I recently installed youtube-dl and I’m trying to figure out the best way to extract high quality audio files. When I run the format listing command, I see multiple audio-only options with different bitrates and codecs.
I get results showing formats like:
Format 249: webm audio, opus codec at 50k bitrate
Format 140: m4a audio, mp4a codec at 128k bitrate
Format 251: webm audio, opus codec at 160k bitrate
There are also video formats with audio included, like mp4 files at 720p with higher bitrates.
Which approach gives better audio quality - selecting one of the audio-only formats or downloading a high resolution video file and then extracting the audio? I’m confused about whether the standalone audio formats or the audio tracks from video files provide superior sound quality.
Audio-only formats are your best bet for quality. Those opus 160k files (format 251) sound excellent despite the lower bitrate - opus codec is crazy efficient. The m4a at 128k works great too if you prefer AAC. Don’t bother downloading video just to extract audio. You won’t get better quality, just bigger files. YouTube processes audio and video separately anyway, so “audio from video” isn’t magically better than the standalone tracks. I’ve tested both methods extensively - dedicated audio formats always match or beat video extraction. Skip the extra bandwidth and processing time. Just grab the audio-only options.
i usually go for youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3. mp3 is more universal, and tho opus has better quality, not all my devices can handle it. compatibility is key for me, even if i lose some audio quality.
You’re trying to download high-quality audio from YouTube using youtube-dl, and you’re unsure whether to download audio-only formats or extract audio from video files. You’ve identified several audio-only formats with varying bitrates and codecs (opus, m4a), and you’re also seeing video formats with embedded audio.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
The core issue is a misunderstanding of YouTube’s encoding process and the efficiency of modern audio codecs. YouTube encodes audio and video streams separately. The audio in a video file is identical to the audio in a dedicated audio-only download of the same quality. Extracting audio from a video file adds unnecessary processing time and increases file size without improving the sound quality. Newer codecs like Opus are exceptionally efficient; they can achieve excellent audio quality at lower bitrates compared to older codecs like MP3 or AAC.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Automate Your Downloads (The Core Solution): Instead of manually selecting formats and running youtube-dl commands repeatedly, create an automated workflow. This is far more efficient and scalable, especially if you download many videos regularly. Tools like Latenode (https://latenode.com) allow you to build these workflows. These platforms provide a visual interface to chain together various commands, ensuring consistent audio quality settings without manual intervention. Once you’ve set up your workflow, any YouTube URL you add will be processed automatically.
Define Your Preferred Audio Quality: Within your automated workflow, specify your desired audio format and quality. Many users find the Opus codec (often available as format 251 at 160kbps) to offer excellent audio quality with smaller file sizes. If Opus isn’t available for a particular video, the m4a format (around 128kbps) is a reliable alternative.
Configure the Workflow: Within your chosen automation tool (Latenode or similar), set up the parameters for downloading, converting (optional), and storing your files.
Test and Refine: Try your automated workflow with a few sample videos, verifying that the audio quality meets your expectations. Adjust settings like the preferred audio format and quality as needed.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Codec Compatibility: While Opus offers superior quality at lower bitrates, not all devices support it. If you encounter playback issues, you may need to opt for a more widely compatible codec like AAC (m4a). You can use the -f bestaudio[ext=m4a] option in youtube-dl to specify that you only want m4a files.
Bitrate vs. Quality: Higher bitrates generally mean better quality, but the choice is also highly dependent on the codec. Opus and AAC are quite efficient, yielding excellent results even at moderate bitrates.
Automation Tool Integration: Explore more advanced features of your automation platform. You can potentially integrate it with transcription services, music libraries, cloud storage, and more to streamline your audio processing.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
I’ve used youtube-dl for years and learned this the hard way - always grab format 251 (opus 160k) when it’s there. Opus sounds amazing at low bitrates, way better than you’d expect compared to older formats. If opus isn’t available, format 140 (m4a 128k) works great. You can also use -f bestaudio[ext=m4a] or -f bestaudio[ext=webm] to pick your container while getting the best quality in that format. I used to extract audio from video files thinking it’d be better quality, but it’s pointless and just wastes time. The standalone audio tracks are exactly the same quality as what’s in the video streams - YouTube’s encoding makes sure of that.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Step-by-Step Guide:
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!