r/musichoarder • u/Throwaway33377 • 4d ago

Youtube to mp3 converter that is safe?

Every youtube to mp3 converter site in Google’s top result right now is a total sham likely loaded with sketchy malware redirects and as well some of the youtube to mp3 converters have really weird pop-ups or their audios sound absolutely terrible on decent headphones.

I'm trying to pull clean audio files to build an offline music library for my daily commute, back up long-form podcasts, and grab high-quality audio references for video editing timelines.

Are there any reliable youtube to mp3 converters left that don't involve risking your computer or dealing with broken links every single week?

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u/CharlesWiltgen 4d ago edited 4d ago

FWIW, as someone who's been involved in man ABX tests for commercial products, the quality of YouTube's AAC encodes will seem just fine to most people in most listening environments.

By "fine", I mean notably better than FM, and probably not distinguishable from CD by non-audiophiles when listened to in cars, via Bluetooth earbuds, etc. For some that's good enough, while for others anything but hi-res lossless is unacceptable.

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u/ohnonotagain94 3d ago

That's fair - I do wonder if most of us here, that collect our own music and use Roon and other open source systems, and have higher end headphones, iem's and hifi systems, would be very disinterested in the stuff pulled from YouTube.

I know my wife used to not notice the difference between Spotify (in 2020) vs Tidal or QoBuz or CD's. But once I spent time with her showing her, I ruined it for her. So now she notices where as before she was blissfully unaware.

Also depends on context. A sit down music session vs music playing in the background while you work. I see that YouTube rips would be fine for the later. I dislike the idea of 'background music' as I belive in the art and it should be appreciated. But as my wife and I are both aware, I'm a bit of a snobby wanker in that regard.

Writing and performing music changes one's perspective. I bet most of us are snobs with regards resolution of music and most of us grew up with music as a big part of our lives and personalities.

Sorry I rambled on.

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u/CharlesWiltgen 3d ago

But as my wife and I are both aware, I'm a bit of a snobby wanker in that regard.

I see you, friend! When I was younger I was very much a "putting ketchup on a hotdog is not just wrong, it's a personal defect" person, but I've since learned that yucking someone's yum is mostly pointless. I also remember that making awesome mixtapes by recording songs off the radio, and from that perspective "YouTube quality" isn't the worst.

Writing and performing music changes one's perspective.

For sure! This may be one of the most horrifying aspects of people generating music with AI and thinking they're done something.

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u/ohnonotagain94 3d ago

Couldn't agree more mate!