In the age of digital learning, especially post-pandemic, YouTube has become a powerful platform for educational content. However, the visual-centric nature of YouTube tutorials may not always be conducive to certain learning environments. Recognising this, educators and students alike are exploring ways to convert YouTube tutorials into audio lessons, allowing for a more versatile and accessible learning experience.

In this article, we'll explore the tools and techniques that make this conversion process seamless and beneficial for both educators and students.

Download YouTube Videos as Audio Lessons with 4K Video Downloader+

4K Video Downloader+ is a free desktop app that lets you convert YouTube videos to MP3, M4A, OGG, and a range of video formats. With this tool, you can turn any YouTube video into a video lesson so that you can listen to the files offline on any of your devices.

Apart from downloading videos and audio, you can also extract subtitles from YouTube videos, download entire channels and playlists, save private content from YouTube, Bilibili, Facebook, and other sites, and generally download content from more than a dozen sources.

Here are the steps to convert a YouTube video into audio using 4K Video Downloader+:

Download and install 4K Video Downloader+.

Firstly, you need to download and install the app on your PC, macOS, or Ubuntu desktop. You can download it from our official website for free. The installation process is quick, easy, and safe.

Copy the YouTube video URL.

Next, you need to find the YouTube video you want to convert to audio and copy its URL. Just open a YouTube video and copy the URL from the address bar of your browser. Alternatively, you can search for a video in the in-app browser without leaving the app.

Tip: If you want to download an entire channel or playlist as MP3 and turn all this content into audio lessons, 4K Video Downloader+ lets you do that as well. Just copy the playlist or channel URL instead of a single video link and proceed to the next step.

Paste the YouTube video URL.

After copying the video URL, launch the 4K Video Downloader+ app and click on the Paste Link button. This will automatically paste the video URL into the app.

Choose audio format and quality.

Once you paste the video URL into the app, you can choose the audio format and quality you want to convert the video to. Pick from MP3, M4A, or OGG formats, and select the audio quality that suits your needs.

Convert YouTube video to an audio lesson.

After selecting the audio format and quality, click on the Download button to convert the YouTube video to an audio file. The conversion process may take a few seconds, depending on the length of the video and the quality you selected.

Tip: If you want to set the output folder, you can do that in this step. Just select the desired folder in the download window, and your audio lesson will be saved there.

Play the audio file on your computer.

Once 4K Video Downloader+ processes and downloads a file, it’s saved within the app and on your computer automatically. Then just play the file from the in-app list to enjoy the audio lesson offline.

Download YouTube Videos as Audio Lessons on Android

As the YouTube mobile app won’t allow you to save videos as audio on your Android smartphone natively until you’ve got YouTube Premium, here’s a handy solution for you. 4K Video Downloader for Android is a perfect tool to save YouTube and other sources’ content right on your Android smartphone, as well as download high-quality YouTube videos as audio lessons.

Take these steps if you want to download a YouTube video as an audio podcast:

1. Launch 4K Video Downloader for Android.

2. Open YouTube and copy the video link from the browser.

3. Press the Paste URL button in the 4K Video Downloader application.

4. Select the format (audio) and quality in the download window and press the Download button.

Now just wait until the downloading is completed and play the downloaded audio.

Use Online Converters to Download YouTube Video as Audio Lesson

There are plenty of online solutions and browser extensions available that allow you to save videos from YouTube.

YTMP3, OnlineVideoConverter, or ClipConverter are just a few online tools that offer a user-friendly interface where you can simply paste the YouTube video URL and convert it into various audio formats, such as MP3. They are convenient for quick conversions without the need for additional software installations.

The course of action is usually the same: You open the website, paste the URL, choose the format, and the tool lets you download a YouTube video on your device.

Isolate Audio from YouTube Videos with LALAL.AI on iPhone, Android, Desktop, or Online

Another way to isolate audio from a YouTube video is to use a stem-splitting tool, such as LALAL.AI. LALAL.AI is an AI-powered cross-platform solution that can extract vocals, backtracks, and musical instruments from any song, audio file, or video. To use this method, you should already have the video file downloaded on your device. Once you have it, follow the steps below to separate voice audio from your video.

Open LALAL.AI in your browser or download an application for iOS, Android, or desktop.
Click Select Files to upload your audio or video file. The service supports AVI, MP4, and MKV video formats.
In the opened folder window, double-click a video file to upload it.
Wait until the processing is finished.
Click the play icon within the Voice Preview section to check the speech isolation quality.
Click the Process the Entire File button.
Click the download icon within the Voice Full section.

Alternative Way: Text-to-Speech Technology

Text-to-speech technology (tools like NaturalReader or Descript) allows you to convert text-based content from YouTube tutorials into spoken words. While lacking the nuances of human speech, this method is an alternative for content without a pre-existing audio source.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

Find the YouTube video you want to convert into an audio lesson and copy the video URL.
Extract the transcript.

You can use YouTube's auto-generated subtitles:

Go to the YouTube video.
Click on the three dots (ellipsis) below the video.
Select "Open transcript." This will display the auto-generated subtitles.
Copy the transcript text.

Or download subtitles:

If YouTube's auto-generated subtitles are not available or if you want a more accurate transcript, you can use third-party tools like 4K Video Downloader+ to download subtitles.

Remove timestamps, speaker names, or any non-essential information that might disrupt the flow of the audio lesson. Ensure that the text is coherent and understandable when read aloud. Edit any confusing or ambiguous phrases.
Choose a TTS tool that suits your preferences. There are various online and desktop TTS tools available, such as NaturalReader, Google Text-to-Speech, Nuance, or Speechify.
Open the chosen TTS tool and upload the cleaned transcript or paste the text into the provided interface.
Generate the audio file by clicking the "Generate" or "Convert" button to start the TTS conversion process.
Once the TTS tool has generated the audio, download the resulting audio file. Most tools provide an option to save the audio in MP3 or other common formats.

Convert YouTube Videos to Audio Lessons: The Bottom Line

As technology continues to advance, the integration of audio-learning methods is poised to become an integral part of the evolving digital education landscape. Converting YouTube tutorials into audio lessons offers educators and students alike a valuable strategy to enhance the accessibility, flexibility, and inclusivity of their educational experiences. By leveraging the tools and techniques outlined in this guide, education can transcend traditional boundaries and adapt to the diverse needs and preferences of learners in the digital age.