Downloading audio from YouTube playlists to MP3 format using open source tools on Github is a popular way to get free music. While convenient, it does raise copyright concerns. Use discretion.
Why Download YouTube Playlists as MP3s?
There are several reasons people want to download YouTube playlists as MP3 files:
- Listen offline – MP3s can be played anywhere without an internet connection.
- Save favorite playlists – Downloading preserves playlists if the videos are removed.
- Avoid ads – MP3s let you listen ad-free.
- Save money – MP3s allow getting music free instead of paying for streaming services.
Is it Legal?
Downloading YouTube videos to MP3 is a legal gray area. YouTube’s terms prohibit downloading videos. However, many countries allow personal format shifting under fair use copyright principles. Users should educate themselves on risks and use good judgment.
Method 1: Using youtube-dl
youtube-dl is a popular command line program for downloading videos from YouTube and other sites. Here is how to use it to download a YouTube playlist as MP3s:
- Install youtube-dl. It works on Windows, Mac, Linux.
- Open a command prompt or terminal window.
- Navigate to the youtube-dl program folder.
- Enter:
youtube-dl -x --audio-format mp3 -o "%(title)s.%(ext)s"
- Replace with the actual YouTube playlist URL.
- Hit enter. youtube-dl will begin downloading the playlist as MP3 files.
This saves each video’s audio track as an MP3 using the video title as the filename. There are many other options available to customize youtube-dl. See the documentation for details.
Method 2: Using open source Github projects
Developers have published several open source projects on Github that allow downloading YouTube playlists as MP3 files. Here are some top options:
youtubemp3
youtubemp3 is a Node.js package for converting YouTube videos to MP3 format. To use:
- Install Node.js
- Open terminal and run:
npm install youtubemp3
- In your app code, require the package:
const youtubemp3 = require('youtubemp3')
- Call
youtubemp3.getPlaylistMp3(playlistUrl)
passing the playlist URL. - MP3 files will download to current folder.
See the project readme for additional usage details.
youtube-mp3-downloader
youtube-mp3-downloader is a Python script for downloading YouTube playlists as MP3s. Usage:
- Install Python
- Clone the repository locally
- Via terminal, navigate into the cloned folder
- Run:
pip install -r requirements.txt
to install dependencies - Run:
python ytDownloader.py [playlistUrl]
- MP3s will download to
/downloads
folder
See the project usage section for more details.
YoutubeMP3Converter
YoutubeMP3Converter converts YouTube videos from playlists or channels to MP3 format. It has a graphical Windows interface. To use:
- Download latest release
- Extract and run YoutubeMP3Converter.exe
- Paste playlist or channel URL
- Configure output folder
- Click Convert – MP3s will download
See the usage guide for full instructions.
Other GitHub Resources
Here are some other GitHub projects that may help in downloading YouTube playlists as MP3 files:
- tube-downloader – Command line downloader in Go
- lg-youtube-downloader – Electron app for Windows/Mac
- ytdl-webserver – Local web server wrapper for youtube-dl
- youtube-dl-server – Simple HTTP wrapper for youtube-dl
For more projects, search “YouTube MP3” on GitHub or explore these collections of YouTube downloader projects.
Conclusion
Downloading YouTube playlists to MP3 using open source GitHub tools provides a convenient way to get free music. However, be mindful of copyright restrictions in your region. For personal offline listening, projects like youtube-dl, youtubemp3, and YoutubeMP3Converter make it straightforward to convert YouTube to MP3 format.