iPod Audiobooks in parts (Harry Potter)

[balamw]

I've ripped the last Harry Potter audiobook into separate M4B files for each chapter using Join together, but something has changed in iTunes and on the iPod that I can't get the files to be played continuously. (EDIT: FWIW I used to be able to create a playlist and have it go through continuously, but no more).

It looks like each file is seen as its own book and playback stops after each chapter. THIS IS ANNOYING.

Any way to work around this? SOme purchased audiobooks come in parts and I thought I tagged my files right. Disc 1 of 1, Track x of y.

Weird.

EDIT: The only thing is see in atomicparsley that seems different for my files than the multi-part book I downloaded from iTunes is the stik atom.

B

 

[ftaok]

Not sure if you knew this, but I'll post anyways ...

There is an Applescript (available at Doug's Applescripts) that will convert Audiobook CD rips to Audible iTunes formatted files. The script is called "Make Bookmarkable". Each CD is treated as one single file.

ft

 

[balamw]

Not sure if you knew this, but I'll post anyways ...

There is an Applescript (available at Doug's Applescripts) that will convert Audiobook CD rips to Audible iTunes formatted files. The script is called "Make Bookmarkable". Each CD is treated as one single file.

ft

Thanks. I used Make Bookmarkable and Join Together to make my audiobook. Since many CDs have only 1-2 chapters on them, the Chapter method makes more logical sense. For shorter books (~5 CDs) I will rip them to a single file, which obviously doesn't have this problem.

Looks like I was wrong about the purchased audiobook. It too cannot be played consintuously on my fully updated 5G iPod.

Guess I'll just have to treat them as music.

B

 

[RumMunkey]

Here's what I do:

Import each CD as one track (Use iTunes to import it this way).

Rename M4a to M4b and it shows up under Audiobooks.

I don't bother to merge these discs into one massive file for a number of reasons (it's a strain on battery to play them back, and I've found playback on really big files can be problematic).

So I end up with say, 10 tracks for a 10-disc audiobook. I name them "Part 1", "Part 2" and so on, and given them track numbers.

When I play them back on my iPod it just seamlessly goes from "track 1" to "track 2" and so on, just as it would all the tracks on a CD.

 

[balamw]

When I play them back on my iPod it just seamlessly goes from "track 1" to "track 2" and so on, just as it would all the tracks on a CD.

Weird, my 5G iPod won't even play a three part audiobook from the iTunes store from one track to the next.

Which iPod are you using?

B

 

[RumMunkey]

5G, 30 GB.

Are you playing by selecting the first track and pressing "Play" or do you press "Select". I think pressing "play" instead of "select" plays the first track then stops (or vice-versa -I don't have any books loaded right now to test it).

 

[andiwm2003]

Weird, my 5G iPod won't even play a three part audiobook from the iTunes store from one track to the next.

Which iPod are you using?

B

maybe a bit different but it may help anyways:

i use audible for my audiobook needs.

when a audiobook or part of an audiobook is finished my 40GB 4G ipod simply starts the next one. since they are alphabetically in my playlist (i created a playlist not heard audiobooks") it plays a 3 part audiobook continuously (aside of the annoying "thank you for listening to audible.com" at the end of every book/part). so for me it's like RumMunkey describes it.

 

[candy]

audiobook builder is great - I've just done Harry Potter CDs with it

http://www.splasm.com/audiobookbuilder/

 

[balamw]

for me it's like RumMunkey describes it.

HP7 wasn't available on iTunes (and isn't on Audible) yet so I bought the CDs.

What's annoying/confusing to me is that it USED to work this way for me too, at least when I played them in a playlist. I did the last Harry Potter and listened to is straight through on a playlist. Now the same files will stop hard after every chapter. . I just recently restored my iPod to factory settings, so I nkow it's not something I've tweaked.

candy it wasn't clear to me what the output of Audiobook Builder was. Is it just one M4B file/book?

B

 

[candy]

audiobook builder

No, you can make as many parts as you like - I usually do long books in 4-5 hour chunks. You just drag the files that want to join. So, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone I've done in two parts, whereas Order of the Phoenix I made six.

I also record stuff from the the radio sometimes using wiretap (hour long programmes usually) and then convert them so that they show up under 'audiobooks' rather than 'music'.

 

[ftaok]

I don't bother to merge these discs into one massive file for a number of reasons (it's a strain on battery to play them back, and I've found playback on really big files can be problematic)

I typically set the import settings for "Spoken Podcasts" to keep the file size down. I think the setting is 32 kbps mono. The file sizes are pretty small and my iPod Shuffle doesn't seem to get drained any quicker than if I were playing music.

ft

 

[balamw]

Strangely. It started working from the Audiobooks section, but only after Chapter 9. While it stopped after Chapters 1-8 it kept going after 9. I'm not syncing the iPod until I'm done.

This may be the first chapter that was split among two CDs, on which I used Join Together and not just Make Bookmarkable. Weird. Will experiment more once I'm done with the book.

B

 

[RumMunkey]

I typically set the import settings for "Spoken Podcasts" to keep the file size down. I think the setting is 32 kbps mono. The file sizes are pretty small and my iPod Shuffle doesn't seem to get drained any quicker than if I were playing music.

ft

Ah, that's it. Flash memory is nicer to battery life than the HD iPods. It's a play-time issue rather than a file-size issue.

With such a long file (6 - 10 hours) playing on the HD-based iPods, the HD is always being accessed because you'll never really fill the buffer, thus your battery runs down faster.

You don't have that problem with the Shuffle 'cause there's no HD using up power to keep spinning.

That said, I run off AC power a lot anyway (in the car mostly for audiobooks), and I wouldn't mind maybe turning a 10-track book into a 5-track book, so I'm gonna go check out Audiobook builder.

Thanks!

 

[RumMunkey]

Hey, how long does Audiobook Builder take to merge the files?

I'm using a script I found right now, and it's taking a fair bit of time.

 

[balamw]

Hey, how long does Audiobook Builder take to merge the files?

I'm using a script I found right now, and it's taking a fair bit of time.

Which script is that? If you're using "Join Together" make sure you check the passthrough check box so it doesn't recompress.

FWIW I finished the book yesterday and confirmed that only certain tracks will make it follow on. Will investigate more.

B

 

[RumMunkey]

Yeah, Join Together... Re-running now with Passthru checked (d'oh!).

Thanks!

 

[Alderete]

Audiobook Builder hints

No, you can make as many parts as you like - I usually do long books in 4-5 hour chunks. You just drag the files that want to join. So, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone I've done in two parts, whereas Order of the Phoenix I made six.

The oddly intermittent not playing of successive tracks in an audiobook is the main reason why I've adopted Audiobook Builder so enthusiastically. For the same reason, I generally try to make the tracks as long as possible. So, for example, my imported version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is only two tracks, each about 11 hours long. I've not had problems with my tracks being that long since I started using Audiobook Builder, and if you delve into their tech support forums, they've limited the tracks to 12 hours maximum to work around the specific issues they've found.

Those tracks would be huge, in terms of disk space, except for the custom settings I use for the export format:

- Data rate: 32 Kbps
- Channels: mono
- Sample rate: 32 kHz
[x] Pass through, if possible

In spite of being nearly 22 hours long, and having all the chapter art embedded, my tracks for Deathly Hallows total about 308 MB. That sounds like a lot, but if it was imported with the standard iTunes settings, it would probably be closer to 2 GB.

Highly recommended.

 

[bigdz68]

The oddly intermittent not playing of successive tracks in an audiobook is the main reason why I've adopted Audiobook Builder so enthusiastically. For the same reason, I generally try to make the tracks as long as possible. So, for example, my imported version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is only two tracks, each about 11 hours long. I've not had problems with my tracks being that long since I started using Audiobook Builder, and if you delve into their tech support forums, they've limited the tracks to 12 hours maximum to work around the specific issues they've found.

Those tracks would be huge, in terms of disk space, except for the custom settings I use for the export format:

- Data rate: 32 Kbps
- Channels: mono
- Sample rate: 32 kHz
[x] Pass through, if possible

In spite of being nearly 22 hours long, and having all the chapter art embedded, my tracks for Deathly Hallows total about 308 MB. That sounds like a lot, but if it was imported with the standard iTunes settings, it would probably be closer to 2 GB.

Highly recommended.

I know Im bumping the thread but quick question on these.
Are you able to listen to these recordings on the iPod?
I record a radio show daily and listen back from my iPod. Once I get past the 3 hour mark and pause the track, it can skip to the beginning. I realize this might be a buffer issue with the 5th gen iPods but wanted to know if you are experiencing the same things.

This never happened on my iPod Photo but once I upgraded to the Video, it always happens! I prefer not to split up my daily show into 3-6 tracks as it clutters up my file management in iTunes but thought someone may have a tip! I am using Rogue Amoeba to record at 64kbps AAC and typically record a 6 hour show on one track.
Thanks!

 

[balamw]

FWIW I finished the book yesterday and confirmed that only certain tracks will make it follow on. Will investigate more.

Not what you're after bigdz68, but FWIW I now know how to control playback for playlists of audiobooks and podcasts. It's the Shuffle settings, if you Shuffle Songs it'll stop after every segment, turn off Shuffle and it'll play continuously.

B

 

[bigdz68]

Not what you're after bigdz68, but FWIW I now know how to control playback for playlists of audiobooks and podcasts. It's the Shuffle settings, if you Shuffle Songs it'll stop after every segment, turn off Shuffle and it'll play continuously.

B

OK Thanks.
Maybe this is a longshot but was there a larger buffer size on the iPod Photos?
I know that my single tracks NEVER skipped on my 60GB iPod Photo but I share this file with 3 other iPod Videos (I believe the 30GB and 80GB models) and all skip the damn track. Could it be Apple changed something with the buffer on the newer gen iPods to make this happen. My main reason for asking is I want to pick up a new Classic 160GB but won't waste my time if the problem is still there. Guess I could try it with someone who has a Classic at work but haven't had the time. If all else fails, I can just carry around my old Photo but with an iPhone and the Video it would be just another toy I could lose! I know for a fact I can load the track onto my iPhone but it just drags the battery down during the day and since we dont have the ability to swap out batteries easily, that isnt really an option!
Heres to hoping apple makes a swappable battery on the next iPhone! HAHA!

 

[kitsune_akki]

Audiobooks and helping apps

I just recently got 250GB worth of Audiobooks from a colleague, one problem!
They all in MP3 format.

So I tried the hack of making my own AAC files blah blah blah - too much work!

If the Mac can do it on it's own - so be it!
I found brilliant tools on the Softpedia site.
They allow you to edit/split/add/create your own/bookmark etc etc etc

Audiobook Studio 3.0

Audiobook Builder 1.0.7

Audiobook Maker 0.1b


Hope this helps the Audiobook / AAC file converting renaming thing.
Come on guys, it's a Mac....

 

[kitsune_akki]

Audiobooks and helping apps

Oh FYI these apps mentioned above also help out with the skipping and bookmark problems


and for those who have a windows pc... or those running windows on a mac (you think you cool?)

An Audiobook program to do the same as the Apple Mac version (well kinda)
www.free ipod software.com (remove spaces,as it ****** the words out if i post the full address)