Just In: Convert YouTube Videos to MP3s

Want to hear your YouTube favorites offline? A free Web service converts them into MP3s for easy downloading.

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Rick Broida

PC World
Tuesday, March 24, 2009; 12:19 AM

Secret confession time: I'm a fan of Brit-pop superstar Lily Allen. (Hey, I also like Green Day and the Stones. Don't judge me.)

Recently, Allen performed a nifty acoustic cover of Britney Spears' Womanizer. Alas, it's not available on iTunes, AmazonMP3, or any other online stores I'm aware of. The only place to hear the track is YouTube.

That doesn't suit my mobile, iPhone-driven lifestyle. So until Lily's people deem fit to let me buy the track, I'm "borrowing" it from YouTube. The site that makes this possible? Video 2 MP3, which converts any video into an MP3.

Just copy and paste the URL from the video's YouTube page and click Convert. Then be prepared to wait a few minutes. Resist the urge to click that big, inviting Download button while you're waiting--it's just part of an ad for a different product.

When Video 2 MP3 is done converting, you'll see a link to the file. Right-click it and choose the appropriate "download" option for your browser. Then add the MP3 to iTunes or your music manager of choice.

Note to Firefox users: There's a Video 2 MP3 extension that adds a download link to each YouTube video page, thus saving you the step of copying and pasting the URL.

Okay, fess up: What artist(s) are you slightly embarrassed to admit to liking? Here, I'll get you started: A certain PC World editor with the initials R.S. is a closet fan of Miley Cyrus.