Digital Audio Collection 101: Efficient Methods to Download and Store Podcast Episodes

Listening to Podcasts is a great way to gather information. Name a topic, and you will find a Podcast on it. You can always count on the best Podcast shows to get quality knowledge.

You can listen to those Podcasts online. But, sometimes, users want to download the Podcast. The reason can be anything; you might want to listen offline. There are various ways to get the job done. We will walk you through different methods to download Podcasts to the computer.

Can you download a Podcast as a file?

Yes, it’s possible. But the process is a bit different for many platforms.

If you’re downloading Podcasts from Podcast manager apps like Spotify and Apple Play. These apps will save your Podcast in the app’s library and make it available for offline listening.

Yet, you can’t get access to the saved Podcast on the PC. For this, you need third-party tools to download them to your computer. A step-by-step process of using apps and tools is given below!

But if you’re downloading a Podcast from a video platform like YouTube, then yes. You can download it as a file. Here are a few methods to download podcasts. Let’s walk you through them one by one.

Method 1- Direct Download Podcasts From Podcast Manager Apps

You can save Podcasts to your computer from Podcast manager apps. Various Podcast manager apps, such as iTunes, Spotify, Apple Podcast, and many others, allow such an operation. However, it is important to note that some podcast managers require a premium subscription to be able to download podcasts.

For example, if you’re using a Windows computer, you can use iTunes to download Podcasts. While Mac users can use Apple Podcasts. The steps below allow you to save Podcasts from Podcast manager apps like Spotify;

Step1 Install the Spotify app on your PC or Mac.

Step2 Open the Spotify app and login to your account.

Step3 Locate the Podcast show you wish to download.

Step4 Move your cursor over the Podcast episodes and click the download button to download them to your computer.

The backward of using Podcast manager apps is that it can only save your Podcast in the manager app. If you uninstall the app accidentally, you lose access to the saved Podcast because it won’t be available on your PC.

To cope with this problem, we provide third-party apps to directly download the Podcast to your computer from the manager apps.

Method 2- Download Podcasts From Popular Podcast Manager Apps Using Third-Party Tools

To download Podcasts in unprotected formats from Spotify, you need a third-party tool to alter Spotify .ogg audio. The most helpful and commonly used tool is TuneFab Spotify Music Converter. It is free for 30 days, and you can purchase it after discovering it is compatible with you!

It will convert Podcasts and as well as download songs, audiobooks, and playlists into MP3, WAV, FLAC, and M4V. Follow the below instructions to get your hands on it!

Step1 First, download TuneFab Spotify Music Converter , then follow the outlines on the screen to get set up on your computer. Then launch this tool to start the conversion process.

Step2 Now, log in to your Spotify account in this tool to easily access your download list.

Step3 After that, find out the required Podcast and click on the “Add” button in front of the Podcast. You can also directly drag and drop the file into the “Add” button.

Step4 You can now get the download and convert option adjacent to every Podcast episode. You must check the file format and click on the available option to continue the process.

You can also change the output location of the Podcast on a PC, where you’ll find out easily.

Step5 Then click on the “Convert” button and get your Podcast on your device in your required format.

Alternatives third-party tools

You can also use other third-party tools to download the Podcasts, such as:

UkeySoft Spotify Music Converter.
Leawo’s Prof. DRM .
AudKit SpotiLab Music Converter.

If you want to download your Podcast in video format, then read more to get access!

Method 3- Download Podcasts From Video Platforms

Downloading Podcasts from video platforms is also simple. All you have to do is copy the link to the Podcast and paste it into a downloading tool. Let’s see this process in detail.

Here are the steps to download Podcasts from YouTube to the computer.

Step1 Open YouTube and locate the Podcast video you want to download.

Step2 Click the Share icon next to the video and click Copy Link from the pop-up on your screen.

Step3 Open SSYouTube in your browser and paste the copied link in the relevant area. Then, select MP3 as the preferred output format.

Step4 Download the Podcast video according to your preferred quality and save it to your computer.

Method 4- Download the Podcast With an Audio Recorder

You can also download Podcasts from websites by streaming with an audio recorder. Various tools like Filmora , Apowersoft, Audacity, and many others ease audio streaming. All it takes is only a few clicks!

Free Download For Win 7 or later(64-bit)

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

We’ve shown steps to download Podcasts from websites by streaming using a tool like Filmora;

Step1 Download the Wondershare Filmora on your computer.

Step2 Launch the installed app and open the home interface of Filmora.

Step3 Then find the “Microphone” icon on the home screen of Filmora below the video display on the right side as shown below:

Step4 After clicking on the icon, the Record Audio box will pop up. Now, you have to start the podcast in the background on any Podcast Manager app. Adjacently, click on the Red button of the recorder on Filmora too.

Note: Make sure that background is noise-free to capture the Podcast audio easily.

Step5 After you are all done with the Podcast recording, now again click on the Red button to stop the recording, and your audio will be recorded in the audio track as shown below:

Step6 Then click on the Export button at the top middle side to export it on your device in the required format.

It’s all done, and you’ve successfully exported the podcast to your computer in a few steps!

FAQs

When you save a Podcast, where does it go?

Saved Podcasts are usually added to the saved list in your Podcast library and will be available for offline listening. But if you want to get access directly on your computer, then you need a third-party tool to download it from the Podcast manager app to your PC, as mentioned above in the article.

Is listening to a Podcast the same as downloading?

No. Podcast download involves saving a Podcast episode to your Podcast app. But listening to a Podcast refers to the number of times you played a Podcast.

Final words

You can download the Podcast from a Podcast manager app, an audio recorder, or a video platform. You can also use third-party tools to get directly downloaded Podcasts on your Computer.

Ensure you follow all the steps mentioned above smoothly. Now, enjoy your Podcast with high audio formats wherever you are!

Free Download For macOS 10.14 or later

We’ve shown steps to download Podcasts from websites by streaming using a tool like Filmora;

Step1 Download the Wondershare Filmora on your computer.

Step2 Launch the installed app and open the home interface of Filmora.

Step3 Then find the “Microphone” icon on the home screen of Filmora below the video display on the right side as shown below:

Note: Make sure that background is noise-free to capture the Podcast audio easily.

Step5 After you are all done with the Podcast recording, now again click on the Red button to stop the recording, and your audio will be recorded in the audio track as shown below:

Step6 Then click on the Export button at the top middle side to export it on your device in the required format.

It’s all done, and you’ve successfully exported the podcast to your computer in a few steps!

FAQs

When you save a Podcast, where does it go?

Is listening to a Podcast the same as downloading?

No. Podcast download involves saving a Podcast episode to your Podcast app. But listening to a Podcast refers to the number of times you played a Podcast.

Final words

You can download the Podcast from a Podcast manager app, an audio recorder, or a video platform. You can also use third-party tools to get directly downloaded Podcasts on your Computer.

Ensure you follow all the steps mentioned above smoothly. Now, enjoy your Podcast with high audio formats wherever you are!

Best Free Video to Audio Converter [Online & Offline]

Best Free Video to Audio Converter

Benjamin Arango

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

If you have a film clip of your favorite music track or you possess a documentary where the voice narration is more important and informative than its visuals, you can save a decent amount space on your storage device with an efficient video to audio converter.

Even though there are several conversion programs available today, finding the best video to audio converter is still challenging, especially if you are not aware of the technical jargons that the professionals of the multimedia industry use.

Considering all the above complexities, here you will learn about some of the most used video to audio converter online and offline tools.

Part 1: Best Free Video to Audio Converters for Windows/Mac/Linux

Some of the best offline free video to audio converter programs that can run on Windows, Mac, or Linux, or all of them are listed below:

1. UniConverter

https://videoconverter.wondershare.com/

A product by Wondershare, UniConverter is a universal tool that is not only a video to audio converter but it can also perform various other tasks such as:

Editing the videos
Converting an audio file to a different audio format
Compressing media clips
Burning DVDs
Creating and ripping audio CDs
Merging multiple video clips into one

To convert video to audio with Wondershare UniConverter, you must:

Go to the ‘Video Converter’ category
Import the video file to the program
Choose an output audio format from the menu present at the bottom
Begin the conversion process
Access the converted files from the ‘Finished’ tab

Supported Audio Formats: At the time of this writing, Wondershare UniConverter supports more than 1000 formats for conversion that also include MP3, WAV, M4A, WMA, and more.

Supported Platforms: Wondershare UniConverter is available for Windows and Mac computers.

Pros

Supports wide range of video and audio formats
Can be used as a post-production tool for beginner to intermediate users

Cons

Not available for Linux

2. Filmora

Yet another tool developed by Wondershare, Filmora is a decent alternative to full-fledged post-production applications like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, etc., and can be used to produce industry-standard outputs. Some other features that Filmora has include:

Lets you create split-screen effects easily with the available presets
Allows you to add Elements to beautify your videos
Contains several transition presets

To convert video to audio with Filmora, you must:

Import the video footage to the ‘Media’ box in Filmora
Drag the clip to the Timeline
Trim the video as/if needed
Get to the ‘Export’ box
Choose ‘MP3’ from the ‘Local’ tab’s ‘Format’ list
Click ‘EXPORT’ to begin the conversion process

Supported Audio Formats: At the time of this writing, Filmora supports only MP3 when used as a video to audio converter.

Supported Platforms: Filmora is available for Windows and Mac computers.

Pros

Can be used as an alternative to other expensive apps such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro X, etc.
Can create device or portal specific videos like for iPhone, iPad, Samsung, YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Cons

Direct video to audio conversion can produce files only in MP3 format

3. Freemake Video Converter

https://www.freemake.com/free%5Fvideo%5Fconverter/

This one is an absolutely free tool that does not only convert visual footages to a different video format, but can also be used as a video to audio converter without paying anything at all. Although Freemake Video Converter cannot be used as a replacement for post-production applications, it is a decent program for basic conversions. Some features that make the app the best video to audio converter include:

Support for more than 500 formats for conversions
Capability to extract videos from platforms like YouTube, Vimeo, Dailymotion, etc.
Convert videos to device-specific format and/or resolution
Supports 4K resolution
Can trim, join, and rotate the videos as needed

To convert video to audio with Freemake Video Converter, you must:

Import a video file to Freemake Video Converter
Pick an audio output format from the bottom
Choose output preferences as needed
Begin the conversion process

Supported Audio Formats: Freemake Video Converter supports more than 50 audio formats for conversion including MP3, WAV, ACC, etc.

Supported Platforms: For now, Freemake Video Converter is available only for Windows computers.

Pros

Absolutely free to use
Supports more than 500 formats wherein 50+ are audio extensions

Cons

Available only for Windows

4. VLC media player

https://www.videolan.org/index.html

One of the most versatile players with native support of almost all types codecs, VLC media player also has a built-in video to audio converter that people can use for free as long as they have the app installed on the computer. Some features that VLC media player has include:

Ability to disable subtitles during movie playback
Ability to choose a different language for the menus
Can resume the playback of a media file after it is closed in-between
Ability to change hotkeys as per users’ convenience

To convert video to audio with VLC media player, you must:

Use the ‘Convert/Save’ option in the ‘Media’ menu to import a video file
Choose an audio extension as an output format
Pick a folder and define a name for the target file
Begin the conversion process

Supported Audio Formats: VLC media player supports OGG (Vorbis), MP3, and FLAC formats.

Supported Platforms: VLC media player is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux computers

Pros

Supports almost all types of videos as input files
Available for all major platforms

Cons

Doesn’t have video or audio editing features

5. HandBrake

https://handbrake.fr/

HandBrake is a free and opensource tool that can be considered the best video to audio converter as it can accept the video files of almost all types, and can convert them to your preferred audio format. Some decent features that HandBrake offers include:

Presets to convert media files to device-specific format/resolution/quality
Can accept source files from different formats, DVDs, and even Blu-ray discs
Can produce video files in MP4 and MKV formats using and encoders

To convert video to audio with HandBrake, you must:

Import a source video file
Choose your preferred format from the ‘Audio’ tab
Choose output preferences
Begin the conversion process

Supported Audio Formats: HandBrake supports MP3, FLAC, Vorbis, etc. audio formats.

Supported Platforms: HandBrake is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux computers.

Pros

The program is absolutely free and opensource
Supports almost all major video formats, and can convert them to the most common audio file types

Cons

Lacks some advanced editing tools

Comparison of Best Free Video to Audio Converters for Windows/Mac/Linux

Video to Audio Converter	Supported System	Supported Video Formats	Supported Audio Formats
Wondershare UniConverter	Windows, Mac	All major video formats	All major audio formats
Wondershare Filmora	Windows, Mac	All major video formats	MP3
Freemake Video Converter	Windows	All major video formats	50+ audio formats
VLC media player	Windows, Mac, Linux	All major video formats	OGG (Vorbis), MP3, FLAC
HandBrake	Windows, Mac, Linux	All major video formats	All major audio formats

Part 2: Best Free Web-Based Video to Audio Converters Online

Some of the most common online video converters are listed below for your reference:

2. Audio Converter

Audio Converter is another video to audio converter online free that can accept source files from your PC, Google Drive, Dropbox, or even the URL if they are already published somewhere on the web. The features that make this free video to audio converter worth using include:

It has an audio cutter tool
It can join multiple audio tracks into one
It can record videos and voiceovers
It has a video cutter, and much more

To use Audio Converter to convert video to audio, you must:

Go to https://online-audio-converter.com/
Choose your preferred method to upload the source video
Select the tab representing the output audio format of your choice
Use the ‘Quality’ slider to adjust the bitrate of the output file
Optionally click ‘Advanced Settings’ to choose custom preferences
Begin the conversion process
Download the converted file to your PC, Google Drive, or Dropbox

Supported Media Formats: Audio Converter supports more than 300 media formats wherein around 8 are of audio including MP3, WAV, FLAC, etc.

3. ZAMZAR

One of the popular online converters, ZAMZAR can accept source files from your local computer or from a URL. The tool supports more than 1200 format types including images, videos, and audio files. The features that make the solution worth giving a try include:

Can convert PDF to MS Word
Can export EPUB to PDF
Offers fast conversions
Can send converted files to your email address

To use ZAMZAR to convert video to audio, you must:

Visit https://www.zamzar.com/
Import the source video from your PC or enter its URL
Choose an audio output format
Begin the conversion process
Download the converted audio file to your PC

Supported Media Formats: ZAMZAR supports more than 1200 format types wherein around 15+ of them are for audio.

4. Online Converter

Online Converter is, in true means, free video to audio converter available online that requires no sign in process or subscription to be purchased. Some helpful features offered by Online Converter include:

Offers several conversion tools such as unit converter, video/audio converter, image converter, etc.
All the tools can be accessed right from the landing page
Supports files of up to 200MB in size
Can convert videos to device-specific format/resolution

To use Online Converter to convert video to audio, you must:

Go to https://www.onlineconverter.com/video-to-mp3
Choose a source type (from PC or URL)
Upload the file or paste the URL
Check the ‘Options’ box and choose an audio quality from the available drop-down list
Begin the conversion process
Download the converted file to your PC

Supported Media Formats: Online Converter supports almost every popular video and audio format including AVI, WMV, MOV, FLV, VOB, MPG, MP3, WMA, WAV, FLAC, M4A, etc.

5. Online-Convert

Online-Convert is not merely a video to audio converter online tool but is also a CAD, document, ebook, image, webservice, etc. converter as well. The web app lets you upload the source video from your computer, from its URL, or even your Dropbox or Google Drive account. Some advantageous features that Online-Convert offers include:

Ability to select audio bitrate before conversion
Ability to change sampling rate and audio channels
Can even normalize the audio
Ability to save your custom settings as long as you have signed up and signed in to the portal

To use Online-Convert to convert video to audio, you must:

Visit https://audio.online-convert.com/convert-to-mp3
Choose a source and upload the video file you want to extract the audio from
Use the available drop-down lists and options to configure output preferences
Optionally choose to remove the cover art from the file you are about to get
Begin the conversion process
Download the audio file to your PC, or upload it to your Dropbox or Google Drive Cloud storage

Supported Media Formats: Online-Convert supports almost all types of audio and video formats including MP4, WMV, MP3, FLAC, OGG, etc.

Comparison of Online Video to Audio Converters

No.	Online Video to Audio Converter	Supported Video Formats	Supported Audio Formats	Size Limitation
#1	Wondershare Online UniConverter	All Major Formats	All Major Formats	100MB
#2	Audio Converter	300+ Formats	MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, etc.	1GB +
#3	ZAMZAR	1200+ Formats	MP3, M4A, WMA, etc.	50MB
#4	Online Converter	All Major Formats	MP3, WMA, FLAC, WAV, etc.	200MB
#5	Online-Convert	150+ Formats	MP3, AIFF, FLAC, etc.	100MB

Conclusion

Depending on the frequency of your usage and the size of the media files that you generally process, the video to audio converter that you choose may vary. While most online solutions are free but offer limited flexibilities in terms of editing and output preferences, the offline apps need to be installed on your computer and would require local hardware resources to function properly.

Benjamin Arango

Benjamin Arango is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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