Earlier, we explained how to download music from YouTube for offline listening using three web tools. Now, what about complete albums? The download process is identical, but the final result is a gigantic MP3 that plays from start to finish. Editing that MP3 by hand is a nightmare, so today we'll explore the possibility of converting a YouTube album into separate MP3 files.
Believe it or not, many bands share their complete music on YouTube. The streaming service often destroys audio quality, and if you want copies with a higher bitrate, we definitely recommend following official channels to buy an HQ version. However, casual listeners acknowledge that YouTube quality is "sufficient".
The difference is that if we try to download an album, YouTube delivers the entire MP3 without interruptions. For some users, that's not a problem. For others, it's essential that the MP3 be split and each track receive its correct name. If you belong to the second group and want to know how to convert a YouTube album into separate MP3 files, keep reading.
How to Convert a YouTube Album into Separate MP3 Files
Download the music
This is the easiest part: you can follow our guide to download music from YouTube, or use dedicated tools like MediaHuman YouTube to MP3, a free downloader that reduces the process to a couple of clicks and enables several advanced options, including the use of variable bit rate (or VBR) in the MP3 file.
Download and install Mp3splt-gtk
It's not a particularly new application, but you know the saying: If it's not broken, don't fix it. Why Mp3splt-gtk? Three reasons: first, it has an interface; second, its alternatives are based in one way or another on the same code; and third, it is compatible with GnuDb, which offers free accurate information about tracks of thousands of albums and their cut points.
Visit GnuDb.org and download the album metadata
It's as simple as clicking Search, finding the album, clicking another link labeled Discid at the bottom, and saving the content in a text file with a .CDDB extension. This file must have the same name as the MP3 and be saved in the same folder, a mechanism reminiscent of automatic subtitle loading.
Split the MP3 with Mp3splt-gtk
- All begins with a click on Batch & automatic split
- Use the Add files or directories option to specify the location of the MP3
- Select the parameter CDDB file with similar name as the input file
- Click Batch Split to finish
And that's it. Mp3splt-gtk will apply the exact cuts on the MP3 (there is no 're-conversion' of the file, it acts like scissors), assign the corresponding tags to each track, and save the new MP3s in the Music folder of your computer. If you want to modify their names to improve the disc structure, don't forget that you can use classic tools like TagScanner or Mp3Tag.
Now, what do we do in case of incorrect cuts? GnuDb's information is usually accurate, so it's logical to assume that the YouTube copy of the album has an unwanted offset. Try other results on GnuDb or use another copy of the album on YouTube, and try again. Good luck!
