Complete format list
This is a cheat sheet - every video and audio format Extract Audio supports, and when to pick which.
Video output formats (11)
The Convert tool can re-wrap your video into any of these:
| Format | When to use |
|---|---|
| mp4 | Universal. Recognized by virtually every device and player. Default pick. |
| mov | Apple ecosystem default - iMovie, Final Cut, Logic all take it. |
| m4v | iTunes-era video container, behaves like mp4 on Apple devices. |
| mkv | Open-source container, can hold multiple audio tracks and subtitles. Good for HD archival. |
| avi | Old-school container, best compatibility with legacy Windows apps. |
| flv | Old Flash-era streaming format, rarely seen today - useful for legacy footage. |
| ts | MPEG-TS, the broadcast TV format, common on Blu-ray rips. |
| mpg / mpeg | MPEG-1 / MPEG-2 program stream, leftover from VCD / DVD days. |
| 3gp / 3g2 | 3G-era phone video; what old feature phones accept. |
Audio output formats (6)
The Extract Audio tool can pull any of these audio tracks out of a video:
| Format | When to use |
|---|---|
| MP3 | Universal players, car systems, email attachments. |
| AAC | Apple ecosystem default, great detail at small size. |
| M4A | AAC inside a different container - same content, different file extension. |
| WAV | Lossless master, ideal for mixing, archival, or re-editing. |
| FLAC | Lossless but compressed - roughly half the size of WAV. |
| OGG | Open-source container, preferred by some professional players. |
How to choose
- Send to a friend / group chat -> mp4 video, MP3 audio
- Second pass in editing software -> mov video, WAV audio
- Long-term archival -> mkv video, FLAC audio
- Compatibility with older devices -> 3gp / 3g2 video, MP3 audio
- Broadcast or pro streaming -> ts video
Don't overthink it - in most cases, mp4 + MP3 will do. When you hit a specific platform or device compatibility issue, come back to this list.