Complete Beginner

[robert]

Burning audible books to CD with iTunes 4.5+

This post needs editing and will be updated in the next few months. Click on this link to Apple iTunes Support Article: iTunes: How to Create CDs From Audible Content. iTunes is now the simplest and most liberal on number of copies for burning audio CD's from iTunes or Audible.com books. iTunes will not burn to mp3 format unless the original format was mp3.

Step-by-step instructions for Burning audible books to CD with iTunes 4.5+. See post immediately following for Audible Manager (AM) Solution which is no longer recommended for PCs. Although PC users can use either iTunes or AM, iTunes is now easier and will allow more burns. Mac users can use only iTunes. Some CD players may not be able to read CD-RW CDs. It is best to make one CD-RW CD to test it in your CD player prior to burning an entire book. Also consider that you are allowed to burn a title only a limited number of times.

Burn audible.com books to Audio CD?s using iTunes version 4.5 or higher.

Download audio book in format 4. Each of the formats requires the same number of CD's, so you may as well burn the best quality.



1. Create a Special Playlist for Burning CD?s
a. Files/New Playlist/key-name playlist something like ?Burn CD?s?
b. Click on Preferences/Burning Tab
i. Preferred Speed = Maximum Possible
ii. Choose Audio CD
iii. Gap Between Songs = ?none?

2. Drag and drop the book you wish to burn into the new playlist

3. Highlight the ?Burn CD?s? Playlist
a.. At top of iTunes window select: File/Burn Playlist to Disc

4. Window will appear Saying: ??Not fit on one Audio CD, do you want to create multiple CD?s?? Click ?Audio CD?s? button
5. Place a CD into your burner. Some CD players may not be able to read CD-RW CDs. It is best to make one CD-RW CD to test it in your CD player prior to burning an entire book.
6. Click on ?Burn Disc? button at top right of iTunes widow.
For potential need to recover from an aborted session, you may want to note time. I have seen from 1:19:45 to 1:19:50. This includes the nine seconds overlap that iTunes puts in at the beginning of each CD.
7. When CD burner ejects CD, Label it with the sequence number of the disc.
a. My computer shows iTunes as not responding until I load a clean CD.

8. Repeat until book is completely burned.
a. Use a permanent marker like a Sharpie to Label CD?s with disc number, Book Title, Author, and CD number X of Y.

________________________

To Recover from an aborted iTunes burn or to use iTunes to burn a CD replacement for a damaged CD or to burn a portion of a CD (author interview, for example):

1. To recover from an abort during burning, (and you will think iTunes aborts when it is only asking for fresh CD ? just feed it a new CD and wait), or to burn a replacement CD:
a.Calculate the time recorded so far:
i. Number of successfully burned CD?s times 1:19:46 less the 15 second overlap iTunes creates, converting 60?s to minutes or hours, resulting in the following:

1 CD = 1:19:31
2 CD = 2:39:02
3 CD = 3:58:33
4 CD = 5:18:04
5 CD = 6:37:35
6 CD = 7:57:06
7 CD = 9:16:37
8 CD = 10:36:08
9 CD = 11:55:39
10 CD=13:15:10
11 CD=14:34:41
12 CD=15:54:12
13 CD=17:13:43
14 CD=18:33:14
15 CD=19:52:45

(I know, the first CD does not have overlap, but better to begin validating15 seconds earlier than past the stop point of the last successful CD burned.)

ii. If abort is in part 1 of a multi-part book, use the time from the chart above.
iii. If abort is in part 2 of a multi-part book, use the time from the chart above and subtract the length of Part 1, from the time in the chart above ? remembering to convert 60?s to minutes and hours.
iv. If abort is in part 3 of a multi-part book, use the time from the chart above and subtract the total time length of Parts 1 plus Part 2 from the time in the chart above ? remembering to convert 60?s to minutes and hours.

b. Validate Calculated start time iTunes burn times per CD and overlap times are not precise, so it is wise to validate that you have not skipped a paragraph and that you are beginning this burn at the proper point. :
i. Open iTunes
ii. Insert last successful CD (or CD that precedes the CD to be replaced)
iii. iTunes will highlight that CD.
iv. Double click last track of that CD
v. Drag the diamond time marker indicator down to the last few seconds.
vi. Listen and take note of content to subsequently compare to the iTunes library version at the calculated point.
vii. Highlight iTunes Library ? not iPod.
viii.In iTunes Library and, in ?Song Name? column, Double Click on the book name that contains the last successfully burned CD.
ix. Slide the diamond time marker as close as you can to a point prior to the start time calculated above
x. Listen and compare to what you heard on last track of prior CD to validate your calculated start time, correcting if necessary

2. Remove/eject CD from burner/player
? Highlight ?Burn CD?s? playlist,
? Highlight, right click, and ?Clear? any Parts of the book that you have already successfully burned. I.E., Part 1, etc., but make certain this playlist contains all the remaining parts of the book which you wish to burn. I.E., if you are beginning in Part 2 of a 3 part book, you should have dragged Part 2 and Part 3 into the ?Burn CD? Playlist.
? In Song column, highlight Book Name of only the Part that contains the calculated starting point from above,
? Right click,
? Select ?Info,?
? Click on Options tab
? Check "Start Time" and key in start time from your calculation as corrected above.
? Do not check 'Stop Time' or enter stop time unless you are creating a single replacement disc. Otherwise, stop time will show as the total time (total length) for the book file being burned. (If you are replacing a single defective disc, check ?Stop time? and key in stop time which is start time plus 1:19:50. See above to Validate Start Time.)
? Click ?OK?

3. Insert CD in burner

4. Highlight the ?Burn CD?s? Playlist in the Source Column
a.. At top of iTunes window select: File/Burn Playlist to Disc

5. Window will appear Saying: ??Not fit on one Audio CD, do you want to create multiple CD?s?? Click ?Audio CD?s? button
6. Click on ?Burn Disc? button at top right of iTunes widow.
7. Continue to feed CD burner blank CD?s until burn is complete.
8. iTunes does not eject the last CD when it's burn is completed.
(The steps above can also be used to burn part of an audio file to CD -- say an author interview.
1. Identify the start time and end* times of the audiobook file segment by listening to the audio file. *not necessary if end of file.
2. Create a burn playlist containing only the audio book file that has the segment you wish to burn.
2. Highlight and R click song file name
3. Choose Get Info>Options Tab>
4. Check and Enter Start and Stop times
5. Click on Burn

Useful Links:

Audible: CD Burning with iTunes and your Mac

Apple site tutorial --Burning your music to a CD Applies to PC and Mac. Recommend click on "Movie" button which will display the actual iTunes windows with explanations.

[robert]

No longer recommended solution for PC users. See this link
for Mac or PC solution using iTunes

At one time, AM was much more user friendly, easier to recover from interruptions or crashes, less prone to abort or crash, and will print both labels and Cover Art. This is no longer the case.

Audio Books require one CD for approximately each hour and seventeen minutes.

iTunes and AM limit the number of CD copies that can be made of each book. AM to one and a fraction copies -- that is, one copy plus a small margin for spoilage

Very good Audible Help/FAQ on Burning CD's: How do I get started with CD Burning? and The Audible link General CD Burning Questions for Windows very good step-by-step. Links to FAQ's with pictures of windows and most of the detail required to begin with the exception of how to "import" a file from iTunes folder into AM for those utilizing Audible Download Manager for iTunes 4.5+ (highly recommended -- allows direct download on pc into iTunes)

Link to Audible FAQ: Error: Initialization failed or CD burner not connected.

Step-by-step instructions for Burning audible books to CD with Audible Manager(AM)

Update to or download latest Audible Manager and the appropriate CD burner at audible.com (all free).


Download audio book in format 4. Each of the formats requires the same number of CD's, so you may as well burn the best quality.

1. Open a current version of Audible Manager. Older versions may not burn CDs. If you are utilizing the Audible Download Manager for iTunes, previously downloaded books will be in an iTunes Folder -- not in Audible Manager.

2. Authorize CD burner by clicking appropriate drop down on AM>Devices (Refresh CD burner, Burn to CD).

3. Open iTunes and resize (Click on double squares in upper Right Hand corner of windows of each) both the iTunes and Audible Manager windows so that both AM and iTunes are simultaneously visible.

4. In iTunes, locate the audio files that you wish to burn to CD -- manually or by entering name of audiobook into iTunes Q window search function top right of iTunes window.

5. Highlight in iTunes all the files you wish to burn to CD and drag and drop them to the AM Library -- either the library title on top left, or the area where AM Library audio books are displayed.
_________________________________________________
Alternatively to drag and drop, aAdd the files to be burned to CD with the AM Add file to Library:
a In AM click on file>add file>browse to the file location in your iTunes library (r click on book in iTunes and choose show file to determine location) and click on ok.

b. In resulting Import Audio Files Window: Under ?Files of Type? select Audible Audio Files (*.aa)

c. Browse to your iTunes audible content folder (see edit/preferences/Advanced tab/ to determine iTunes Music Folder Location) and author (not in alpha sequence) of book you wish to burn/click import.

d. Click on "Unknown File" and if you have Files of Type selected to Audible Audio Files (*.aa), the book name will appear. Highlight and

e. Once book name is in import window, click on ?Import? button
_________________________________________________

6. If you have not yet authorized a CD burner: In AM, Click on Devices/ ?Activate/Deactivate? ? goes to audible click on yes button, place check mark by ? check CD burner and click on next until completed. Will require entering user name and password which may be entered by a cookie. Click Activate my player(s)/ etc. See Audible FAQ: Everything needed for CD Burning for Windows? If AM will does not show CD burner, you may need to update AM to a version that recognizes your CD burner.

7. To optimize burn speed and to select the proper drive, in AM, to go to Edit>Preferences>/CD Burner Options to select the speed appropriate to your burner speed -- mine is 48X.

8. In AM, click Devices/Choose Mobile Device/In window select CD Burner.

9. Insert blank CD in burner. CD-R should play in any CD player. However, some CD players may not be able to read CD-RW CDs. It is best to make one CD-RW CD to test it in your CD player prior to burning an entire book. Also consider that you are allowed to burn a title only a limited number of times.

10. Drag and drop book name into CD burning window or highlight book name and click on 'Add to Burn List' at top left of AM or right click and choose ?Add to CD Burner?

11. Click 'Start CD Burn' button at top of AM.

12. Window 'You are about to Burn the Title XXX from the beginning to 1:17 This title will require Y discs to burn.?
- Click 'Burn' Button in this window
- Click 'Change Starting Point' and change to appropriate time (number of completed CDs X 1:17)if you are burning a replacement disc or recovering from an abort. Toss any aborted CD ? determining start point too difficult.

13. Recording Audio CD window appears
- Shows title, Speed (See instructions to increase speed to your burner rated speed if not attaining)

14. Upon completion of each CD burn, Next Step window appears. You are about to burn from hours and minutes to hours and minutes. Y discs left.
- Click Burn CD
- Printing is easier done all at one time. Skip this process, and button, until finished.

15. Upon completion of each disc insert blank CD and repeat step 14 until complete.

Recommend that you continuously burn and make labels all at onetime after burn or use a Sharpie Pen to label CDs. Book Name by Author X_YU for each CD, where X = CD sequence number and Y = total CDs in audiobook.

AM offers printing labels which I find tedious. A ?Sharpie? is so much easier unless you want to dress the CD?s up. You can type in whatever you want, including CD X of Y, which AM does not provide. I find it easier to go back to do labels all at one time, printing out a ?template,? sticking CompUSA labels from their label REFILL kit (sku 302240) to the template and printing. To print a ?template?, just select/highlight a book with a plain label, right click, select print label, blank out all the book information and print multiple copies of the label. Then select/highlight the book for which you wish to create labels, right click/select ?print a label? and insert the information you want on the label, including incrementally "X of Y CD". All but the artwork can be replaced with your own language. Peel the outer layer off the edge of the label, and then stick the Comp USA labels to your ?template? pages and print the labels one at the time. Peel the labels off and place the center of an outward curved label on the CD and smooth from the center onto the CD.

To print out a Cover, right click on book name, select show details, highlight and copy all the details and art work and paste into a Word document. Edit/Select All and reduce right hand margin to 4 ?? and then print and cut descriptive document to a size that will fit in the first CD sleeve.

Comp USA and others have clear vinyl two-sided CD sleeves (sku # 283642) with hole punched spines -- newest product not exactly 2.75 centers -- through which you can insert Office Depot (825 4890) or equivalent Prong Paper Fasteners -- 2? sets of prongs and compressors with 2 3/4? centers sets -- to create an inexpensive CD holder for the book. Punch an extra hole or bend the prongs an additional 3/16 on each end for the newer sleeves. A rivet tool or brad are possibilities for fastening sleeves.

Alternatively, you can purchase paper CD sleeves or single thin CD jewel boxes at Comp USA. Low-end department stores, carry inexpensive ($2 or so) zippered plastic CD cases that will hold up to 24 CD?s.

[robert]

Audible FAQ from one of the links in post above:

I have Audible Manager with the Roxio CD burning engine, but it will not burn at full speed?
1. Un-Install Audible Manager. Follow these steps to un-install:
a. Deactivate your desktop and portable players.
i. Open Audible Manager on your PC.
ii. Select "Devices" > "Activate/Deactivate" and follow instructions.
b. Close Audible Manager.
c. Uninstall > Audible Manager:
i. On your desktop, select "Start" > "Programs" > "Audible Manager" > "Un-install Audible Manager ".
d. Search your hard drive for ? ActiveSetup ? and delete whatever comes up.
2. Un-Install Gear Drivers (If applicable). Follow these steps to un-install:
a. a. Go ?Start? > ?Settings? > ?Control Panel? > ?Add/Remove Programs?
b. b. Find ?Gear Drivers? and Un-install them.
3. Shut down the PC completely and restart.
4. Disable any firewall and anti-virus to install the software
5. Go to http://download.audible.com/AM36/ActiveSetupR.exe to install Audible Manager and run the install from current location or Open and select ?CD Burning? as the mobile device in the following dialog box.

EDIT 8-8-04 to clarify, and to respond to plagiarism,

Originally posted by albitalia04
can you spell p-a-l-i-a-g-e-r-i-s-m [sic.]

The above is directly copied from Audible FAQ as indicated in the beginning of post. It is not plagiarism if attributed

[robert]

If you're having trouble burning a CD or DVD, check the following:


Make sure you're trying to burn a CD or DVD from a playlist (a list of songs that you create). You can't burn a disc from the songs in your library or the Radio. For more information about creating playlists, search help for "creating playlists."

Some CD-RW drives may not work with iTunes. To see if iTunes works with a drive, choose Edit > Preferences, then click the Burning tab. If your drive is listed, it will work with iTunes. If you don't see your device listed in the Burning pane of iTunes preferences, it may not be a supported drive or the correct drivers may not be installed. To install the appropriate drivers, reinstall iTunes.

Make sure you've chosen the correct disc format for the files you're trying to burn to your CD or DVD. To create an audio CD, you need to choose Audio CD in the Burning pane of iTunes preferences. To create a CD with any type of audio file that iTunes supports (MP3, AAC, AIFF, and so on), you need to choose "Data CD or DVD" in the Burning pane of iTunes preferences.

If your playlist includes songs that were purchased from the iTunes Music Store, you can only burn seven copies of the playlist to an audio CD. You may have exceeded the number of times you can burn this playlist.

If your playlist includes songs that were purchased from the iTunes Music Store that have not been authorized to play on this computer, CD burning stops. To authorize this computer to play the music purchases, double-click the purchased song (where CD burning stopped) and enter the ID and password for the account with which the song was purchased. If you've already authorized five other computers to play the song, you won't be able to play it on this computer until you deauthorize one of the five already authorized computers. For more information, search help for "authorization and deauthorization."

If your blank CD or DVD doesn't appear in the Source list or if your burning preferences aren't being saved, contact your administrator to make sure you have the appropriate privileges to burn CDs on your computer.

If your computer or monitor goes to sleep while you're burning a CD, you might encounter problems with the disc or with iTunes. To keep your system from going to sleep when burning CDs, increase the sleep timing settings in the Power Option control panel.

If your CD burn is unsuccessful and your external drive becomes unresponsive, turn its power off and on to reset the drive.
If you've made a CD and it seems to stutter when played back in your external CD-RW drive, try playing it in your internal CD drive or in a stereo system. Some external drives may not play CDs properly.

If the playlist you're trying to burn to a CD or DVD includes AAC files, make sure you don't have MP3 CD selected in the Burning pane of iTunes Preferences. You can only burn a playlist that contains AAC files using the Audio CD or Data CD format.
Use Windows Update to make sure you have the latest Service Pack for your computer installed.

Check your computer or drive manufacturer's site for firmware updates and install any that are appropriate for your computer and CD or DVD drive.

Even if your computer is new, make sure you have the latest drivers for your video and sound cards, and other peripherals. Check the manufacturers' sites for updates.
Try using a different brand of media or a different type of disc (for example, CD-RW instead of CD-R).

Choose a lower burn speed in the Burning pane of iTunes Preferences.

For more troubleshooting information, visit the Apple Support website at www.apple.com/support/itunes.

EDIT 8-8-04 to clarify, and to respond to plagiarism,

Originally posted by albitalia04
can you spell p-a-l-i-a-g-e-r-i-s-m [sic.]

The above is directly copied from iTunes FAQ as indicated in the post title.

can you spell p-a-l-i-a-g-e-r-i-s-m

[robert]

Originally posted by albitalia04
can you spell p-a-l-i-a-g-e-r-i-s-m

Well, yes, correctly spelled it is "plagiarism" and defined, according to yourdictionary.com, as:

To use and pass off (the ideas or writings of another) as one's own.

To appropriate for use as one's own passages or ideas from (another).

To put forth as original to oneself the ideas or words of another.

Therefore, due to attribution of source, the implication of plagiarism is totally inappropriate and rude.

[robert]

Had to reinstall Audible Manager because it stopped recognizing my cd Burner

The current AM download uses Roxio -- a change from gear driver for me even though the version is the same.

I think that I recall a post saying that the newest version of AM would not allow burning at high speeds. The current 4.0 AM version contains Roxio and began burning showing (allowing) 48X in the Tools/CD Properties window and in the burn window. But sometime during the burn it backed down to allowing only 24X. I am not sure what speed the CD burner is capable of. I am using a different computer for burning than usual. It seemed to burn pretty fast, maybe faster than the speed it says it backed down to. Actually was showing only 4X in burn window. Went back into Tools/CD properties to reset speed and found max only 24X speed. Maybe the max speed for this burner. I have a fast burner that I can install and try for more speed in a couple of weeks and update.

[Lmcm2108]

"If the playlist you're trying to burn to a CD or DVD includes AAC files, make sure you don't have MP3 CD selected in the Burning pane of iTunes Preferences. You can only burn a playlist that contains AAC files using the Audio CD or Data CD format."

Does anyone know why you can't burn an MP3 CD from books? (or can you? If so, do you use iTunes?) It would take less disks as long as you have a MP3 CD player to play. Can I take regular audio CD's (bought or from library) and burn them to MP3 CD's?

Lisa

[robert]

I am fine with decision to unstick this one, but since it is one of top ten non-stickies viewed in last year, I am bumping it up from page 5. :-)

[Crazy Pete]

I'm having a problem with burning a book in AM with the Gear drivers because it gets 97% done, then ejects the CD like it's completed, but then AM just freezes up. I end up having to do an End Task to close it out. Any ideas?

[Crazy Pete]

Nevermind, I got it working. Decided to reinstall AM with the Roxio drivers, even though I really don't like them...and now I'm able to burn books just fine.

[Bat-Hound]

I downloaded an audiobook specifically to burn to CD for my car, as opposed to my iPod. I'm using a Mac (OS X 10.3.9) and iTunes 4.9. I got the message saying iTunes would split up the audio into multiple CDs and I clicked to proceed. The first CD burned fine, but the 2nd CD would not burn at all, even after iTunes verfied the disk was ok. I stopped the process and tried to start over. Again, the first CD burned fine, but when I put in the 2nd CD, I got an error message saying the disk could not be burned because "Audible files can only be burned once". How, then, did I end up with TWO copies of CD #1 and now cannot burn the 2nd CD at all??? This makes no sense. Any ideas on how I can now burn the second CD?

I tried the steps outlined above, but I keep getting the same message about the files only being burned once.

[robert]

Two alternatives,

1. Strongly recommend you buy a $30 iTrip or equivalent so that you can play off iPod on your car radio. CD's? Really, now. Run the volume up on iPod to max that works without distortion on car radio to avoid interferrence.
2. Contact Audible Customer Service to tell them the problem and ask them to release you for an additional burn. Then follow the instructions in this thread, using the specific start time instructions so that you can skip over the first CD.

[Bat-Hound]

1. I own an iPod and I use it in my car all the time. I don't think I need to get into the reasons why i want to burn the book to a CD, nor did I ask for an opinion on the matter.

2. I have already sent a support request to Audible as well, stating exactly what I posted here. Since I have to wait 48 hours for them to respond (or so it says on their site), I was hoping a solution might come quicker by posting here, too.

Thanks, anyway.

[robert]

Edited guide 5 to add:

To burn part of any iTunes audio file to CD -- say an author interview.
1. Identify the start time and end* times of the audiobook file segment by listening to the audio file. *not necessary if end of file.
2. Create a burn playlist containing only the audio book file that has the segment you wish to burn.
2. Highlight and R click song file name
3. Choose Get Info>Options Tab>
4. Check and Enter Start and Stop times.
5. Click on Burn

Easier than importing to AM and then burning.