When there are a large number of MP4 videos in a folder that need to have their audio extracted while retaining the video, exporting them one by one using editing software wastes a lot of time. This article takes HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to explain how to enter the video tool, choose to separate the video and audio, batch import video files, set audio formats such as mp3, aac, opus, ogg, and output the corresponding audio and video results.
Many office scenarios don't require complex video editing, but often need a highly repetitive type of processing: extracting the sound from a batch of videos while separately preserving the visuals. For example, marketing personnel might want to save background music or narration audio separately when organizing promotional materials; training managers might need to export an instructor's voice for transcription when processing course recordings; editors might need to separate the original audio track from the video when receiving large volumes of material, to facilitate later re-dubbing; and administrative or project staff might need to archive video and audio separately when organizing meetings, inspections, or on-site records.
If it's just one video, manual processing is acceptable. But when a folder contains many MP4 videos, opening software, selecting export formats, and setting paths one by one becomes inefficient, repetitive work prone to errors. This article introduces a more suitable approach for office users: using the video tool in HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to batch-separate multiple video files into audio files and silent video files at once.
As can be seen from the screenshot, this software is positioned as a batch file processing tool for office use, with categories on the left including Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, Image Tools, Audio Tools, and Video Tools. Its core value isn't complex editing effects, but rather helping users process files in batches, reduce repetitive operations, and improve daily office efficiency. The following will combine screenshots to detail the complete workflow from importing MP4s to outputting MP3s and silent videos.
Applicable Scenarios: Typical Needs for Batch Sound Extraction and Video Preservation
"Batch extracting video sound" and "batch generating silent videos" often appear together. This is because many users don't just want an audio file; they want to split the original video into two independently usable parts: the sound track and the visual content. This allows for subsequent transcription, editing, dubbing, compression, archiving, or sharing separately.
Course Recording and Text Transcription: Training videos typically contain instructor footage, screen recordings, and narration. Extracting the sound as an MP3 allows it to be handed to a speech-to-text tool for generating lecture notes. Preserving the visuals allows them to be used for re-synthesizing a subtitled or silent version of the course.
Re-creation of Short Video Material: Operations teams often need to select footage from material libraries, remove the original background sound, and add new music or voiceovers. After batch separation, the video and audio files are stored separately, making it more convenient for editors to use as needed.
Meeting Recording Archiving: Meeting recordings contain both visual information and spoken content. In some archiving processes, the audio is used for dictation and minute compilation, while the video is for on-site review. Batch separation makes material management clearer.
Material Review and Content Analysis: Some tasks require only listening to the sound, not watching the video. Other tasks focus only on the visuals, without needing the sound. Separating the two allows different roles to access the files they need, reducing back-and-forth communication.
The common thread in these scenarios is that they often involve multiple files. The advantage of a batch processing tool lies precisely in standardizing similar operations—one-time setup, multi-file execution.
Result Preview: What Changes Happen to the File Structure Before and After
The "before" screenshot shows a folder containing multiple MP4 files. Visible filenames include Video test 18.mp4, Video test 19.mp4, Video test 22.mp4, Video test 23.mp4, Video test 24.mp4, Video test 30.mp4, and others. These are all original video files, where the visuals and sound are still in a single MP4 file.
For such a folder, if processed manually, each video would at least require repeating the action of extracting sound or exporting a silent video. Dealing with 6 files is manageable, but if there were 60 or 600 videos, the time cost of manual processing would increase significantly. More importantly, manual operation is prone to issues like being interrupted mid-process, missing some files, inconsistent output formats, and results being saved to different locations.
The "after" screenshot shows that the output results become multiple folders named after the original video names, 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. In other words, the original Video test 19.mp4 was split into an audio result and a video result.
This result structure is very suitable for office archiving: each original video corresponds to a result folder, which stores audio and video files with the same name. When you need to find the sound for a particular video later, you just go to the corresponding folder and look for the MP3. To find the visual file, look for the MP4 with the same name. Compared to mixing all output files in a single directory, this method of grouping by original filename is much less confusing.
Operating Steps: From Importing Videos to Completing Batch Separation
The following explains the process in the order of the software interface screenshots. To ensure reproducibility, each step will explain the purpose and expected result. It is recommended to test the workflow with a few files first before formally processing a large volume of videos, confirming the output meets requirements before batch execution.
Step 1: Find the Separation Function in the Video Tools
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , select "Video Tools" in the left navigation bar. On the Video Tools page, you will see several cards for batch video-related functions. The one highlighted in the screenshot is "1. Separate Video and Audio", with the description "Batch separate video files into silent video and audio files".
The key in this step is choosing the correct function. The page also has functions like "Remove Audio from Video", "Remove Video Track from Video", "Convert Video to MP4", "Convert Video to AVI", "Convert Video to MKV", "Convert Video to MOV", "Convert Video to FLV", "Convert Video to MP3", "Convert Video to AAC", "Convert Video to OGG", etc. If you only convert video to MP3, you might only get audio. If you just remove the sound, you might only get a silent video. The goal of this article is to get both visual and audio results simultaneously, so you should enter "Separate Video and Audio".
After selecting this function, the software enters the corresponding task page. You then proceed through import, settings, save location, and processing as per the workflow.
Step 2: Add Individual Files or Batch Import from a Folder
After entering the "Separate Video and Audio" page, the top of the interface provides "Add Files" and "Import Files From Folder" buttons. The area marked with a red box in the screenshot is the import entry point.
If you only want to process a few specific videos, you can click "Add Files" and select them as needed. If all videos in a folder need processing, using "Import Files From Folder" is more efficient. After import, the software displays the files in a list, with table fields including Sequence Number, Name, Path, Extension, Creation Time, Modification Time, and Actions, etc. In the screenshot example, 6 MP4 files have been added, and the summary at the bottom shows "Record Count: 6".
The expected result of this step is: all videos to be processed appear in the task list, and their extensions, paths, and names are all correct. For batch tasks, post-import checking is very important. You can check row by row whether the files are from the correct folder and whether any videos not intended for processing were mistakenly added. If you find a record that doesn't need processing, you can remove it via the actions area on the right side of the list before formally starting.
After confirming everything is correct, click the "Next Step" button at the bottom of the page to enter processing option settings.
Step 3: Select the Output Audio Format
On the "Set Processing Options" page, the screenshot shows that "Audio Format" can be set. The currently available formats include MP3, AAC, Opus, OGG, and MP3 is selected.
This setting determines the save format for the sound file separated from the video. For most office scenarios, MP3 is a more reliable choice due to its wide compatibility, suitable for direct playback, uploading, sending to colleagues, importing into transcription tools, or archiving. If your workflow requires a format better suited to specific platforms, you can choose AAC, Opus, or OGG as needed.
It's important to note that the audio format is not the same as the original video format. In the example, the source files are MP4s. After separation, the audio can be saved as MP3, while the visual file will still be output as a video file. In the post-processing screenshot, Video test 19.mp3 is the audio result, and Video test 19.mp4 is the corresponding video result.
After selecting the audio format, continue by clicking "Next Step".
Step 4: Set the Save Location for Centralized Output Management
The software's workflow bar shows the third step as "Set Save Location". The provided screenshots don't show the specifics of this page, but from a batch processing workflow perspective, this step determines where the processing results are saved. It's recommended not to scatter the results directly in the original video directory, but to select a distinct, clear output folder instead.
For example, you could first create a new folder named "MP4 Video-Audio Separation Results" or "Video Audio Split Output". This way, all results are centralized in one location after processing, making it convenient for checking, backing up, and sending. The post-processing effect image shows multiple folders named after the original videos appearing in the output directory, indicating that the results are grouped and saved according to the original files.
For enterprise office users, the standardization of the save location directly impacts subsequent collaboration efficiency. If multiple people use the result files, it's advisable to unify the naming convention before saving, such as creating directories based on project name, date, or material batch, to avoid mixing results from different batches.
Step 5: Start Processing and Verify the Result Files
The final step in the process is "Start Processing". Once the file list, audio format, and save location are all set, you can execute the batch task. After processing is complete, open the output directory for verification.
When checking the results, you can refer to the post-processing screenshot: the output directory should contain multiple result folders, each corresponding to an original video. Opening one of these folders, you should see an audio file and a video file. For example, the Video test 19 folder in the screenshot contains Video test 19.mp3 and Video test 19.mp4. This indicates that the video's sound has been extracted, and the visuals have also been preserved separately.
For subsequent editing, you can import the video file into editing software and add a new audio track. For meeting minutes or course transcripts, you can directly use the MP3 file for playback, transcription, or sending to relevant personnel.
FAQ & Precautions: Read Before Batch Splitting Videos
1. Will I lose the correspondence between audio and video files after processing?
Judging from the result image, the software generates a result folder based on the original video name and retains result files with the same name inside. This method helps maintain the correspondence. It's recommended not to use overly random filenames before processing. It's best if the original video names feature numbers, dates, or content descriptions, making them easier to locate after output.
2. Which audio format is more suitable among MP3, AAC, Opus, and OGG?
If you don't have specific requirements, prioritize MP3. It suits the vast majority of office usage scenarios and is convenient for playback and sharing. AAC, Opus, and OGG are suitable for specific needs. Before choosing, you can confirm whether the recipient or subsequent software supports them.
3. Is the separated MP4 the original video?
According to the function description "Batch separate video files into silent video and audio files", the separated video result should be understood as a silent video file retaining the visuals, while the audio is output separately in the selected format. The post-processing screenshot shows both an MP3 and an MP4 inside the same folder, indicating the two are results split from the same original video.
4. What should I pay attention to when importing many videos?
It's recommended to first confirm that the source files can all play normally and are placed in a single, easily identifiable folder. After importing, check the record count and file paths in the list to ensure no files were missed or mis-selected. When batch processing a large number of files, ensure the save directory has sufficient space, as the output will generate both audio and video files, potentially increasing the total storage used.
5. Can it be used for videos in other formats?
The files in the screenshot example are all MP4s, and this article also focuses on batch MP4 splitting. The software's Video Tools page displays various video format conversion tools, but which input formats the separation function actually supports should be confirmed by the software's import results and interface prompts. For uncertain video formats, you can first import a small number of files for testing.
6. How should I troubleshoot if batch processing fails?
You can check several basic aspects: whether the file is being used by other software; whether the file path is too long or contains special characters; whether the original video is corrupted; whether the save location has write permissions; and whether there is sufficient disk space. After ruling out these common issues, re-import and test again.
Summary: Delegating Repetitive Video Splitting Tasks to a Batch Processing Tool
Batch extracting video sound while preserving the visuals may seem like a video processing issue, but it's fundamentally also an office efficiency issue. Facing multiple MP4 files, if you still manually export them one by one, it not only consumes time but also increases the risk of missed processing and file disorganization. Using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can select "Separate Video and Audio" in the "Video Tools", add multiple videos to a unified list, set an audio format like MP3, AAC, Opus, or OGG, and then centrally output the results.
As seen in the before-and-after screenshots, a batch of MP4 videos originally scattered in a folder will, after processing, form result folders corresponding to their filenames. Each folder contains an audio file and a video file, facilitating subsequent dubbing, editing, transcription, archiving, and sharing. This workflow reduces repetitive labor and also makes the processing of bulk video material more standardized.
If you currently have a batch of videos on your computer that need their sound and visuals split, it is recommended to first organize the source folder, then follow the steps in this article to import them into the software for batch processing. For users who frequently handle files, materials, and office data, learning to use batch processing tools can compress a large volume of mechanical operations into a single setup and execution, freeing up time for more valuable content organization and business judgment.