Guides. Create Bookmarking Files (Mac&PC), Cassette Tape, LP & CD(PC)

[robert]

*MP3 Guide to convert files to bookmarking iPod files (Link), or scroll down.Utilizes freeware to merge MP3 files and iTunes to convert to AAC, followed by renaming file from m4a to m4b

Guide for Quick and easy way to make mp3 files bookmark (will not show in Audiobooks folder nor play faster)

*MarkAble PC $15 Shareware Tutorial (link)- Highly recommend instead of mp3 or CD Guides. Tutorial with instructions and screens shots provides good overview. Merges, renames & converts CD (fewer than 1/file/CD with CD Wizard), MP3, WAV to bookmarking & places in iTunes Library EZ All-in-one solution. Elegantly simple, avoids difficult file management steps, and very beginner friendly.

*Audio Book Cassette Tapes, vinyl LP's, CD's & ANY SOUND played on your computer Guide to bookmarking iPod files (PC only)(link). For CD's, like MarkAble, results in fewer files than 1/CD. Try Amadeus II for mac. Utilizes either Audacity freeware, $12 Total recorder or 30 euro Polderbits software to capture and convert into mp3 ANY SOUND file played on (or line-in into) your computer: software played, CD, LP, or Tape Cassettes. Guide has steps to convert file into an AAC file by iTunes and then renamed m4b -- or by using much easier MarkAble to make the conversion. Freeware and shareware programs do not requires as much processor capacity as Polderbits Recording sound played on your computer is virtually an unattended process once sound playing program begins, if dual cassette deck plays continuously, if CD Player has up to 5 slots, if LP player has automatic changer. Inlcudes link to the following sound recording guide:

Sound Recording Guide (link)Review, discussion, and guide to several sound recorders.

Audio CDs into Bookmarking iTunes/iPod files Guide, second only to Markable for beginners, all iTunes solution(link) An all iTunes, one conversion, 1 file per CD. Does not require downloading freeware, or time- and separate computer-consuming AAC conversion. Includes a smartlist solution that solves file management problem created by having one file for each CD.

*CDs - For those preferring partial-iTunes/fewer files solution(Link). Utilizes iTunes conversion of CDs to mp3 files, freeware merging of resulting mp3 files, and iTunes AAC conversion with subsequent renaming of m4a file to m4b to play on iPod. This process requires two conversions – to mp3 and then to AAC unless utilize the make MP3 bookmarkable function that doesn't place in audiobooks category or play faster. See FAQ's. Guide 4 requires only one conversion. Manual equivalent of MarkAble CD Wizard.

*Not an all-iTunes solution. Requires download of freeware to merge mp3 files (1) or freeware (2) and iTunes time- and computer-consuming AAC conversion unless the quick bookmark mp3 capability of iTunes(link here) is used.

Homemade Mono may lockup some iPod models. iPod files may need conversion to stereo See avoid 4G & Mini Lockup & keep iTrip out of 4G+ Shuffle.


Applies to all four Guides:
- The basic objective of all these guides is to get the source into a format that iTunes will accept with an 'add file' function, perform an AAC conversion on the file, and rename the extension to m4b. Mac renaming is done with applescripts, window in the show file window itself. There are many opportunities for missing details or slipping up, hence the length of the posts.

Warning: Making AAC conversion in stereo avoids 4G+ and mini (Click Wheel) bug that locks up iPods after listening to homemade mono m4b files.

- Warning: It is necessary to create or split files into not more than approximately 320 mb AND 5 hours maximum duration to obtain satisfactory performance on iPod. To split a file that exceeds the 300 mb limit follow instructions by moriond here.

- Caution: Except for any click wheel, upon auto synch any *.m4b file may lose bookmark. Either change to manual or make note of bookmark before synch. Tap center wheel and rapid wheel to the noted place of lost bookmark.[COLOR]

Some iPodloungers report success and some report problems using the free version of dBpowerAMP Music Converter in conjuntion with the FAAC codec. There is no guide at present for that process. Some links to explore:
Codec Central
Spoons Audio Guide
Mp4 Download [Formats .mp4, .m4a]
Apple Lossless Download [Formats .m4a, .mp4]
Rename Extension Download

LP Posts from other thread. Song titles and album must be manually entered and probably require a lot of manual oversight to separately record songs.
Originally posted by PVR1
As I usually record a whole side of the record at once, the recording can be cut up into tracks if you wish by "cutting and pasting" individual sections of the WAV file.
The song/artist/details information must be added manually.
With things like operas it is sometimes difficult as there are lots of quiet sections but with most other music you cut where the flatlines are!
Originally posted by pmad
LP Ripper does this for you
RE: Dividing LPs into songs
Audio Hijack Pro at: http://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/ It can separate the tracks as they are being imported.
another LP software: http://www.goldwave.com/

Some Mac User Posts re this process
Originally posted by eallison
This almost works for mac users. You have to change the "file type" as well as the extension in OS X or it won't be recognized as an audiobook file. There are a bunch of free programs (check versiontracker.com) that will do file type/creator changes. For those that don't know, file type/creator is a form of metadata that each mac file has - it's why mac files that don't have extensions seem to be able to magically know which program to open when you click on them. OS X has added file extensions as a way to specify type, but it seems that the "file type" metadata takes precedence, at least in this case. So you probably could delete the .m4b extensions on all your files and just change the type to M4B, and it would probably work.
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For Mac install this "Make Bookmarkable" AppleScript, and choose it from the Scripts menu

See Moriond's Post for excellent Mac Scripts and M4b discussion

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Equipment

Cassette tape conversion ideally requires a stereo component dual audio cassette tape deck. Obviously no equipment is required for recording sound played by software.

If buying a dual cassette tape deck at eBay ask the seller the following questions:

1. Will this unit play both tape decks continuously in this order: tape 1, side A, tape 1 side B; then tape 2, side A, tape 2 side B? I require a unit that will play both sides of two audio book cassettes continuously, in order, and automatically into my computer. To avoid inconvenience and possible negative feedback for you or me, please quote from the instruction manual or describe your personal experience regarding playing both decks continuously as described above.
2. Does the unit have RCA stereo out (red and white) plugs?
3. Does the unit come with an instruction book?
4. What is your shipping and handling to zip code _____?

Use CD mono setting to capture audio cassettes and, using continuous play, will cut the number of files in half.
Dual cassette tape decks are available for less than $50 incl shipping, at eBay. Some of which play Tape 1, Side A, Tape 2 Side A, Tape 1 Side B, and Tape 2 Side B for ease of recording Go to eBay Consumer Electronics > Home Audio > Cassette Decks > then Dual Cassette. Words continuous and relay in description indicate possibility play as above.

The inexpensive Radio Shack connecting cables are:

3’+ RCA/1/8” Y Adapter one 1/8” stereo phono plug to two phono plugs. 3' = 42-2550

Run this cable to convenient spot where you can change between input devices feeding into line in.

 

[robert]

Copying audio book MP3 files into Bookmarking iTunes/iPod files

Step-by-step guide to convert audio book mp3 files into bookmarking iPod/iTunes Files by converting to AAC and renaming file extension. All iTunes but for use of mp3 merger freeware. Highly recommend easier MarkAble software (see link in signature below).

Click here for a quick and easy way to make MP3 files bookmarking. Unlike files created with steps below, resulting files will not show in iPod main menu Audiobooks, play faster, or skip in shuffle.

Click here for how to convert, without MP3 Splitter software, large MP3 to AAC files which do not exceed maximum recommended length (5 to 13.5 hours at 32kbps).

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Guide for Copying audio book MP3 files into Bookmarking iTunes/iPod files

I. Prepare for the conversion (iTunes will not import some mp3 files directly from external source into iTunes, but you can merge mp3 files and add the resulting files to iTunes.)

Download other software or mp3 merging freeware from http://mp3merge.netfirms.com/ or http://mp3merger.cjb.net/

Open iTunes and set or verify iTunes Import Preferences which will allow iTunes to convert mp3 files to AAC (R click will show convert to AAC).

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-Choose Edit/Preferences/Advanced/and choose Importing Tab
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-Change Import Using to: AAC Encoder (iTunes default)
-Click on Setting down arrow.
- Choose Custom
- In AAC Encoder Window choose between 16 and 48kbps setting. 32kbps = Audible format 4 [Reset to 128 for music import]
-Set Sample Rate to auto
-Set channels to stereo
-Click OK
-Uncheck Play while importing, Create Filenames, and Use error correction--important!
-Click OK
-Choose Advanced Tab and make note of iTunes Music Files Location for use in Section II.

II. Using MP3 Merger or other *ware, merge mp3 files from your source (CD/DVD, downloaded, etc.)
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1.Open MP3 Merger freeware. Key in Artist = Author, ignore genre for now. If mp3 files are external, insert source file into a drive.
2.Click on "Add Files" button of mp3 Merger freeware.
3.In "Select Files to Merge" window that opens, browse to My Computer and select source file(s) or folder for mp3 files. For example, E:\Book Name
-May be necessary to open/click book folder and/or subfolders to get to mp3 files.
4.Highlight sufficient mp3 files to no more than limit 300 mb or 5 hours (maybe 13.5) maximum. Make note of last file identification.
5.Click the Open button in MP3 Merger to place all the highlighted chapter/book/section mp3 files into mp3 merger
6.Click on Sort Button if necessary. Crucial that files are in sequence before merging and the open process may not place the files in order. You will have to check tolerate errors in MPEG headers if file names are different.
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7.Change mp3 merger main window Output File Name by click on button next to the box and browsing to the iTunes Music Files Location that you noted in Section I above.
It is probably: C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music
8.Click on *Create New Folder icon
9.Key in author name for new Author Name folder or use existing folder
10. Output File Box in mp3 merger looks something like:
C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\Author Name\Book Name [Key in, using Book Name options: Book Name 02, etc so that you can keep the parts organized and noted. -- Be sure to use 01, 02, etc convention instead of 1, 2, 3, …10,11 for naming to keep in order.]
11. a.Click on Merge files button. This will place each of the output files into iTunes music folder with its name and sequence number ready for further manipulation.
b.Click on mp3 merger Remove all button and repeat steps for all sections/chapter/or book until complete. Intermediate mergers may be required to minimize number of files.

12. If chapters are in different folders, you can create a chapter file by using the add file button and highlighting the earlier merged file that resulted from your first mp3 merge steps then adding the contents of the next chapter folder and repeating successively until all folders of a chapter are merged into one file.

III. Add merged mp3 Book Sections into iTunes & Perform AAC Conversion of mp3 files


13.Add each of the merged mp3 book sections to iTunes with the instructions and screen shots at this link

- Open iTunes/File/Add File to Library/Browse to iTunes Music Folders which probably looks like: C:\Documents and Settings\User Name\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\author name[not in alpha order -- sort by placing cursor in open area of folder, right click/choose arrange icons by\choose name from drop down]\Book Name
- Click on Book Name Folder to see the book sections, highlight all of them, and click open button to add to iTunes.
14.With Library highlighted in Source Column, click on Date Added column in iTunes until arrow points up. If it was already up, click until the new merged mp3 book sections show at the top of your list, Shove r button up hard.
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15. Right click on each mp3 book section and select get info from drop down. Key in pertinent information, including genre = Book & Spoken.
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16.Right click on each mp3 book section, and select convert selection to AAC from the drop down list. Conversion will begin and will take about 5-10 minutes for each hour of the book at 16 or 32 kbps. Before beginning the conversion, you should reduce the number of applications running and if your computer runs especially slowly, you may wish to open Task Manager, select iTunes, choose Processes, and reduce iTunes priority. You cannot reduce priority after aac conversion begins.

IV. Rename AAC Converted Files from m4a to m4b and clear iTunes mp3 working files.
For Sceen shot and instructions click here
For Mac see thisMake Bookmarkable AppleScript plus other mac user links in first post of this thread.

17.After completing the aac conversion of each of the files in iTunes, right click on file in the Library identified as kind = mpeg audio and select Show Song File from the drop down.

18.In the window that opens you will see both the merged mp3 file(s) and the new AAC converted m4a files. Complete all the following steps before leaving this window!
- The mp3 merged file should be highlighted. If not, highlight. Press delete to remove this no longer necessary file from your computer.
- Highlight and right click on each m4a file, selecting "rename" in drop down. Change each of the file extensions from *.m4a to *.m4b files. Click yes to renaming. If you cannot see file extension, choose any title in iTunes, right click/choose Show File from Drop Down/Select Tools/Click on View Tab/In Folders Options, Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types.
- Double Click on each renamed file after highlighting it to add it to iTunes.

V. Add Newly Renamed m4b Files to iTunes

19. Go to iTunes Library. Click on the date added column heading until the most recent files added are at the top. Right click on the mp3 and m4a file names (these files no longer exist) and select clear to remove these from iTunes, leaving only the m4b file(s) in the library. If the files do not appear after several clicks on date added, close and reopen iTunes.

20.In iTunes, if you did not do so earlier, right click on the Kind = AAC audio file book sections files and choose Get Info, select Info Tab and fill in author = artist and genre = Books & Spoken Word or whatever genre you wish.
Highlight iPod icon, and create a new smart playlist for audiobooks. See thislink

VI. Delete contents of mp3 working files from Recycle Bin.

21.Delete all contents of mp3 working file from Recycle bin so you will not have heaps of files on your hard disc.

VII. Drag and Drop Book Sections as a Group to iPod

22.After clicking on Song Column heading until arrow is up (this will keep files in sequence after dragged to iPod), highlight all the book sections and drag and drop the new files to your iPod icon. Or, auto synch, which will not allow drag and drop. Auto synch will lose your existing bookmarks on all G3 and earlier iPods. G4 does not lose bookmark with auto synch.

For mac users.You have to change the "file type" with Applescripts or it won't be recognized as an audiobook file. The file extension doesn't matter.

 

[robert]

Guide 2. Cassette Tape, CD, LP or any audio to Bookmarking iPod/iTunes files. PC only

Create bookmarking audio files for iPods from audio book cassette tape, CD, Vinyl LP, or any audio played on computer. PC only (Amadeus II for mac).

One time set up

1.Connect the two male RCA stereo Y connector ends to output of stereo component (buy one from e-bay). Connect the 1/8” mini stereo connector on other end to Line-In of computer sound card . (Mine is the blue plug of Turtle Beach Sound Card. See How to Connect Cassette Deck to PC sound card

2.Amplifier required only for vinyl LP.
Connect turntable to amplifier, amplifier RCA out jacks to Line in.

-To capture sound played directly from a file on your computer with another application , close all sound producing applications -- Not required with Total Recorder -- ("You've got mail" bongs, bells, etc.). Check volume control panel (click on speaker icon in systray) to determine which volume control to use. Play with volume control panel and Polderbits Sound Source set to Stereo Mix and when Polderbits vol bar shows sound playing.

3. Download one of the following Sound Recording Software: Discussion and guides to selected sound recording Software (click here)

Audacity Freeware recommended by Stensvaag, for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other. No timer, doesn’t use disc space for recorded silence, splits and allows editing of files.

To See Audacity Freeware Guide/Tutorial, click here.
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$12 TotalRecorder Timer, mp3 on the fly.

To see Total Recorder Guide/Tutorial click here.
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PolderbitS Sound Recorder and Editor 30 Euros.

Keep files under 5 hour duration AND under 300 mb to avoid playback and bookmark loss problems.

Polderbits Guide/Tutorial follows here:

4. Set up iTunes import options:
a. Edit>Preferences>Select Import Tab>Choose:
b. Import Using = AAC Encoder.
c. Uncheck all boxes.
d. Channels = Stereo. NOTE:there is a mono lock up bug.
e. Setting Custom, select kps bit rate (32 = audible.com best) Min. 128/stereo for music.
f. Sample = Automatic

Record the audio cassettes or CD's into a temporary file. Perhaps leave recording overnight

1.Polderbits may interrupt if not getting enough computer power. May want to perform recording accordingly.
2.Insert first two audio book cassettes or CD's into the cassette decks or up to 5 CD's in the player. (If your player plays only one deck or CD, adapt by processing only one tape or CD at the time).
3.Open PolderbitS software
4.Enter PolderbitS setting on the window that opens:
a.Sound Source = Line In (If playing sound with another application and recording, Set at Stereo Mix and exit all sound producing applications)
b.Set Recording Quality (Mono for books to reduce file size, Stereo for music -- AAC conversion later in Stereo for books):
ii.CD Mono = 44,100 Hz. Recommended quality setting. Will record up to 6:40--both sides of up to 4 cassettes or 5 CDs. Calculate and load CDs and cassettes so that total sound time does not exceed 6:40. See EZ Guide below for much easier cd to m4b.
5.Adjust sound level:
a.Set sound on cassette deck or CD player at max?
b.Play sound and adjust slide until sound stays below an occasional red at top of meter.
c.After setting volume level, rewind both tapes or < CD to beginning.
6.Set timer by clicking clock icon button at top right of the first PolderbitS window.
i.In window that opens, select manual, then
ii.Check Stop After
iii.Set time to 3:00+ for single deck play, to 6:40 hours for dual deck or CD's. 5 hour limitation on files.
iv.Click on Apply and Close.

7.Start audio cassette deck or CD player play

8.Click on PolderbitS Red Button to begin recording
a.PolderbitS will choose the hard disk with greatest capacity. The files created by this process may require substantial temporarydisk space.
b.Optional: click button in lower right hand corner of PolderbitS to select disk manually.

9. Upon completion of recording, click stop and PolderbitS will display Polderbits Sound Editor. Define the beginning and end of the file and cut out silences between cassettes. See PolderbitS help. If you are not a perfectionist, skip cutting and just live with the silences between cassettes.
a. Slide button to where sound begins (flat line stops) and position green line there.
b. Check Start Point.
c. Slide Green indicator to flat-line end of book.
d. Look for silence at reverse/tape change points. Use > and || buttons to listen and validate end of book.
i. Change scale to 1, so that you can more easily find flat lines, and click button to positions in multiples of roughly 45 minutes to locate. BOT vary considerably in side length.
ii. Check start Cut or R click choose Start New Cut
iii. Locate end of silence and Check End Cut or R click
iv. Adjust cut beg/end with small arrows
v. Repeat for each approx 45 min of play
ii. Adjust beginning or end points of cut or file with sm arrows, or click the Undo button to start over
vii Or, just bear with the silences while listening and skip step d.

e. Apply Filters to tapes or noisy audio: Click on Advanced to display Filters. I have had good luck with unfiltered tape recording and skip this step.
c. Apply filters by clicking on Continue:
d. Choose the Noise Filter Tab. Reduce tape hiss: sllide button from low to 1/3+ depending on tape condition. Experiment.
e. Click on the Save As button.

10. In the window that opens:
a. Choose MP3 [*.mp3]. Smaller than wav and allows MarkAble to merge, convert, and rename mp3s. iTunes will convert wav (very large) files to AAC if you do not wish to use MarkAble.
c. Choose Sound Quality that you selected above (Mono )
d. Name the File Book Name 01, etc. -- a unique name for each file created for this audio.
e. Browse a location to save the file. Desktop is easy to find. Note the location to find file later.
f. Click on the Save button
g. Do not close Sound Editor
h. Locate File on desktop or wherever you saved it. Hover your cursor over it, or R click file and choose properties, to make certain it has content. If content = 0, you did not follow step 9a properly. Saving again will require deleting or a new name.

Add the newly created mp3 file to iTunes and convert to AAC. OR EASIEST IS TO QUIT HERE and go to Make MP3 bookmark (link) or to EZGuide. All-in-one PC Shareware. Merges, converts, & renames CD, MP3, WAV to bookmarking & places in iTunes Library (link) ($15 PC Shareware which avoids all the following steps and will do either an AAC conversion or make an mp3 bookmarkable.)

11.Open iTunes, click on File>Add File to Library>Browse to the File location>Highlight the file>Click Open

12.In iTunes Library with all Genre, Artist, and Album selected, locate the new file:
a.Click on Date Added Column head until arrow points down (Add Date Added by right click while cursor is in column headings area, and check Date Added in drop down)
b.It may be necessary to push the right hand button hard up to the top to see newly added file.

13.Right Click on the new file, choosing Get Info, select Info Tab and enter:
a.Name = Book Name 01, etc. Should be there already.
b.Artist = Author
c.Album = Author (Later you can use R click, get info to change album to X of Y so that iPod display will show that. For now, file organization is simplified by using author.
d.Genre = Audiobook, Books & Spoken, Spoken Word, or create a new genre if you wish.
e.Click OK

14.highlight the new file
a.Right Click
b.Select Convert Selection to AAC on drop down (having made settings above)
c.Wait: 8.5 minutes/hour for conversion to complete.

Rename file extension of newly converted file - mac users see quoted posts in first post of thread re renaming.
15.Upon completion of conversion, iTunes will have added the AAC file to iTunes. Click on Date Added column heading and push right hand button up until a second file appears with the same book name as the original wav file.

16.Right click on the latest file, select show file:
a.The AAC/m4a file should be highlighted in the window. If you entered Name, Author, Artist in steps above before converting, will be in iTunes/iTunes Music/ under the author’s name, not under unknown Album.
b.Click on Rename This File in list on the left
c.Change m4a extension to m4b so that the file extension is m4b. Any file renaming other than extension must be done with an iTunes R click, info tab, key in change. If you do not see file extension, in the window that appears from show file, click Tools>Folder Options>Select View Tab>Uncheck Hide Extensions for Known File
Types
d.Press enter and say ok to change name file
e.Highlight renamed file and double click it
f.File will appear in iTunes Library and begin playing.

17.Create an iPod Smart Playlist, if you wish, containing the genre and playcount = 0
18.Synch or Drag newly converted AAC/m4b file to the iPod icon and smartlist will show automatically and drop listened to files out of smartlist.

Delete temporary files

19.R click>clear the unneeded first two file entries (the Wav file, the AAC conversion file listing with an ! (this m4a file no longer exists), and all the temporary wav files wherever you placed them. Empty these huge files from your recycle bin.

Equipment and cables
Equipment

Cassette tape conversion ideally requires a stereo component dual audio cassette tape deck.

Buy a dual cassette tape deck at eBay that:
1. Will play both tape decks continuously in this order: tape 1, side A, tape 1 side B; then tape 2, side A, tape 2 side B so that it will play cassettes in order into computer
2. Has RCA stereo out (red and white) plugs
3. Has an instruction book

 

[robert]

Guide 3. Copy Audio CD into fewer iPod files using freeware and additional steps&time

Step-by-step conversion of audiobook CDs into bookmarking iPod files. Requires use of freeware and requires additional steps and or file management versus the alternate solutions.

The following alternate solutions are much better and easier:

Best:
EZGuide. All-in-one PC Shareware. Merges, converts, & renames CD, MP3, WAV to bookmarking & places in iTunes Library (link) ($15 PC Shareware that automates the process described in this post -- imports as mp3, converts to AAC, and renames.)

Next best:
Guide 4. Copying Audio CDs into Bookmarking iTunes/iPod files (link) which does not require downloading free ware, or time- and separate computer-consuming AAC conversion. With this preferred solution, you will import into iTunes directly as an AAC file. Using Optional: Merge AAC files to fewer files by using YAMB freeware to merge into files no greater than 5 hours listening length. Must be merged prior to renaming to m4b. Post on details under construction.

I. Copy the audio CDs into iTunes into a single mp3 file for each CD. NOTE: EZGuide solution in signature below skips most of these steps.
1. Open iTunes, and Click on the top menu Edit > Preferences and click on the "Importing" Tab and select mp3 encoding.
- Set Channels to Mono
- Click on Custom and select kbps. Audible.com best = 64 kbps stereo even if selected mono. iTunes default Stereo & 128 and is for music.
2. Insert CD>and, in iTunes Source Column, click on Audio CD to display the CD tracks.
3. Highlight all the tracks of CD.
4. Right click highlighted tracks, click yes to change all, Right Click>select Get Info. In resulting window: validate or type in Artist (Author), Album (Book Name), Genre (Audiobook). Do not check Part of Compilation. Disc identification is crucial for subsequent sorting and identification.
5. With all tracks still highlighted, click on Advanced>Join Tracks. Result should be a single bracket around all the tracks, a checked square to left of bracket on first track line. If Join Tracks is grayed out: 1. All tracks must be selected/highlighted (see 3 above) and/or 2. click on left-most column until re-ordered into 1, 2, 3, etc., sequence -- even if tracks are already in sequence. Many thanks to Stensvaag for grayed-out solution! If you forget to join tracks do it over, checking replace.
6. Click on Import button (upper right of window). Upon completion of import, the individual CDs will be in iTunes Library. Click Date Added column until you see at top.
Repeat steps 2-6 for each CD of the book.
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General Information Which May be Helpful

One-time, download the freeware MP3 Merger. [Required only if you want one iTunes/iPod file for the book.] Special thanks to gshipley for link to freeware.

1. Open http://mp3merge.netfirms.com/ and click on Download MP3 Merger link
2. Open the file (or save it to your computer)
3. Somewhere in this down load process is the option to put Download MP3 Merger on your desktop. Do it so that it is easily found.
To locate a newly created file in iTunes
In iTunes Click on Library in Source. Click on Date Added column heading to sort it until newest files are at top of list.

***Locating iTunes Folder or files
Default is C:\Documents and Settings\Default\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\Book Name or Author name and not necessarily in alphabetical order.
Go to iTunes/Edit/Preferences/Advanced Tab/iTunes Music Folder to determine or verify the location of your iTunes Music Folder location. Drag the R hand button hard to the top. May be necessary to click a couple of times on date added column heading in iTunes to get a newly created file to show up.
Erroneously deleted file may be restored from recycle bin with a right click/restore.
To add/remove a needed/no-longer-needed column in iTunes listings
Right Click on any column heading/click on checked item to remove column, click on unchecked items to add that column. Successive Clicking on any column heading will sort that column.
Time management plan to optimize your use of time during this process
Ripping CDs, Section I, requires only occasional insertion of CDs and validating information. This can easily be done while you are doing other things on your computer - listening to the book or engaging in other computer tasks. However, the conversion to AAC files, Section III, will engage a lot of computer resources for ten minutes+ per CD -- perhaps plan to leave your computer converting to AAC while you sleep or eat.


II. Using MP3 Merger Freeware, merge all the CDs (the entire audio book) that you have ripped/copied into a new, single mp3 file.
1.Open MP3 Merger freeware by clicking its icon on desktop. If you have only one CD or if you do not mind having a file for each CD, you can skip this step and go directly to III.
2.Click on "Add Files" button
3.In Window that opens, browse to your iTunes Music Folder*** (see above)
4.Re-name files 1-9 to files 01-09. I.E. 1.booknameMP3 should be renamed 01.bookname.MP3. (Right click each MP3 file and select rename)
5.Click "Sort List" button of MP3Merger. The files must be in proper sequence from top to bottom - 1-5, 2-5, 3-5, etc.
7.After adding files to MP3 Merger list, Key in Artist (author), Title (Book Name), and Album (Book Name)
8.For ease of finding the file later, insert (key in) "Book Name" in front of output.mp3 in Output File Name box.
9.Click "Merge Files" button. This will create a new file called "Book Name output.mp3," or "Book Name Part 1.mp3, in the same folder with the original CD files (iTunes Music Folder*** above). If files names differ even slightly, check "Tolerate errors in MPEG headers before merging." You now have both the merged file and individual original mp3 files, so that you temporarily have twice the size of the book on your hard disc.

III. Locate and Convert the merged mp3 file to AAC (Special Thanks to Stensvaag for the breakthrough) EASIEST IS TO QUIT HERE and go to Make MP3 bookmark (link) or to EZGuide. All-in-one PC Shareware. Merges, converts, & renames CD, MP3, WAV to bookmarking & places in iTunes Library (link) ($15 PC Shareware which avoids all the following steps and will do either an AAC conversion or make an mp3 bookmarkable.)
1.So that "Book Name output.mp3" (which has no genre), will show in iTunes, click on Browse in upper right corner until Genre, Artist, and Album no longer show.
______________________________________________
In iTunes 4.6 the merged file appeared in my Library at the top of list when "Date Added" column is clicked until it has a down arrow, making the following add to Library steps 2 & 3 unnecessary:


2.Click on File/Add File to Library/
3.Window named Add to Library containing Book Name output.mp3 file should appear. Highlight it and click on Open utton. If Book Name output.mp3 file does not appear in Add to Library Window, browse to the location of your iTunes files*** and look for Book Name output.mp3 file under Authors name in un-alphabetized listing. Highlight it and click on Open.
_______________________________________________

4.In iTunes, Click on the top menu Edit > Preferences and click on the "Importing" Tab and select AAC Encoder if 4G+ or mini, choose Custom and Stereo, and set kbps to preferred quality, say 16, 32 (= audible.com format 3 and 4 respectively), or 40.
5.Once in iTunes Library, highlight Book Name output.mp3 file. Right Click it, click "Convert Selection to AAC."
Click on "Converting Songs" in Source Column to see conversion progress -- Otherwise you will see no evidence of the AAC conversion.
6. Go do something else or begin listening to the book. The conversion of a typical length book will take about an hour and a half and will use 95%+ of your cpu. Do not interrupt this process. You can return to progress indication in the center top window of iTunes by clicking on the > of that window.
IV. Rename the file, delete temporary files, and drag Book Name.m4b file to iTunes Library - mac users see first post of this thread for quoted posts re mac renaming
1.After the conversion is complete, right click on the Output file in iTunes Library and Select Show Songs File In the resulting window:
2.Right click the output.m4a file and select Rename
3.Key in rename to ookName.m4b (Space after b to be safe) See solution posted in this thread if you can't see the extension name. Do not close this window until steps 4 & 5 are completed.
4.Highlight and delete all temporary *.mp3 files (one for each CD) visible in the Show Songs File Window, taking care not to delete the new *.m4b file.
5.Highlight and drag the Bookname.m4b file from the Show Songs File window to Library in Source Column of iTunes. Or, use iTunes File/Add File to Library
6.Highlight Bookname.m4b file in iTunes (see *** above), right click/Get Info -- add/change Name (Book Name) and Artist (Author) genre (Audiobook) as necessary.
7.Clear all temporary files from iTunes. Right click> Clear
8.Connect iPod to computer and use iTunes to synch or drag and drop the newly created bookmarkable file from Library to iPod.

Homemade Mono Lockup. iPod m4b files created with iTunes v prior to 4.7.1.30 need conversion to stereo -- mono OK with current version-- See avoid 4G & Mini Lockup & keep iTrip out of 4G+ Shuffle.

Caution:
- Files must be kept at or below 300 MB AND 5 hours to avoid iPod skipping and stuttering and bookmark problems when playing.
-iTunes importing preferences must be set to STEREO to avoid lock up problems with 4G+ and mini iPods.
- Bookmark in these files is lost when syncing a 3G or earlier iPod with iTunes.

 

[nitrous]

Hi folks,
I'm having no luck with converting files from .m4a to .m4b and having them play on the iPOD mini. I've used the iTunes AAC converter to create the .m4a file and renamed to .m4b which then shows up as protected file. Won't transfer to the mini. Won't transfer as .m4b to the iTunes or play. Any suggestions?
n|trous

 

[robert]

are you using iTunes/File/Add File to Library to add the m4b file to iTunes after you rename it? Or you could drag and drop from the m4b file location to Library. Obviously you have to get to iTunes before you can get to iPod.

 

[honeybee1236]

Also, what I did was after converting the file I clicked on it so that it would open in iTunes and start playing. I stopped the track and then transfered to the iPod with no problem. So try playing it a little first.

 

[nitrous]

.m4b files with FAAC dll codec.. don't work

Thanks for the feedback guys.
I've managed to use the AAC converter of iTunes to create funtioning .m4a files which were renamed. Is there a size limit to this conversion? 300meg+ files don't convert well.

Also, I've tried to make the conversion using ImToo aac converter using FAAC dll to convert. These files wouldn't run with either MS media player or iTunes.

Any suggestions for an AAC converter that is faster and able to convert larger files?
Thanks,
n|trous

 

[robert]

There is a limit on iPod file size, but no one seems to know exactly what it is. It seems to be somewhere between 200 and 350 mb. Let us know if you determine. Symptoms of problems are skipping and stuttering.

Edit 1-16-05. 320 MB limit has been stated in a post as the size limit. No validation in the post, but this is roughly consistent with my experience.

Edit 7-23-05. Seems that there is also a max of 5 hour duration to avoid problem of iPod playing for a short time and then going to beginning of book, menu, next book, etc, and losing bookmark.


So, the limitation is both 300 MB AND 5 hours and must be stereo for homemade files.

 

[nitrous]

any reason FLAAC codec built .m4a files won't play

Any reason that ImToo produced .AAC files won't play on Ipod?
n|trous

 

[neo.b]

I found itunes was very slow converting the fiels to AAC so i have used Nero wave editor and that worked well for me

 

[eallison]

For Mac users

This almost works for mac users. You have to change the "file type" as well as the extension in OS X or it won't be recognized as an audiobook file. There are a bunch of free programs (check versiontracker.com) that will do file type/creator changes. For those that don't know, file type/creator is a form of metadata that each mac file has - it's why mac files that don't have extensions seem to be able to magically know which program to open when you click on them. OS X has added file extensions as a way to specify type, but it seems that the "file type" metadata takes precedence, at least in this case. So you probably could delete the .m4b extensions on all your files and just change the type to M4B, and it would probably work.

 

[slimline]

Guide 1 instructions seem to be mistaken (?)

In Guide 1 instructions it says:
Step I. Prepare for conversion...set encoder to AAC.
Then in Step II it says to use MP3merge to merge the files from your source (CD). But the source CD is an audiobook CD that is not in MP3 format. And the ripped files are in AAC format. Does this make sense?

Also, it might be worth mentioning that the only type of conversion enabled in iTunes is the same as the one used for importing. That is, if your import setting is MP3 then you cannot convert anything in the library to anything other than MP3. To convert an MP3 file to AAC the import type must be set to AAC. This may be intuitive for Mac people but it was not intuitive for me (a windows person).

In my case, I wanted a single bookmarkable file for an entire audiobook ripped from purchased CDs. I first ripped the CDs using iTunes into the library as MP3 files. Then I merged them using MP3merge. Then I converted the merged file to AAC by using iTunes with the import type set to AAC. I'm not sure how well this will work and it certainly doesn't seem like the best way to accomplish this but it seems to work. This was all done on my XP media machine.

I also have a new Mac G5 so I tried the simple instructions using iMovie and wav files. It went well until I tried to save the audio only file from iMovie and couldn't figure out how to do this...

 

[robert]

Re: Guide 1 instructions seem to be mistaken (?)

In Guide 1 instructions it says:
Step I. Prepare for conversion...set encoder to AAC.
Then in Step II it says to use MP3merge to merge the files from your source (CD). But the source CD is an audiobook CD that is not in MP3 format. And the ripped files are in AAC format. Does this make sense?

Response: If I understand correctly that your source CD is a standard audio book CD the you wish to convert to a bookmarking file, then you should use Guide 4, not Guide 1.
Guide 4. Audio CDs to bookmarking iPod files (Mac adaptable). Guide 1 is titled Copying audio book MP3 files into Bookmarking iTunes/iPod files -- not converting standard audio CD's to bokmarkable files. Am I missing something here?
I assumed that the orginal source of an mp3 audio file would be from a CD. I should add downloaded files as a source. Anything else?

Also, it might be worth mentioning that the only type of conversion enabled in iTunes is the same as the one used for importing. That is, if your import setting is MP3 then you cannot convert anything in the library to anything other than MP3. To convert an MP3 file to AAC the import type must be set to AAC. This may be intuitive for Mac people but it was not intuitive for me (a windows person).

Response: PC user here. I will look at this, but would have thought that saying "Open iTunes and set or verify iTunes import preferences" was sufficient. The guides run up against max size, so may not edit this.

In my case, I wanted a single bookmarkable file for an entire audiobook ripped from purchased CDs. I first ripped the CDs using iTunes into the library as MP3 files. Then I merged them using MP3merge. Then I converted the merged file to AAC by using iTunes with the import type set to AAC. I'm not sure how well this will work and it certainly doesn't seem like the best way to accomplish this but it seems to work. This was all done on my XP media machine.

Response: Take care that you do not exceed the maximum size file that iPod will play satisfactorily. The limit may be 320MB, but not totally validated. Some think smaller.
I personally prefer the one file for each CD approach since it entails fewer steps and less time to convert. All a matter of personal preference.Guide 3. Copy Audio CDs into fewer iPod files using freeware & additional steps&timewould be best for your wish to have fewer files. For now, it is the only solution to converting to one or fewer files, but David1951 has developed all-in-one conversion software for mp3 to bookmarkable files. See link in signature below.

I also have a new Mac G5 so I tried the simple instructions using iMovie and wav files. It went well until I tried to save the audio only file from iMovie and couldn't figure out how to do this...
Response: Out of my league and knowledge here. Maybe a mac user will help you out.

Thanks for the feedback. See responses embedded into quote above.

 

[mallu2u]

Thanks for creating such a wonderful guide. Used markAble and your guide to load AudioBooks CDs into iPod. Time consuming but painless. Will buy the product as well.
Just one Q: I think I hear echo or something (kinda double noise or something) in between sometimes. Could this be a CD issue or software issue or iPod issue?

 

[robert]

Good to know the guides work. I have once had the echo problem and wondered if it were mono versus stereo. Try stereo to see if it eliminates. I had thought the mono bug was fixed, but some problems appear to remain. So, stereo probably best for that reason as well.

Edit 3-06: An echo has been reported when playing some m4b files at slower speed (accidentally, at that). Click on iPod center wheel until you see Speed and Normal/Faster/Slow and rotate click wheel until you see normal instead of Slow.

 

[mallu2u]

am using stereo for sure. followed the instructions to the T

 

[robert]

am using stereo for sure. followed the instructions to the T

No idea, then. Perhaps it is a particular CD. I have had the problem only on one audio book. Are you playing at faster speed?

 

[chedabob]

ive tried this guide but there is no aac option in my itunes. i have itunes 4.7.1 any ideas why? i tried converting using nero but it just creates an mp4. i used wmp, and saved the .mp3 as an m4a, but itunes wont add it to library.

 

[dordale]

chedabob--

Have you tried going into Edit/Preferences/Importing and change the "Import Using" setting to "AAC encoder"?

dordale