Converting Video Lectures into Audiobooks: A Step-by-Step Guide

Converting video lectures into audiobooks can be a great way to listen to educational content on the go. This guide will walk you through several methods using built-in Windows apps, free software, and command-line tools.

Using Built-in Windows Apps in Converting Video Lectures

1. Microsoft ClipChamp

• Open ClipChamp: Launch the ClipChamp app, which is pre-installed on Windows 11.
• Import Video: Click on “Create a New Video” and then select “Import Media” to upload your video lecture from your computer or cloud storage.
• Detach Audio: Drag the video onto the timeline, click on it to highlight it, and then go to the right sidebar and select “Audio.” Choose “Detach Audio.” This will extract the audio from the video and save it as an M4A file in your Downloads folder.

Using Free Software in Video Lecture Conversion

2. VLC Media Player

• Download and Install: If you don’t already have VLC Media Player installed, download it from the official website and install it on your computer.
• Open Video: Launch VLC and navigate to the “Media” menu. Select “Convert/Save” or press Ctrl+R on your keyboard.
• Add Video: In the “Files” tab, click “Add” to select the video lecture you want to convert.
• Choose Output Format: Click “Convert/Save” again, and then select “Convert” on the next screen. In the “Profile” dropdown, select “Audio – MP3.”
• Set Destination: Choose the destination folder for your audio file by clicking “Browse.” Replace the “.mp4” in the file name with “.mp3” and click “Save.”
• Start Conversion: Click “Start” to begin the conversion process. Once it’s complete, your MP3 audio file will be saved in the destination folder you specified.

Using Command-Line Tools In Converting Video Lectures

3. FFmpeg

• Download and Install: Download FFmpeg from its official website and extract the package.
• Copy Video: Copy the video file you want to convert and paste it into the “bin” folder of the extracted FFmpeg directory.
• Open Command Prompt: In File Explorer, click the address bar, type “cmd,” and press Enter to open a Command Prompt in the current folder.
• Run Conversion Command: Enter the following command in the Command Prompt window, replacing “videolecture.mp4” with the actual name of your video file and “audiolecture.mp3” with the desired name for your audio file:
• Check Results: Press Enter to execute the command. FFmpeg will process the conversion, and the resulting MP3 file will be saved in the “bin” folder.

Bashffmpeg -i videolecture.mp4 audiolecture.mp3

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can easily convert your video lectures into audiobooks using either built-in Windows apps, free software like VLC Media Player, or command-line tools like FFmpeg. Choose the method that best suits your preferences and technical skills.