How do I rip audio from videos?

you don't open youtube within QuickTime. you use your browser as usual for youtube. then to record the audio you choose "new audio recording" in the QuickTime>File menu after opening QuickTime.

then when i want to record music from youtube, i use QuickTime quite successfully. however, to get high quality audio you need additional software. i use the free BlackHole Virtual Audio Driver. then you can choose BlackHole as the microphone in the options.

you will also need to set up a multi-output device in your audio MIDI setup utility to be able to both hear and record the internal audio at the same time.

to set up a multi-output device:

Open Audio MIDI Setup: (found in /Applications/Utilities)

hit the '+' button in the bottom left corner and select "Create Multi Output Device"

then in the panel that appears on the right, in the Multi-Output Device tab, select "Built-in Output" AND "BlackHole 2ch". (and, if you want, any of your other connected devices.)

once you do that, (and BEFORE recording) you can choose "BlackHole 2ch" or "Multi-Output Device" in your menubar "sound options"

to both hear the speakers and record the audio at the same time, choose "Multi-Output Device". before choosing multi-out, set the internal speakers' volume to a comfortable level first. you cannot control the volume once you are in multi-out mode.

and BlackHole allows you to record the internal audio along with screen recordings of videos by choosing "new screen recording" from the QuickTime>File menu.

you can then choose "BlackHole 2ch" in the recording options instead of "Built-in Microphone."

and finally, the developers of BlackHole ask for your e-mail address where they can send the download link. but note that they haven't sent me even one spam-mail afterwards.

Audio Hijack will enable you to record the audio from a browser as you play a YouTube Video: it's quite straightforward to use.

https://rogueamoeba.com/audiohijack/

(I have no connection with this firm other than as a user.)

I have used 4K Video Downloader or youtube-dl (maybe post-processed with ffmpeg if I want more control what to download and what video & audio codec and wrapper to use) to download YouTube for off-line use.

As you've found QT player won't do this. Audio Hijack is designed to record the output of any individual application without involving Audio-Midi Setup or any other settings - there is a simple graphic interface where you select the source and set up a route to record it and to monitor it, and to set the level.

youtube-dl

Also recommend that for this purpose.

[Binary for use with Terminal] or [MacYTDL Mac GUI app 1] or [Get-It Mac GUI app 2]

Roger Wilmut1 wrote:

As you've found QT player won't do this.

if you use blackhole with quicktime you CAN record the mac's internal audio for both audio or video with audio. if you don't believe me, follow the instructions i gave to the OP. if it didn't work, i wouldn't have recommended it. and there's no need to pay $60 USD for Audio Hijack when QT and BlackHole are both FREE.

yes, that's exactly what BlackHole does. it records the mac's internal sound without picking up any of the ambient sounds of the room you're in. as well, it's better quality than what you get from the built-in microphone recording the sound coming from the mac's built-in speakers.

you're welcome. nappy to help.