When you need to extract audio from a large number of MP4 videos while preserving the silent video track, processing them one by one can be a huge waste of time. This article uses HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to explain how to use the "Separate Video and Audio" feature in the video tool to batch import videos, select the audio format, set the save location, and start processing, ultimately obtaining audio files and silent video files named according to the original videos.
Many people processing video materials are not doing complex editing, but rather a seemingly simple yet time-consuming task: extracting the audio from numerous videos while retaining the silent video footage. For example, an operations staff member might need to extract live audio from a batch of event videos; a teacher might need to export lecture audio from course videos; an editor might need to separate the video and audio of original footage to facilitate subsequent re-dubbing, noise reduction, or re-mixing.
If there were only a single video, using a standard player or editing software might suffice. But when a folder contains a dozen or dozens of MP4 videos, importing, exporting audio, saving, and then processing the next file becomes typical, repetitive labor. The method introduced here uses the video batch processing feature in the office software HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to separate multiple videos into silent video and audio files in one go.
This type of tool is positioned for batch file processing in office scenarios, emphasizing not complex timeline editing but rather helping users automate repetitive steps like file sorting, conversion, and separation. For those needing to batch process video files, this working style is more suitable for daily office work and asset archiving.
Applicable Scenarios: What Problems Does Batch Audio Extraction and Picture Retention Solve
Video/audio separation is very common in work. For instance, meeting recordings contain spoken content; a user might only want to extract the audio as an MP3 for easy sharing with colleagues or submission to transcription tools for text recognition, while the original video still needs to be saved as a silent file for later adding subtitles, background music, or redubbing.
Another example is when a short video team organizes its asset library, they often manage video and audio separately. Video can be reused as B-roll footage, and audio can be archived separately as ambient sound, interview recordings, or narration. If all content remains mixed in the original video, subsequent retrieval and reuse efficiency will be very low.
Furthermore, files such as training courses, product demos, surveillance recordings, event footage, and interview videos may also require batch audio-video separation. For these scenarios, the core requirement is not "fine-scaled editing" but "fast processing, neat results, and no missed files." This is precisely the advantage of batch processing office software.
Result Preview: How the File Structure Changes Before and After Processing
Before processing, the pending directory contains a batch of MP4 video files. The screenshot shows multiple video thumbnails, with filenames including Video test 18.mp4, Video test 19.mp4, Video test 22.mp4, Video test 23.mp4, Video test 24.mp4, and Video test 30.mp4. These files are all complete videos, with picture and sound in the same MP4 file.
After processing, the output directory contains folders generated based on the original video names, such as Video test 18, Video test 19, and Video test 22. Opening the Video test 19 folder reveals two result files: Video test 19.mp3 and Video test 19.mp4. In conjunction with the software's function description, the MP3 is the extracted audio file, and the MP4 is the separated silent video file.
This result structure is highly suitable for batch management. The audio and silent video for each original video are placed in the same folder with consistent naming. Whether for subsequent audio previewing, picture checking, or copying to colleagues, there is little chance of correspondence confusion.
Operation Step 1: Access the Video Tool in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool
After opening the software, first pay attention to the left navigation bar. The screenshot shows that the left side of the software includes categories like Home, Task Flow, All Tools, File Name, Folder Name, File Organization, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, Video Tools, and Audio Tools. Since we need to process video files here, select Video Tools.
After entering Video Tools, the main interface will display various batch video processing capabilities. We need to select the 1st function: Separate picture and sound from video. The description below this function is "Batch separate video files into silent video and audio files," which perfectly corresponds to this task.
The purpose of this step is to ensure entry into the correct processing module. Functions like "Delete sound from video" and "Delete image from video" are also visible in the interface, but their processing goals are different. Deleting sound is more about getting only a muted video; deleting the image retains only sound. Meanwhile, "Separate picture and sound from video" yields both results, making it more suitable for users who need to save both picture and sound simultaneously.
Operation Step 2: Import the MP4 Video Files to be Processed
After entering the function, the software will display a step-by-step wizard. Step 1 is "Select records to be processed." In the upper right corner of the page, two main buttons can be seen: Add Files and Import Files from Folder.
If your MP4 videos are scattered across different folders, you can click "Add Files" to manually select the videos to be processed. If all videos are already in the same directory, it is recommended to click "Import Files from Folder," which is more suitable for batch scenarios. Once imported, the files will appear in the list.
The screenshot shows that 6 records have been imported, all with the .mp4 extension. The list displays the name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time for each file. Before proceeding, users should focus on checking two things: first, whether the number of records matches the quantity of videos to be processed; second, whether the path points to the correct folder. After confirming there are no errors, click "Next" at the bottom of the page.
If unwanted videos were imported, the delete icon in the right operation bar can be used to remove individual records; if the overall import was wrong, the "Clear" button at the top can be used to start over. This helps avoid discovering unrelated files mixed into the results after batch processing is complete.
Operation Step 3: Select the Export Audio Format
The second step is "Set processing options." The current interface provides audio format choices, including mp3, aac, opus, and ogg. The screenshot shows mp3 is selected.
When selecting the audio format, the decision can be based on subsequent use. If it's for daily playback, file sharing, speech-to-text conversion, or general office archiving, mp3 is typically the most universal. If team workflows require other formats, aac, opus, or ogg can also be selected. It's important to emphasize that this step sets the format for the "audio file," not for converting the video into these formats.
In the example results, opening the Video test 19 folder shows a Video test 19.mp3 file, indicating that when the mp3 audio format is selected, the tool generates a corresponding MP3 file based on the original video name. This naming convention helps maintain file correspondence, especially useful when processing a large number of videos at once.
After setting the audio format, click "Next" to continue. The top of the wizard shows that subsequent stages are "Set save location" and "Start processing." Users just need to follow the prompts to complete the process.
Operation Step 4: Set the Save Location and Execute Audio-Video Separation
At the "Set save location" stage, it is recommended to select a dedicated output folder, rather than directly overwriting or mixing files in the original video directory. This has two benefits: first, it clearly distinguishes original files from processed results; second, it facilitates quick checking of the output content once processing is finished.
After confirming the save location, proceed to the "Start processing" stage. The software will process the videos one by one according to the import list, but the user does not need to operate each one manually. For the 6 MP4 files in the example, batch processing will uniformly complete the separation task and generate the corresponding audio and silent video results.
After processing is complete, open the output directory to check the results. Under normal circumstances, users should see folders generated based on the original video names; entering any folder should reveal an audio file and a video file. A spot check can be performed, for example, by opening the Video test 19 folder to confirm that the MP3 can be played and that the MP4 shows the expected picture.
Common Questions and Precautions
1. Will batch separation alter the original video?
From the processing flow, the software imports files into a task and sets a save location for outputting results. For safety, it is recommended to always save the results to a new folder and keep a backup of the original videos.
2. How to choose the audio format?
If there are no special requirements, selecting mp3 is more suitable for office scenarios due to its strong compatibility, making it easy to play, send, and transcribe. aac, opus, or ogg can be selected according to subsequent platform or project requirements.
3. Why are folders created after processing?
The result diagram shows that processing generates folders named after the original video, saving the audio and video files inside. This structure facilitates one-to-one correspondence, reducing naming confusion after batch processing.
4. Can multiple MP4s be processed at once?
Yes. As seen in the example list, the software imported 6 MP4 files at once and processed them in a single task. The same workflow can be used for batch importing an even larger number of videos.
5. Why check the path after importing files?
The biggest fear in batch processing is selecting the wrong directory. The path field in the list helps users confirm the source folder, avoiding adding test files, old version files, or unrelated videos to the task.
Summary: Turning Repetitive Video Audio Extraction into a Single Batch Task
Manually extracting sound from multiple videos while preserving the picture is inefficient and error-prone. By leveraging the video tool in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , a batch of MP4 files can be uniformly imported, using the "Separate picture and sound from video" function, selecting an audio format like mp3, aac, opus, or ogg, setting a save location, and starting the process.
This method is especially suitable for office staff, training teams, content operators, and asset organization personnel. It transforms an export process that originally required repetitive clicks into a controllable batch task, automatically categorizing output results by video name. This saves time and facilitates subsequent management. If you have a batch of videos at hand that need audio extraction, consider following the steps in this article to test with one folder first, then expand to batch processing more videos.