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How to convert YouTube videos to MP3 audio

It has come to my attention that many people out there are looking for instructions on how to convert YouTube Videos easily into MP3 files for your MP3 player.  I know this isn’t directly related to the MIDI topic, but it is one step further in my quest to find the perfect YouTube to MIDI converter.

So I looked at a bunch of different options.  Only two stood out to me as being good enough to mention. If you have any other suggestions, please mention them in the comments below. I would be very interested to hear your thoughts.

The runner up (not my first choice) would be the web site: www.video2mp3.netThe Good: It’s very easy to use. Just copy the URL link from the desired YouTube video and paste it into the form field on the Video2MP3 website, then hit “convert”. The Bad: There are some annoying Ad screens to wade through and the first time I tried it I got several pop-up spam screens (never good). The second attempt however, was pop-up free. They have two quality settings, normal and high. If you choose the high quality option you may need to stand in line. They have a Que system and it could take a while to get to you.  However, if you need an MP3 made from a YouTube video and won’t be doing this type of conversion very often, this is a solid option.

YouTube MP3 ConvertNext, and a better solution for me, is the FireFox plugin.  (found here) . The Good: You simply find the YouTube video you want to download as MP3 and click the “Download as MP3” button. Extremely easy.  THE BAD: It only works in FireFox, And you have to install 3 plugins before you can use it. The plugins are…

  1. Grease Monkey Plugin: Download Here
  2. Grease Fire Plugin: Download Here (optional but recommended)
  3. YouTube to MP3 Plugin: Download Here

However, if you have access to FireFox…  it is so easy. Plus, if you do use FireFox on any regular basis, you’re going to want the GreaseMonkey and GreaseFire plugins anyway. They are incredible enhancements to the overall browsing experience.

So, using the information I just gave you, within just a few minutes you too can have MP3 versions of your favorite YouTube clips.

Have another MP3 from YouTube conversion tip? Let us know in the comments below.

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What is MIDI?

MIDI Connections Chart
MIDI In/Out through a sound card or direct via USB connection

M.I.D.I. – Musical Instrument Digital Interface

Basically, MIDI is a computer language used in networking two or more devices together. The specific devices we are most often referring to when discussing MIDI are musical computers, like synthesizers or signal processors. Essentially this means that you can hook up two musical devices and have them “communicate” with each other.

Some Basic Concepts
You don’t need to understand nuclear fusion to get a grasp on this MIDI stuff, there are just a few basic concepts you have to grasp.

  1. MIDI information IS NOT audio information. This is a hang up for many people who are just starting out in the music and audio arena. MIDI is merely a set of numerical instructions that are sent and received between the devices. The musical devices then translate this data into meaningful commands. So when a MIDI command is sent from one device to another, the signal is telling the second device which notes to play, how long to hold them, which sounds to use… etc.
  2. You need to understand how the flow of MIDI information works. MIDI data is sent out of the “OUT” port, MIDI data is received at the “IN” port. So for example if you want to send a MIDI data from a sequencer to a synthesizer the cables would connect on the OUT of the sequencer (because info is coming out) to the IN of the synthesizer (because the synth is receiving info). This can be confusing at first because the temptation is to plug the IN of one machine directly into the IN of another. But if you do that, you are not going to get any sound…. Ever.
  3. Channels – MIDI data transmits on 16 different channels. This allows for 16 different sets of MIDI data to be sent at once, which means a sequencer could control up to 16 different instruments at one time. Typically each instrument would be sent separately on a different channel. For example, drum track information is usually sent on channel 10 and so would play back on channel 10, Bass guitar sounds are usually on channel 2, synth on 4 and so on. You just have to make sure that the synthesizer that is receiving the channels has the correct sound selected for that channel.

Because MIDI does not carry with it the actual audio sound data, but just the note commands, midi files are extremely light and compact. A large number of songs can take up a relatively small amount of space on a disk or hard drive. This reason, along with it’s versatility makes MIDI an ideal language for almost any musician, and especially those who are on the road for performances or deal in large volumes of music.