Please recommend a MP4 to MP3 converter software

We use free "online-convert.com" for almost all media conversions
For Video to MP3 use ... Convert audio to MP3

Don't be put off by the "Convert audio to MP3" because ...
Convert audio to MP3 introduction states ...

Convert your audio file to MP3 in high quality with this free online MP3 converter. Just upload your music and download the MP3 within an instant. You can also upload video files and extract the audio track to MP3.

I have been using this free online service for several years without any problems.
Conversion is returned to you as a download within a minute or so.

IMO using (some) online services avoids congesting my laptop with installed programs.

70816Bit said:

may I ask what settings do you use for bitrates and so on? or do you just leave it to default?

The standard recommendation is 192 or higher bitrate if dealing with a stereo file and 96 or higher if using mono.

At 192 stereo, a song will typically be about 4 mb in size if it is 2.5 to 3 minutes long.

If you have a relatively small storage capacity, then maybe you use a lower bit rate so you can get more songs on that space.

You can go higher if you want if it makes you feel better, but the fact is very few people can tell the difference when you get above 96 mono or 192 stereo. Many people can't tell the difference between 128 and 192 in most cases.

Mono files will be only half the size of stereo files, so you can get twice as many mono songs in a given space. For instance, you might find that 80 bit rate mono sounds better than 128 stereo and takes up less space to boot.

The source material means a lot. If you have a poorly recorded sound file, an mp3 of it will also be disappointing, regardless of bit rate. So try to get the best possible source file if possible.

I'd try to use a good encoder, preferably Lame or FHG.

Variable bit rate is typically a good choice if available and will keep the file size down a bit.

If you are working on spoken word files rather than music, there's no reason to use high bit rates.

Do some experimentation on your own and trust your ears.

@ 70816Bit

70816Bit said:

may I ask what settings do you use for bitrates and so on? or do you just leave it to default?

We just use defaults.
ignatzatsonic has had a lot more experience than I have ... am about to investigate his thoughts.

My wife (70) is a borderline IT Luddite, her interests are music, movies, books and audio books
- I do my best to keep our PCs alive and healthy

:)

Thanks everyone for your replies, my apologies for not getting back to this thread sooner. I've took a look at the responses and tried the various sites and I think if it was me using and doing the converting - which I will be doing at some point, there are some valid options, that I would like to explore. As thinking of my parents, and hopefully encouraging them to try for when am not around, looks to be 'Convert Audio to MP3'.

Thanks bawldiggle for helping with the bitrate conversion, been a long time since I've had to mess about with stuff along them lines. I tried an MP4 of my own, a good old Who gig from 1979 off YouTube and converted to an MP3 and bearing in mind, was not the best quality can honestly say but bearing in mind the source of the MP4 not bad at all .

I am going to mark this thread resolved and like I say, will explore everyone's options as well. I may post a separate post regarding the player itself (my Mum's) as it always sending her music to MP4 as default and ends she up waiting for me with any to convert her CD's and downloads and such.