Download Audio from Several YouTube Videos in One Run
Batch audio extraction: a list of video URLs in, a dataset of MP3 file URLs out — for archive pulls and dataset building.

A list of URLs becomes a folder of hosted audio files. Thirdwatch's YouTube Audio Downloader produces real MP3 or WAV files in a hosted store with public URLs — including exact server-side segment trims, no full-length download needed.
Skip the setup: Run this as a ready-to-go task on Apify — pre-loaded with the configuration from this guide.
Why pull audio in bulk
Batch audio pulls are where converter sites fail hardest — rate walls, per-click downloads, no manifest of what was fetched.
One run handles the list: every video becomes a dataset row with its own fileUrl, so the output doubles as the manifest.
The downloader fetches the audio server-side, trims it, and publishes the file to a key-value store — the dataset row's fileUrl is the artifact.
How does this compare to the alternatives?
| Approach | Cost model | Output | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser converter sites | Free, ad-supported | One file, manual click-through | Doesn't scale, sketchy ads |
| yt-dlp + ffmpeg scripts | Free, your infra | Full control | You own proxy + update churn |
| Thirdwatch YouTube Audio Downloader | Pay per file | Hosted MP3/WAV with a public URL | Zero setup |
Why this Actor
- Real downloadable files —
fileUrlpoints at the hosted MP3/WAV, not just metadata. startSeconds/endSecondscut the file server-side, so you only keep the segment you need.- Sticky proxy sessions keep signed media URLs valid through the whole download.
- Title, channel, duration, format and byte size land on every row.
- Batch input handles a list of videos in one run.
How to do it in 3 steps
Step 1: Configure the input
Set the inputs as shown below — videoUrls takes the targets, format picks mp3 or wav, and startSeconds/endSeconds trim the file server-side.
Step 2: Run the Actor
Run it from the console, the API, or the linked saved task. One dataset row is written per file.
Step 3: Use the output
Each row carries video metadata plus fileUrl — a public download URL for the audio file in the key-value store.
{
"videoUrls": [
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQP7kiw5Fk"
],
"format": "mp3",
"proxyCountry": "US"
}Each dataset row looks like:
{
"videoId": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"url": "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ",
"title": "Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (Official Video)",
"channel": "Rick Astley",
"duration": 213,
"segmentStart": 0,
"segmentEnd": 15,
"format": "mp3",
"sizeBytes": 194560,
"fileUrl": "https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/.../records/dQw4w9WgXcQ.mp3"
}What to watch for
Cost scales with audio length — bandwidth is the dominant factor, so trim segments when you only need clips. Age-gated and members-only videos return error rows. Make sure you have the right to download and reuse the audio.
Related use cases
- Cut a 15-Second Audio Clip from a YouTube Video
- Download a YouTube Video's Full Audio Track as MP3
- Export YouTube Audio as WAV for Editing
- Trim a YouTube Segment and Feed It to Transcription
- All Thirdwatch use-case guides
Run the YouTube Audio Downloader on Apify Store — pay per result, free to try, no credit card to test.
Frequently asked questions
What formats can I get?
`mp3` (default) and `wav`. MP3 is smaller and universally playable; WAV is uncompressed for editing.
Where does the file go?
Into the run's key-value store — each row's `fileUrl` is a public URL you can download or hand to another tool.
Can I download just part of a video?
Yes — `startSeconds` and `endSeconds` trim the audio server-side, so a 15-second clip doesn't require a full-length download.
Why did a video fail with an error row?
Age-gated, private, or region-blocked videos can't be fetched and return `error` rows. Occasional rate limits resolve on retry.
Is it legal to download YouTube audio?
That depends on the content licence and your jurisdiction — you are responsible for complying with copyright law and YouTube's terms. The tool fetches public audio only.
How big can the batch be?
A list of URLs per run is fine; cost scales with audio length since bandwidth is the main driver.
Related
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