When handling a large volume of video footage, if you simply want to extract the audio while retaining the video portion without sound, exporting each file individually using editing tools is highly inefficient. This article introduces a batch processing method suitable for office scenarios: use HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to access the video tool, choose to separate the visuals and audio from the video, batch import MP4 files, set the audio format to mp3, aac, opus, or ogg, and then export the results in a unified batch.
Many people, when processing video materials, are not aiming to do complex editing but to accomplish a very specific task: extracting the audio from many videos while saving the visuals as silent videos. For example, a batch of instructional videos might need their lecture audio extracted, a batch of landscape videos might need their original sound removed for re-scoring, a batch of meeting recordings might need their audio saved separately for transcription, and some short video materials might need to be split into "visual assets" and "audio assets" for separate management.
If there are only one or two videos, manual processing is manageable; but with dozens of MP4 files, repeatedly opening, importing, exporting, naming, and saving will consume a lot of time. More troublesome is that manual operation can easily lead to problems like filename confusion, missed exports, and inconsistent formats. Therefore, in office scenarios, it is more recommended to use software capable of batch file processing, letting tools handle the repetitive steps.
HeSoft Doc Batch Tool is software designed for office file batch processing. In addition to common capabilities for documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and images, it also provides video tools. This article will focus on the "batch separation of video and audio from visuals" need, demonstrating how to process multiple MP4 videos at once into corresponding silent video and audio files.
Applicable Scenarios: When do you need to batch extract video audio and keep the visuals?
Batch audio-visual separation is not just for professional editing work; it is very common in daily office tasks and content production. Whenever you are dealing with a batch of video files and want to use the audio and visuals separately, this method is suitable.
In the training industry, instructors might need to extract audio from recorded course videos for offline listening by students, or for subsequent creation of text transcripts and subtitle scripts. Here, the audio file is more portable than the video file and more suitable for speech recognition and content organization.
In new media operations, teams may accumulate a large amount of short video material. The background sound, ambient sound, or music in the original video might not suit a new project, so there is a need to batch generate silent videos, then uniformly add new dubbing, narration, or music later.
In corporate office settings, meeting recordings, interview videos, and report screen captures often need to be archived. Extracting the audio as an mp3 allows it to be processed by transcription tools; keeping the visuals as a silent video allows for archiving, review, or secondary editing.
In asset management, audio-visual separation has another advantage: it makes file structures clearer. Originally having just one video file, after splitting you get separate visual video files and audio files, so whoever needs the audio or the visuals later can directly access them.
Result Preview: From multiple MP4 files to grouped, saved audio and video results
First, look at the state before processing. The example folder contains multiple MP4 video files, with names including Video test 18.mp4, Video test 19.mp4, Video test 22.mp4, Video test 23.mp4, Video test 24.mp4, Video test 30.mp4. The content of these files differs, but the processing goal is the same: uniformly separate the visuals and audio.
Before processing, all videos are located in one place. For users, the primary concern is whether they can select these videos all at once, rather than repeatedly setting up each video. The value of batch processing software is reflected here: putting similar files into the same task list and uniformly executing the same processing rule.
Next, look at the post-processing results. In the output location, multiple folders named after the videos appear, such as Video test 18, Video test 19, Video test 22, etc. Opening the Video test 19 folder reveals that it contains Video test 19.mp3 and Video test 19.mp4.
This indicates the software has separately exported the audio from the video as an mp3 while retaining the corresponding video visual file. For organizing batch materials, this approach of one folder per video is very practical; it prevents audio from different videos from getting mixed up and makes it easy to search by name later.
Steps: Completing Video Audio-Visual Separation with HeSoft Doc Batch Tool
The following explanation is based on the software flow in the screenshots. The overall steps can be summarized as: select function, import videos, set audio format, set save location, start processing. Each step is described with a focus on practical office operations.
Step 1: Select Video Tools in the left panel, enter the Audio-Visual Separation function
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , first observe the left navigation bar. It contains categories like Home, Task Flow, All Tools, Filename, Folder Name, File Organization, Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Text Tools, Image Tools, Video Tools, Audio Tools, More Tools, etc.
Since the processing objects are video files, you need to click "Video Tools" on the left. After entering, select "1. Separate Video into Visual and Audio" from the function card list. The description below this card reads "Batch separate video files into silent video and audio files," which precisely matches the need to batch extract audio and retain silent visuals.
Upon completing this step, the software enters the corresponding function page. Selecting the correct function is crucial, as the same page also contains options like "Remove Audio from Video" and "Remove Image from Video." The former leans more towards just removing audio, the latter towards only keeping sound; whereas this article's goal is to obtain both the silent video and the audio file simultaneously, thus "Separate Video into Visual and Audio" should be chosen.
Step 2: Import the MP4 video files to be processed
After entering the function page, the top displays the current task name "Separate Video into Visual and Audio." The page flow is divided into 4 steps, currently at Step 1 "Select records to process." The top right provides "Add Files" and "Import Files from Folder."
If you have already placed all videos to be processed in a single folder, using "Import Files from Folder" is recommended. This allows you to import all videos within that folder at once, making it ideal for processing dozens or hundreds of files. If you only need to process specific videos, you can use "Add Files."
After import is complete, file information will be displayed in the list. In the example, 6 records are imported, all with the mp4 extension, with the path shown under C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\Test folder 1\. Information like "Name," "Path," "Extension," "Creation Time," and "Modification Time" in the list helps users verify if the files are correct.
The expected result of this step is: all videos needing batch separation appear in the table, and the record count matches the actual number of files. After confirming there are no errors, click "Next" at the bottom. If unwanted files were imported, they can be deleted via the action column; if the entire import is incorrect, click "Clear" and re-select.
Step 3: Set the batch output audio format
Entering Step 2 "Set processing options," you'll see the "Audio Format" setting area. In the screenshot, four options are provided: mp3, aac, opus, ogg. The current selection is mp3.
For most office users, mp3 is the top recommended format due to its wide compatibility, suitable for playback, transcription, uploading, sending, and archiving. aac is commonly used in some audio/video workflows, while opus and ogg suit scenarios with specific format preferences. If you have no specific requirements, keeping mp3 is fine.
The key to this step is the "batch uniform setting." This means you don't need to select a format for each video individually. As long as mp3 is chosen here, all videos in the subsequently imported list will generate audio files in the mp3 format.
After completing the settings, click "Next" to proceed to the save location setup.
Step 4: Set the save location; creating a new output folder is recommended
Step 3 in the process bar is "Set save location." To keep the processing results clearly organized, it is recommended not to save the results directly into the original video folder. Instead, create a dedicated output directory, such as "Audio-Visual Separation Results," "Silent Video and Audio Output," or a folder named after the project.
Doing this offers several benefits. First, original videos and processing results are kept separate, reducing the risk of accidental deletion or overwriting. Second, the output folder will contain results organized by video name, making inspection easier. Third, if you need to deliver the results to a colleague or upload them to an asset library, you only need to package the output directory.
Although the screenshot does not show the specific button details of the save location page, according to the interface flow, you can continue to the next step after Step 2 to complete the save location configuration. After setting this, proceed to "Start Processing."
Step 5: Start batch processing and wait for the software to complete automatically
Finally, enter Step 4 "Start processing." At this point, reconfirm three pieces of information: is the imported video list correct, is the audio format set to the required one, and is the save location the intended directory. After confirmation, start the process; the software will automatically separate the audio and visuals for each video in the list one by one.
After processing is complete, open the output folder to check the results. According to the example effect, each video corresponds to a folder containing the separated audio and video files. Taking Video test 19 as an example, the results folder contains Video test 19.mp3 and Video test 19.mp4, indicating that the audio and visuals have been saved separately.
If you need to continue with transcription, you can directly use the mp3; if you need to re-edit or add dubbing, you can use the separated video files. The entire process does not require opening each video individually or manually setting the export format for each file.
Frequently Asked Questions or Notes
1. What is the difference between "Separate Video into Visual and Audio" and "Remove Audio from Video"?
Judging by the function names, their goals differ. "Remove Audio from Video" is usually used to obtain a video without sound; whereas "Separate Video into Visual and Audio" not only yields a silent video but also simultaneously exports the audio file. This article requires both types of results, so "Separate Video into Visual and Audio" should be chosen.
2. Should I organize the folder before batch importing?
Organization is recommended. Placing all videos to be processed together in one folder allows you to use "Import Files from Folder" directly, making importing more efficient. Filenames should ideally be recognizable, such as project name, date, number, etc., making the generated folders easier to manage after processing.
3. Must the output audio format be mp3?
No. The software interface provides four formats: mp3, aac, opus, ogg. mp3 suits most common office scenarios; if your subsequent workflow explicitly requires another format, you can select the corresponding option. The key is to determine the format before batch processing to avoid reconversion after finishing.
4. What should be noted when processing a large number of videos?
If processing many videos at once, it is recommended to first test with a small batch of files to confirm the output format, save location, and resulting naming conventions meet expectations before batch processing all files. This reduces bulk rework due to incorrect settings.
5. How to check if all processing is complete?
You can compare the imported record count with the number of output folders. In the example, 6 records were imported, so there should be 6 corresponding result folders after processing. Then randomly open a few folders to check if they contain both an audio file and a video file to quickly confirm the processing results.
Summary: Hand off repetitive video splitting tasks to a batch processing tool
When you need to extract audio from many videos at once and retain the corresponding silent visuals, manual editing is not the most efficient solution. Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can complete batch audio-visual separation of videos within office software: enter Video Tools, select "Separate Video into Visual and Audio," import multiple MP4 files, set the audio format and save location, and then batch generate results.
The core value of this method lies in reducing repetitive labor. Videos that originally needed individual processing can now be added to a task list at once; output files that were once easily disorganized can also be grouped and saved by video name. For users who need to process materials, screen recordings, meeting videos, and course videos on a long-term basis, it is recommended to incorporate this kind of batch operation into a fixed workflow, saving time and making file management more standardized.