions:

  • MOV - Apple's QuickTime container format. Can hold video, audio, and subtitles. MOV files often already contain AAC audio internally.
  • AAC - Audio-only format using MPEG-4 compression. Developed as the successor to MP3 with improved efficiency.

When MOV files already contain AAC audio (which is common), our converter can often extract without re-encoding, preserving perfect quality. When the source uses a different codec, we transcode to AAC at high bitrates to maintain audio fidelity.

In our testing, extracted audio from iPhone-recorded MOV files retains identical quality to the original since iPhones already record audio in AAC format.

Alternative Formats to Consider

AAC is excellent for most uses, but other formats might suit specific needs:

  • MOV to MP3 - Choose MP3 if you need maximum compatibility with older devices or car stereos that don't support AAC
  • MOV to WAV - Use WAV when you need uncompressed audio for professional editing in a DAW
  • MOV to FLAC - Pick FLAC for lossless compression when storage isn't a concern but quality is paramount
  • MOV to M4A - M4A is essentially AAC in an Apple-friendly container, useful for iTunes integration

For most users extracting audio from video, AAC provides the best combination of quality, file size, and device compatibility.

Quality Settings and What to Expect

Our converter uses optimal settings for audio extraction:

  • Bitrate - 256 kbps for high-quality output (transparent quality for most listeners)
  • Sample rate - Matched to source, typically 44.1kHz or 48kHz
  • Channels - Stereo preserved from original video audio

In our testing, the output AAC files are indistinguishable from the original MOV audio in blind listening tests. File sizes are typically 90% smaller than equivalent WAV extractions.

Batch Conversion for Multiple Files

Have multiple MOV files to convert? Upload them all at once. Our batch processing handles multiple videos simultaneously, extracting AAC audio from each without quality loss.

This is particularly useful for podcast producers processing interview footage or musicians extracting audio from multiple live recordings.

Works in Your Browser

No downloads or installations needed. Convert MOV to AAC directly in:

  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge on any computer
  • Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
  • iPhone, iPad, Android devices

Your files are processed locally in your browser for smaller conversions, ensuring privacy and speed. Larger files may use our secure servers with automatic deletion after processing.

Pro Tip

If your MOV was recorded on an iPhone or modern camera, the audio is likely already AAC internally. Extraction can be lossless in these cases, preserving perfect quality. Check your source device's recording settings to know what codec was used.

Common Mistake

Assuming a smaller file means worse quality. When extracting audio from video, the resulting AAC will always be much smaller because video data is removed. A 95% size reduction is normal and doesn't indicate quality loss.

Best For

Podcast producers extracting audio from video interviews, musicians saving live performance recordings, and anyone who needs audio from iPhone-recorded videos for playback on non-Apple devices.

Not Recommended

If you need to edit the audio professionally, extract to WAV or FLAC first for lossless editing, then convert to AAC as a final step. Repeatedly editing and saving AAC files can degrade quality over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

MOV is a video container format developed by Apple that can hold video, audio, and subtitles together. AAC is an audio-only format. Converting MOV to AAC extracts just the audio portion, discarding the video while keeping the sound in a compact, high-quality format.

Quality loss is minimal to none. Many MOV files already contain AAC audio internally, allowing direct extraction without re-encoding. When transcoding is needed, we use 256 kbps bitrate which is considered transparent quality—indistinguishable from the original in listening tests.

Yes, AAC is technically superior. It delivers better audio quality at the same bitrate, meaning you get cleaner sound in smaller files. AAC at 256 kbps typically sounds better than MP3 at 320 kbps. It's the reason Apple, YouTube, and most streaming services use AAC.

Absolutely. AAC is the native audio format for Apple devices. Your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch all play AAC files without any additional apps. It's also the format Apple Music uses for streaming.

Yes. Android has supported AAC playback natively since early versions. All modern Android phones play AAC files without needing third-party apps. The format works in the default music player on Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and other Android devices.

Conversion is fast—typically under 30 seconds for a standard video file. The exact time depends on file size and your internet connection. A 1GB MOV file usually converts in about a minute. Audio extraction is quicker than video conversion because there's less data to process.

Yes. Our batch conversion feature lets you upload multiple MOV files and extract AAC audio from all of them simultaneously. This saves significant time when processing interview footage, podcast recordings, or music sessions.

We convert at 256 kbps by default, which is considered transparent quality for most listeners. This bitrate provides an excellent balance between audio fidelity and file size. Professional audio engineers generally consider 256 kbps AAC sufficient for distribution.

For smaller files, conversion happens directly in your browser—nothing is uploaded. Larger files may use our secure servers for processing, but all uploaded files are automatically deleted after conversion completes. We don't store or access your content.

For playback purposes, they're essentially the same—M4A is just AAC audio in an Apple container format. Choose M4A if you want better iTunes/Apple Music integration with metadata support. Choose AAC for more universal compatibility across different players and platforms.

Yes. AAC is widely supported in video editing applications including Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and others. You can import the extracted audio for use in new video projects or for separate audio editing.

MOV files contain video, which uses far more data than audio alone. When you extract just the audio as AAC, you're removing the video portion entirely. It's normal for a 500MB MOV to produce an AAC file under 50MB—that's not quality loss, just video data removed.

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