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Hey music lovers! Ever stumbled upon a killer track or a soothing playlist on YouTube and wished you could take it with you offline? Whether it’s for a long road trip, a workout, or just to save on your data plan, sometimes you just need that music offline. Today, I’m going to share my personal go-to methods for downloading music from YouTube directly to your computer in MP3 format. Let’s dive in!
Video Tutorial:
Things You Should Prepare for
Before we start discussing the methods to download music from YouTube to Mac, there are a few things that you should prepare. These include:
1. A reliable internet connection
You need to have a reliable internet connection to download music from YouTube. Slow internet speed can cause interruptions and affect the quality of the music file.
2. A YouTube to MP3 converter
You need to have a YouTube to MP3 converter tool to download music from YouTube. There are several tools available on the internet, both free and paid.
3. Adequate storage space
Make sure that you have enough space on your Mac’s hard drive to store the music files that you download.
Method 1: Using YouTube to MP3 Converter Website
One of the easiest ways to download music from YouTube to Mac is by using a YouTube to MP3 converter website. These websites allow you to download music by simply pasting the YouTube video link into the website. Here are the steps to download music from YouTube to Mac using a YouTube to MP3 converter website:
Step 1: Go to http://www.youtubetomp3music.com. This is the link to a popular YouTube to MP3 converter website.
Step 2: Copy the link of the YouTube video that you want to download music from.
Step 3: Paste the link into the search box on the YouTube to MP3 converter website.
Step 4: Select the format of the music file that you want to download.
Step 5: Click on the "Download" button, and the music file will start downloading to your Mac.
Pros:
– Free of charge
– Easy to use
– No software installations required
Cons:
– Quality may not be the same as the original video
– The website may be unreliable
Method 2: Using Video Download Browser Extension
Another way to download music from YouTube to Mac is by using a video download browser extension. These extensions are available for different browsers such as Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Here are the steps to download music from YouTube to Mac using a video download browser extension:
Step 1: Go to the Chrome Store or Firefox Add-ons and search for a video download browser extension, for example "Video DownloadHelper".
Step 2: Install the browser extension (Follow the instruction on how to add the extension)
Step 3: Go to the YouTube video that you want to download music from.
Step 4: Click on the video download browser extension icon in your browser.
Step 5: Select the format of the music file that you want to download.
Step 6: The music file will start downloading to your Mac.
Pros:
– Simple to use
– Can download multiple videos simultaneously
– No need to copy-paste links
Cons:
– Not always available for free
– Not available for all browsers
Method 3: Using a YouTube to MP3 Converter Software
If you want to save music from YouTube to Mac without losing quality, you can use a YouTube to MP3 converter software. This software allows you to download music in high-quality from YouTube to Mac. Here are the steps to download music from YouTube to Mac using a YouTube to MP3 converter software:
Step 1: Download and install a YouTube to MP3 converter software like 4K Video Downloader.
Step 2: Copy the link of the YouTube video that you want to download music from.
Step 3: Launch the YouTube to MP3 converter software.
Step 4: Paste the video link into the software.
Step 5: Select the format of the music file that you want to download.
Step 6: Click on the "Download" button, and the music file will start downloading to your Mac.
Pros:
– High-quality downloads
– Customizable settings
– Batch downloads
Cons:
– Software comes with a cost
– Installation required
Method 4: Saving a YouTube video as an MP3 using youtube-dl
Saving a YouTube video as an MP3 file on a Mac using Terminal involves a few steps but is straightforward once you have the right tools installed. One of the most popular tools for this task is youtube-dl, which, despite its name, can handle a wide range of video and audio formats. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
Step 1: Install Homebrew
If you don’t already have Homebrew installed (it’s a package manager for macOS), you can install it by opening Terminal and pasting the following command:
/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Step 2: Install youtube-dl
Once Homebrew is installed, you can install youtube-dl by running the following command in Terminal:
brew install youtube-dl
Step 3: Install FFmpeg
youtube-dl requires ffmpeg to convert videos to audio files (like MP3). You can install ffmpeg via Homebrew with this command:
brew install ffmpeg
Step 4: Download YouTube Video as MP3
Now that you have both youtube-dl and ffmpeg installed, you can download a YouTube video as an MP3 file using the following command. Replace VIDEO_URL with the actual URL of the YouTube video you want to convert.
youtube-dl --extract-audio --audio-format mp3 VIDEO_URLThis command tells youtube-dl to download the video, extract the audio, and convert it to an MP3 format.
By following these steps, you can easily download YouTube videos as MP3 files directly from the Terminal on your Mac. This method is powerful for batch downloading or automating downloads through scripts. Remember, though, to use this method responsibly and adhere to YouTube’s terms of service.
FAQs
Q. Can I Download Music From YouTube to Mac Using My Phone?
A. Yes. There are several YouTube to MP3 converter apps available on the App Store and Google Play Store that you can use to download music from YouTube to Mac using your phone.
Q. Is It Legal to Download Music From YouTube?
A. It is legal to download music from YouTube for personal use only. However, it is illegal to distribute or sell the music downloaded from YouTube.
Q. Why Do I Need to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 to Download Music?
A. YouTube videos are available in different video file formats. Therefore, the audio quality may vary depending on the file format. Converting the video to MP3 ensures that the audio quality is consistent.
Q. Can I Use YouTube to MP3 Converters to Download Music from Any Website?
A. YouTube to MP3 converters are specifically designed to download music from YouTube. You may not be able to use them to download music from other websites.
Additional Tips
– Always conduct research to ensure that the YouTube to MP3 converter website, browser extension, or software that you are using is secure and not malicious.
– Ensure that you have enough space on your Mac before downloading music.
– Do not distribute or sell the downloaded music as it is illegal.
– Always ensure that you have a reliable internet connection before downloading music from YouTube.
In Conclusion
YouTube is one of the best sources of music videos on the internet. With the right tools, it is possible to download music from YouTube to Mac. In this blog post, we have discussed several methods that you can use to download music from YouTube to Mac. It’s up to you to choose the method that meets your needs. However, it’s important to remember that downloading music from YouTube for commercial purposes is illegal.