Comments on: Importing audiobooks with iTunes 7 http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/ Michael Alderete’s Weblog Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:37:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20757 Alderete Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:38:34 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20757 @Lightinn: If you're having problems with brand new CDs, I would imagine that the issue is your optical drive. Beyond a hardware problem, there's absolutely no reason why a brand new CD would have problems being read in. Do you have the ability to try a new music CD, with music-quality settings (e.g., the default settings, or higher quality)? If that's also having problems, then I would guess that your issue is an imminent hardware failure... @Lightinn: If you’re having problems with brand new CDs, I would imagine that the issue is your optical drive. Beyond a hardware problem, there’s absolutely no reason why a brand new CD would have problems being read in. Do you have the ability to try a new music CD, with music-quality settings (e.g., the default settings, or higher quality)? If that’s also having problems, then I would guess that your issue is an imminent hardware failure…

]]> By: Lightinn http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20756 Lightinn Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:00:15 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20756 I have the same problem with slow import on about half of the disks I try to import. I am only loading audio books from various publishers of CDs as I purchase them. I have followed all of the recommended settings including deselecting error correction, etc. I have the latest version 7 of itunes. My theory is a difference in the products published, for example I have seldom had problems with importing books produced on CD by "Brilliance". (this is in reference to an earlier question by # Holly Turner on April 26th, 2007 at 12:26 pm): bq. Holly Turner said: "I am an audio book fan. I followed your previous instructions and CDs would download like a charm. Now, after about 10 tracks (short ones, the audio book tracks), the speed slows until they often freeze. I can hear the CD player start to struggle. Or it copies but the sound quality is terrible, it skips and jumps. I have the same problem with slow import on about half of the disks I try to import. I am only loading audio books from various publishers of CDs as I purchase them. I have followed all of the recommended settings including deselecting error correction, etc. I have the latest version 7 of itunes. My theory is a difference in the products published, for example I have seldom had problems with importing books produced on CD by “Brilliance”.

(this is in reference to an earlier question by # Holly Turner on April 26th, 2007 at 12:26 pm):

Holly Turner said: “I am an audio book fan. I followed your previous instructions and CDs would download like a charm. Now, after about 10 tracks (short ones, the audio book tracks), the speed slows until they often freeze. I can hear the CD player start to struggle. Or it copies but the sound quality is terrible, it skips and jumps.

]]> By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20660 Alderete Mon, 21 Apr 2008 09:22:16 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20660 @Jim: It's pretty hard to guess what's happening from your description. The first two steps in the instructions have worked without change in iTunes for many versions. Perhaps if you write up a more complete description, possibly including screenshots, and send it to the email address I include in the sidebar, I can try to help you further. @Jim: It’s pretty hard to guess what’s happening from your description. The first two steps in the instructions have worked without change in iTunes for many versions. Perhaps if you write up a more complete description, possibly including screenshots, and send it to the email address I include in the sidebar, I can try to help you further.

]]> By: Jim Bechdel http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20659 Jim Bechdel Sun, 20 Apr 2008 14:43:30 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20659 I'm on a mac running iTunes 7. I can' get past step 2. When I do Join CD Tracks each file does not show up as Track 01 also when I select submit CD info the CD dialog window won't show up. I don think iTunes is retriveviing the titles for each track. I using the Latest Leopard 10.5.2. I’m on a mac running iTunes 7. I can’ get past step 2. When I do Join CD Tracks each file does not show up as Track 01 also when I select submit CD info the CD dialog window won’t show up. I don think iTunes is retriveviing the titles for each track. I using the Latest Leopard 10.5.2.

]]> By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20578 Alderete Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:37:19 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20578 @kat: Hard to guess what you might have done to get multiple copies of tracks, but often it happens when doing a conversion from .mp3 to .m4a (MP3 to AAC). iTunes doesn't delete the old versions automatically, you'll need to do that yourself, and it's much easier right after the conversion, when they are all still selected. Hit Control-Delete (Command-Delete on a Mac), and say yes to moving the tracks to the trash. As for changing the file extension, there are a few FAQs on that, starting "here":http://aldoblog.com/audiobooks/itunes/frequently-asked-questions/#q2. @kat: Hard to guess what you might have done to get multiple copies of tracks, but often it happens when doing a conversion from .mp3 to .m4a (MP3 to AAC). iTunes doesn’t delete the old versions automatically, you’ll need to do that yourself, and it’s much easier right after the conversion, when they are all still selected. Hit Control-Delete (Command-Delete on a Mac), and say yes to moving the tracks to the trash.

As for changing the file extension, there are a few FAQs on that, starting here.

]]> By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20577 Alderete Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:32:12 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20577 @Janet: There is nothing quite as good as Audiobook Builder for users on Windows systems. I have seen, but not yet tried, the following tool, which appears to at least do some of the process (including merging tracks, a very common question): "MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter":http://www.freeipodsoftware.com/ Again, I haven't tried it yet myself, but if it works for you, please do let me know. @Janet: There is nothing quite as good as Audiobook Builder for users on Windows systems. I have seen, but not yet tried, the following tool, which appears to at least do some of the process (including merging tracks, a very common question):

MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter

Again, I haven’t tried it yet myself, but if it works for you, please do let me know.

]]> By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20576 Alderete Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:29:54 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20576 @Andreas: This is an issue that I'm clarifying in my revised instructions, but the difference you're experiencing is due to there already being metadata attached to the tracks, i.e., the Gracenote lookup when you first inserted the disc was successful, which is relatively rare for audiobooks, except bestsellers like the Harry Potter books. In any event, just skip the part where you fill in the information, and continue with the instructions. @Andreas: This is an issue that I’m clarifying in my revised instructions, but the difference you’re experiencing is due to there already being metadata attached to the tracks, i.e., the Gracenote lookup when you first inserted the disc was successful, which is relatively rare for audiobooks, except bestsellers like the Harry Potter books. In any event, just skip the part where you fill in the information, and continue with the instructions.

]]> By: Alderete http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20575 Alderete Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:27:07 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20575 @Pat Lee: An iPod will not, as far as I know, play AIFF files. iTunes handles it, because QuickTime has a lot more codecs available, but the iPod is a more limited device than a PC, and only plays back a few chosen formats. You'll need to convert the track to a supported format, with AAC being the recommended/best format. @Pat Lee: An iPod will not, as far as I know, play AIFF files. iTunes handles it, because QuickTime has a lot more codecs available, but the iPod is a more limited device than a PC, and only plays back a few chosen formats. You’ll need to convert the track to a supported format, with AAC being the recommended/best format.

]]> By: CLBR http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20572 CLBR Fri, 28 Dec 2007 02:07:15 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20572 I figured out that I needed to open the files from windows and not from itunes. This worked for the imported audiobook from cd, but not from the mp3. Thanks I figured out that I needed to open the files from windows and not from itunes. This worked for the imported audiobook from cd, but not from the mp3. Thanks

]]> By: CLBR http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20571 CLBR Fri, 28 Dec 2007 01:25:55 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20571 I have an ipod classic and itunes 7.4.3.1 on an windows xp (SP2) computer and I have tried both an mp3 and a cd audiobook download. I have converted them to aac, changed the files to *.m4b, opened and listened to 2-3 seconds/track and the files are still in music and not in audio books!! I tried closing/opening itunes, and still no luck. I double checked my import settings and they are ok. What else should I be doing? I have an ipod classic and itunes 7.4.3.1 on an windows xp (SP2) computer and I have tried both an mp3 and a cd audiobook download. I have converted them to aac, changed the files to *.m4b, opened and listened to 2-3 seconds/track and the files are still in music and not in audio books!! I tried closing/opening itunes, and still no luck. I double checked my import settings and they are ok. What else should I be doing?

]]> By: kat http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20570 kat Thu, 27 Dec 2007 22:24:05 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20570 This whole making a cd into an audiobook thing, is ridiculously irritating! Somehow i have 2 of each track, and i cannot get it to show up in ONLY the audiobooks, and not the songs list. I do not know where to access, or even how, to change the file extension to an .m4b! and now i have to try and delete 174 tracks of one book because the computer doubled each track! HELP! I really do not want to settle for just leaving my audiobook in the songs section. This whole making a cd into an audiobook thing, is ridiculously irritating! Somehow i have 2 of each track, and i cannot get it to show up in ONLY the audiobooks, and not the songs list. I do not know where to access, or even how, to change the file extension to an .m4b! and now i have to try and delete 174 tracks of one book because the computer doubled each track! HELP! I really do not want to settle for just leaving my audiobook in the songs section.

]]> By: Sharron Armel http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20569 Sharron Armel Sun, 23 Dec 2007 17:53:50 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20569 Fantastic website, great instructions! Using a PC & iTunes 7.4, I've converted 2 books on CDs to be playable on my iPod. Now I'm trying to convert a book from original CDs produced by Brilliance Audio. After joining tracks, submitting, and receiving the Gracenotes acknowledgement, I click on "Import CD" and get the error message that I have no songs selected. The black line indicating they're joined is showing, and all of the tracks are highlighted. Is there something odd about Brilliance format, or what else might I try? Thank you! ~Sharron Fantastic website, great instructions! Using a PC & iTunes 7.4, I’ve converted 2 books on CDs to be playable on my iPod. Now I’m trying to convert a book from original CDs produced by Brilliance Audio. After joining tracks, submitting, and receiving the Gracenotes acknowledgement, I click on “Import CD” and get the error message that I have no songs selected. The black line indicating they’re joined is showing, and all of the tracks are highlighted. Is there something odd about Brilliance format, or what else might I try? Thank you! ~Sharron

]]> By: Janet http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20548 Janet Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:00:10 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20548 I noticed that AudiobookBuilder is only for Mac. Is there software like this for Windows? I noticed that AudiobookBuilder is only for Mac. Is there software like this for Windows?

]]> By: Audrey Campbell http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20539 Audrey Campbell Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:17:52 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20539 All right, after reading your instructions yet again, I see where I am making my error. TY. :) All right, after reading your instructions yet again, I see where I am making my error. TY. :)

]]> By: Audrey Campbell http://aldoblog.com/2006/10/importing-audiobooks-with-itunes-7/#comment-20538 Audrey Campbell Mon, 19 Nov 2007 03:08:14 +0000 http://aldoblog.com/blog/561#comment-20538 I've successfully converted CDs to audiobooks following your directions, but I can't quite seem to get the multiple track issue sorted for longer stories. When I insert a CD, iTunes begins to automatically import it. I'm sure there's a setting somewhere causing that, but I cannot for the life of me find it. Once that happens, I can't join the tracks -- hence the problem. I have a stack of audio books here to do, but I don't want to go any further until I get this sorted. Any suggestions you could offer would be most appreciated. :) I’ve successfully converted CDs to audiobooks following your directions, but I can’t quite seem to get the multiple track issue sorted for longer stories. When I insert a CD, iTunes begins to automatically import it. I’m sure there’s a setting somewhere causing that, but I cannot for the life of me find it.

Once that happens, I can’t join the tracks — hence the problem. I have a stack of audio books here to do, but I don’t want to go any further until I get this sorted. Any suggestions you could offer would be most appreciated. :)

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