Search for a YouTube to MP3 converter with "no time limit" and you will see why people need one: many converters refuse anything longer than an hour or two. That rules out exactly the videos people most want as audio: three-hour DJ mixes, full podcasts, university lectures, audiobooks and sleep sounds. This guide shows how to convert a long YouTube video to MP3 without a length cap, which format and bitrate to choose and how much space the file will take.
Why converters limit the length
Converting is not free for the site: the server has to download the whole video stream, decode the audio and encode it again as MP3. A ten-hour sleep track costs as much as a hundred short songs. Free converters that live on ads protect themselves with a cap, often 60 or 90 minutes, sometimes a few hours. Others accept long videos but time out halfway, and you get a broken file.
How to convert a long YouTube video to MP3
- Copy the YouTube link: "Share" → "Copy link", or from the address bar.
- Open Skachok and paste the link.
- Click "Find" and open the Audio tab.
- Choose MP3 (or M4A to keep the original track).
- Click "Download" and wait: a long video takes a few minutes to prepare.
There is no length limit on paid plans: a ten-hour track converts the same way as a three-minute song. Audio formats start with Lite at $1.99 a month, and after registration Pro is free for 2 days. Keep the page open while the file is prepared; when it is ready, download it within a few hours.
MP3, M4A or the lighter version
| Format | What it is | Size per hour | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| MP3 | re-encoded at 192 kbps, plays everywhere | about 85 MB | music, car stereos, old players |
| M4A | the original AAC track from YouTube, no re-encoding | about 55–60 MB | phones, best quality per megabyte |
| Lighter MP3 or OGG | 64 kbps | about 29 MB | speech: podcasts, lectures, audiobooks |
| FLAC | lossless container (Max plan) | much larger | archiving, audio editing |
YouTube's own audio tops out at around 130–160 kbps, so a higher MP3 bitrate would not add quality, only size. For speech, the lighter 64 kbps version sounds the same as the full one and takes a third of the space: a 10-hour audiobook fits in under 300 MB.
Long mixes and DJ sets
A mix is usually one continuous file, so one MP3 is what you want. Two tips:
- Check the tracklist in the description or the pinned comment: you will want it later to find a track.
- Keep the original order: if a channel splits a set into parts, add numbers to the file names before copying them to a player.
For albums or playlists rather than one long video, paste the playlist link on Pro or Max, which expand playlists, or paste the video links one per line on any plan: see how to download a YouTube playlist.
Podcasts and lectures
Video podcasts and recorded lectures are mostly speech. Choose the lighter audio version and you save two thirds of the space without losing clarity. Then:
- Speed it up: most phone players and VLC can play at 1.25x or 1.5x without chipmunk voices.
- Name files clearly: "Lecture 03 – Thermodynamics" is easier to find than the original title with emojis.
- Use M4A on iPhone: it plays natively in the Files app and remembers the position in some podcast players.
Audiobooks and sleep sounds
Audiobooks, rain sounds and white noise often run for 8 to 12 hours. These are exactly the videos most converters refuse. Converting them by link works the same as any other video; it just takes a bit longer to prepare. For sleep sounds, the lighter 64 kbps version is plenty: the sound is simple and the file stays small enough for any phone.
Prices and limits
| Plan | Price | Audio formats | Downloads a day | File size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — (video up to 720p only) | 5 | up to 5 GB |
| Lite | $1.99/mo | MP3, M4A | 20 | up to 15 GB |
| Pro | $3.99/mo | MP3, M4A, OGG | 50 | up to 30 GB |
| Max | $5.99/mo | MP3, M4A, OGG, FLAC | 100 | no limit |
Even a 12-hour MP3 is far below these file sizes. Plans do not renew automatically. Details: pricing.
Downloading the video instead
If you also want the picture, for example a lecture with slides, download the video: up to 720p is free, 1080p comes with Lite. A one-hour lecture in 720p is roughly 300–600 MB, depending on how much moves on screen. More about quality: downloading in 1080p, 2K and 4K.
Music: quality and legality
Converting a video gives you the same sound YouTube streams, not a studio master. For music, official artist channels and YouTube Music uploads sound best. Keep the files for personal listening: redistributing other people's music breaks copyright. More on bitrate and sources in how to download music from YouTube to MP3.
If the conversion fails
- The video is a live stream that is still running — wait until the recording appears.
- The video is private, members-only or age-restricted for your account — it cannot be downloaded by link.
- The page was closed while the file was being prepared — paste the link again; a long video needs a few minutes.
FAQ
Is there a YouTube to MP3 converter with no time limit?
Yes. In Skachok, paid plans have no length limit for MP3: mixes, podcasts and 10-hour audiobooks convert the same way as songs. Lite costs $1.99 a month, and Pro is free for 2 days after registration.
How big is a one-hour MP3 from YouTube?
About 85 MB at 192 kbps, about 55–60 MB as M4A and about 29 MB in the lighter 64 kbps version for speech.
Which bitrate should I choose for a podcast or audiobook?
The lighter 64 kbps version. Speech sounds the same as at 192 kbps and the file is three times smaller.
Can I convert a YouTube playlist to MP3?
Yes. On Pro and Max, paste the playlist link and the service expands it. On Lite, paste the video links one per line, up to 5 at a time, and choose MP3 for each.
Is MP3 conversion free?
Audio formats are part of paid plans starting with Lite. Free downloads cover video up to 720p.