The process of extracting audio from YouTube videos and encoding it into the MPEG-4 Part 14 audio (m4a) format is a common practice. This involves utilizing software or online tools to isolate the audio stream from a YouTube video file and then transcode it into the desired m4a file. As an example, a user might wish to obtain the audio track from a lecture available on YouTube for offline listening on a portable device.
This activity is undertaken for various reasons, including the creation of personal audio libraries, accessibility, and the desire to listen to content without visual accompaniment. Historically, the need for this function arose with the increasing popularity of streaming video platforms and the desire for greater control over audio content consumption. The m4a format, known for its good audio quality at relatively small file sizes, makes it a popular choice for such conversions.