How to extract audio from mp4 file using Audacity because the video's sound is not playing under Windows 10.

Recently I had to extract only the audio from an mp4 video file. This happened because Windows 10 could play the video file but there was no audio, even though the video did contain audio. For example playing the video using VLC or even the earlier Windows Media Player played the video with audio, whilst using Windows 10 the default video player (Films & TV or Photos) would play the video but not the audio.

I wanted to produce the video with sound and whilst I have converted files in the past with the VLC Player this approach wasn't working. My next approach was to extract the sound from each video file and then create a new video using the video file plus the sound file. This approach worked and gave me the video I wanted.

To do this I used Audacity which is a program I regularly use the edit audio files. By default however Audacity cannot read an mp4 file so it is necessary to install an mp4 plugin as follows.

First close Audacity if you have Audacity open.
Visit the following web page.
64 bit FFmpeg Library Download (buanzo.org)
Under the section Windows(R) FFmpeg INSTALLER click on the link for the installer, which as at the time I downloaded the file, the file was called FFmpeg v2.2.2 INSTALLER (.EXE).
Run the file.

Now when you open Audacity you should be able to open an mp4 file and the audio track will be available.

I hope this post helps anyone who is having the same problem.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au