Importing CDs for audio books can be kind of painful, because there are usually a lot of them. To make matters worse, each CD usually has dozens of tracks on it, which makes it a nightmare to manage on the small screen of an iPod. This import process attempts to reduce the amount of manual input, while also making sure that the track information is highly usable on an iPod.
First thing to do is set your Importing preferences. Meaning, in the AAC Encoder settings , choose a Stereo Bit Rate of 64 kbps, a Sample Rate of Auto, a Channels of Auto, and check the Optimize for voice checkbox.
- Insert the CD, and wait for the tracks to appear in iTunes. Sometimes you’ll have to dismiss a dialog or two which invites you to do some automatic action. Don’t. Just display the tracks.
-
Select all of the CD’s tracks, and choose Join CD Tracks from the Advanced menu:
This will consolidate the many tracks on the CD into one, which will make it much easier to manage when the tracks are copied to your iPod (the indication that the tracks are joined is subtle):
- Click the Import button (top right corner) to import this disc, using the import settings you set up initially.
When the import finishes, eject the CD.
Repeat this process for the each CD in the audio book, until you have imported all of the CDs.
Using iTunes on a PC, you’ll need to do change the m4A extension to m4B so the AudioBooks will be in the Audiobook section in iTUNES and the iPOD. Changing the filename extensions from ”.m4a” to ”.m4b” will do the trick. Use the File/Show Song File menu choice to reveal the folder with the book files, and rename away. If you can’t see the ”.m4a” file extension, then uncheck the Hide extensions for known file types option in the Advanced Settings section of the Folder Options control panel. You then need to tell iTUNEs to find the file again but thats no big deal.
Sync to your iPod, and enjoy a great book!
– edit… You have a mac well have a read of this post then.
goldcoaster 
how do you get music from your ipod back onto itunes
Excellent article, I will take note. Many thanks for the story!
Getting music off the ipod is pretty easy, so I am told.
iTUNEs wont let you so you need some other software – some you have to buy but SharePOD is meant to do the job well.
Try that at http://www.sturm.net.nz/website.php?Section=iPod+Programs&Page=SharePod
Forgot to say…thanks for the comment – my first one!!!
Hope the answer helps, if not post back and I’ll work it out.
thank you i’ll try the sharepod, and sorry if i posted the same comment multiple times, for some reason it didn’t show up, so i thought it didn’t work but i guess it did =)
the reason you didn’t see comments was because I had the option turned on that held every comment until I approved them. I have turned it back to letting people post but if I start getting trash/spam from others I’ll go back.
Let me know how Sharepod goes?
Looking good, Goldcoaster!
This is exactly the info. I need, but is there a way to do this with a Creative Lab mp3 player?
I’ll look into it for you. Keep coming back and post if I haven’t answered, just to jog my memory.
https://goldcoaster.wordpress.com/
How is this done when you have a creative labs mp3 player?
R. Ayotte
I have searched but can’t find much. m4b is an Apple format.
Does the Creative support any type of audiobook? What model Creative is it?
Maybe you can put it in an Audiobook fold on the player (just guessing)
Ok, I followed you instructions to a tee and now have a great .m4b file of the book I recently purchased. Problem is, I cannot get it into the AUDIOBOOKS folder!
I am looking for guidance on how to achieve this WITHOUT doing a full iPOD synch as my iTUNES library is shared with my wife and we don’t want all of each others music, etc.
I have played with this thing for many hours now and welcome all advice /solutions. Running iTUNES 7.
Thanks in advance
Thanks for dropping by Frank.
I have noticed that iTunes 7 has changed things slightly. The audiobooks can not be higher than 64kbs Bitrate or they won’t go in the Audiobook section – why? Don’t ask me, it must be some strange Apple logic.
Previously they could be any bitrate – mine were 128kbs and after going to v7 of iTunes they wouldn’t be audiobooks anymore!! I read that V7 needs them to be 64kbs.
Try again, this time makng them 64kbs Bitrate. It seems a lot of work but once you have done one successfully you will realise how easy it is.
Hi, I’ve been also trying to get my audiobooks into the “Audiobooks” section of iTunes but I’ve tried the above 64kbs tip and still nothing. I can’t drag and drop and selecting Audiobooks does nothing as well.
Any more tips?
Hi i was looking for a way to add audiobooks, and thanks. i had to import cd as spoken quality, 64kbs then rename the file from m4a to m4b then reimport the file in to the library and there it was under audiobook, all done. thanks alot
Thanks , Red Dragon. I am really glad I helped you.
Hi! i was just wondering if you could take me through the steps to convert it to the .m4b format, i cant seem to find the ‘show song’ file..any help would be great!
hi, i have followed all of the above steps and renamed my files to .m4b extensions, but they will not show up in itunes 7 (they are in 64kps) how do you reimport file to library?
thanks
Just add the m4b files to itunes, just the same way as adding music.
Easy way is to drag the folder the m4b files are in to the music library (upper left of itunes)and drop them…itunes will now have them.
Thank You
Hi,
I’m using Itunes 7.1.1 and I’m stuck on the importing into the audiobooks folder that comes with itunes. I’ve done everything in the blog I can find, even tried using podcast quality, 64kbits quality with auto and stereo/41.1k settings, changed it to m4b, can’t figure it out.
Any other ideas?
Thanks!
Don’t forget to re-import the new m4b tracks – itunes will still be looking for the old ones.
Hope this helps.
no that doesn’t help. I’m using a Mac, but that shouldn’t make a difference should it?
OK Tim I’ll look into it a little more. I am pretty sure Macs have a lttle applescript that does all this automatically.
I’ll get back to you.
If I don’t post an answer in the next day or so, post again to remend me please, glad to help.
I found that using File Buddy to change both the extension (.m4b) and the file type (M4B ) which needs that extra space after B worked for me. Thanks!
Thanks TIm! The TYPE was what I was missing. And thanks for the pointer to File Buddy! Haven’t seen a good file manipulation program since OS7! 😉
Is there an easy way to join multiple cds of an audiobook into one file for PC users? I found software for mac (audiobooker) but nothing for PC.
Thanks
markus,
I think audacity can do it but I find that it is best to only have CD length (1hour) tracks anyway.
Some books are 15 CDs, you wouldn’t want them all joined into one 15 hour track (in fact I pretty sure the ipod can’t handle tracks that long – the bookmarking gets messed up)
So just join the tracks on each CD.
Great info!
Is there a wayto join already ripped m4b’s? I put a fairly large audio book library together (that I got from the library) before I realized I needed to join the files and I don’t want to re-rip.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
m4b are really just bookmarkable m4a files find a program that can join m4a’s – maybe audacity.
goldcoaster: I love you so much. Words cannot describe how much you rule!
Ive been trying to do this now for… just about as long as ive had iTunes (2/3years), to no avail. I come to your tutorial, and its done in 5 minutes, all working and correct! Hallelujah!
Thank you!!
I am glad it has helped you. You have made my day!
Many thanks for the concise and informative tutorial, it’s a real help. There are a couple of things I don’t quite understand, though.
First, how is it that simply changing the filename extension from ‘m4a’ to ‘m4b’ makes the files bookmarkable? Changing the name doesn’t actually alter the file any…
Second, I’m confused about the step of “re-importing” the files after you’ve renamed them to m4b. Is the library now going to think there are two copies of the file, one with an m4a extension and one with m4b, even though we RENAMED the m4a one and it technically doesn’t exist anymore? How is this supposed to work?
Thanks again!
thanks foomonster for the comment.
m4a and m4b are the same but itunes will only accept m4b as audiobooks (they are both bookmarkable)
iTunes will have the original m4a in it’s list, if you click it it will say it can’t find the file and do you want to find it – you can point it to the new file or you can delte all the old m4a’s out of itunes and then just import the new files.
Hope I make sense. I know its a bit of pain but once you have done it you will see how easy it is. It would have been nice for iTunes just to accepts any file and you just tag it audiobook but no, Apple doesn’t work that way.
if i down load a audio book from the i-tunes sight
and sync my i pod , does not show up in audio book
list so it sounds like i need to do the 64kbits
thing and how do i do this to a book thats been
downloaded from the i-tunes store.
Jim
Thanks for the comment.
If you have download an audiobook from the Apple iTunes music store and it doesn’t go to the audiobook section, I would contact Apple and complain – you paid for it, why should it be up to you to fix it.
You can check the bit rate by highlighting the file and choosing Get Info. If it is more than 64kb/s than Apple should fix it.
Thanks
for your reply I did get a refund from apple
as their e-mail support team could offer me no
suggestions on the issue. The translation
went on for about 10 days before so.
I have since bought another book from the
store with the same problem , I will contact
apple support again and ask them about the 64kb/s
issue , will follow up as to what happens.
thanks,,,,,,,jim
Thanks for letting me know Jim. You would figure that buying from the itunes store would be problem free but it seems not.
thanks again.
I checked the kb/s in my i-tunes and they all show 32kb/s for the 5 books that i have , when i
update the pod with the computer
3 of them will load into audio books , but the last two i bought in the last 3 months load into
purchased music. I updated to the latest version
of i-tunes today 7.2 and that did not make any difference. They show up under audio books in the
computer but not in the pod , just shows under
purchased list. Will let you know what apple says
in the next few days.
thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,Jim
Thanks Jim, keep me posted please.
Okay, I have one slight problem with the tutorial. How do you change the file? Because when ever I go to file, there is nothing that says show song file. Thanks!
Sorry, it has been a while since I have done this.
The File/show song is in iTunes, maybe not in 7 anymore, and it would take you straight to the Windows folder that the songs are stored in.
Instead of that just go to the directory that the songs are located, using Windows explorer, and change the extension there. If you cannot see the extension you need to turn that option on.
In XP it is in Tools/Folder Options/View and untick the “Hide extensions for known files”…
Hi i have a ipod and i like the audio books and i would like the audio books to go into the audio book folder so it will rember were it left off at?
thanks
lil man , just follow my instructions and you will be fine.
Thanks for your knowledge. When using “Get Info” under the “Options” tab if the “Remember playback position” is checked it isn’t necessary to change the file extension name from “m4a” to “m4b”. Also, under the “Info” tab changing the “genre” to Audibook and marking it as part of a compliation has been helpful also.
Ah, however, I do see what you mean by the m4b extension, it does add an “audiobook” folder which is nice. Thank you so much!
thanks for the comments DW.
I like the audiobooks in the Audiobook section and like you have found out, you need them to be m4b files.
I did everything as you said, and It worked the first time. Now after I change the file to m4b, it doesn’t show up when I click on the file in itunes. The folder that it should be in is empty.
Andrea, thanks for the comment.
Now you have the book as mp4 you need to re-import them. If you try to play the originals in itunes it can’t find them – just delete these in itunes and import the new ones and you are done.
It sounds hard but once you have done the first time it will be easy.
goldcoaster said: <>
It depends, if the 15 hour track fits on your ipod with space to spare then who cares?
Many of the books on audible come in 4-6 hour pieces. While you may not want a 15 hour track (e.g. you are using an iPod shuffle and the 15 hour track is too big) it is very reasonable to want a 2-8 hour track.
I have the entire Patrick O’Brien series in my library (thanks audible.com) and all of the books come in 4-8 hour pieces (60-120 MB files).
Thanks for all the valuable information about ripping audiobooks! I had known about the “join CD tracks” option but I had forgotten where it was located :^)
thanks for the comment , funkyj.
About the 15 hour track – I have read that some people have problems with tracks this long. I find it easy just to keep it at CD lengths – actually I have no idea how to join multiple CDs together as one track on iTunes – can it be done?
I have around 8 gigs of audio books stored on my hard drive which I want to play back from itunes this can be done easily but I cannot edit it and join tracks like I could do if it was coming off a CD. Does anyone know a step by step method how I can do the same from A folder ON MY HARD DRIVE as it where from a cd? Thank you in advance Mark
Thanks for the comment Mark.
try a program like http://mp3merge.netfirms.com/ it is free or maybe even audacity (free as well). I haven’t used it myself so let me know how it goes.
Once you have one large mp3 (don’t make it more than an hour or so) import it via itunes, converting as m4a 64kb/s then rename etc like above.
I use a freeware app called MP3 to Ipod Audio Book converter. Yes I said freeware not shareware ^.~
It’s what I use, it can take a multiple file MP3 Audio Book join them into 1 big file, then it converts them all to m4b. All you do is put the mp3’s in order then just click start conversion, so simple. After that you just add the newly created m4b to your itunes library. If this sounds good to you it can be downloaded from:
http://www.freeipodsoftware.com//index.php
–Xanthan
Thanks for the info on this, just used it and I am impressed and happy that it is something that truly works
Thanks , Xanthan. I haven’t used this nor seen it before – looks good.
I don’t have mp3 audiobooks to start with but many people do and this would be perferct for them.
Once again, thanks.
Thanks for the info.
SharePOD isn’t too bad, but if you’re running on PC or Media Player you should also check out dopisp (just Google it.)
Anyway, is this the best thing to do with an audio book? I mean, if your iPod battery goes flat while you’re listening to the audio book (now, one track) won’t it make it a little more difficult to find your place next time? Dividing the tracks into chapters makes more sense – actually, keeping it so seperated makes it easier to find your last position. So, I prefer just copying the tracks on exactly as they are.
Thanks for the comment.
One track is much better than multiple tracks. remember the ipod marks audiobooks so it remember the last place you have been… no need for multiple tracks.
Many thanks for the info. Still cant get books into audiobooks, BUT have got reasonable files in MUSIC- cant be bothered to change file size, have finaly found how to convert m4a to m4b (control panel-file options etc,) but as I cant be r’s to change the fil size I shall just put into MUSIC- although it does grieve me- Like having a boot in the car BUT having the spare wheel sat on the passenger seat.
Thanks again- you are a thousand times more helpful than itunes help
Hi,
I’m trying to change my file name from m4a to m4b. When I get to the part of “show song file” mine says “show current song” BUT it is grayed out so you can’t click on it. What do I do now?
i can for the filename extensions where do u see em
I CAN”T GET IT !!!
Brad, in Vista or XP you need to go to folder option and say you want to see the extensions.
I just used this to tutorial to convert MP3 to AAC in iTunes, the file was then m4a, but it was still placing the book into my music folder. So I read some where about renaming file to m4b which I did in Windows and then added it to iTunes again and it WORKED! It finally placed it into my audio books folder at 128kb/s not m4a 64kb/s 😉
Hi ,
i have been trying to import tunes from a CD into itunes library. its important that i get all the CD in order as they are all number from 1-25 but for some reason i cannot import the CDs in order for example no 15 is appearing at the top of the screen where CD 1 should be. any idea!
thank
Pree,
First thing that may help is make sure the numbers are 01,02,03 not 1,2,3
hey thanks alot for the audiobook guide its very nice 🙂 now i can import my audio book cd’s and have them appear correctly
thanks a lot goldcoaster!
I wrote a more detailed version of this
blog.garthdb.com/2008/09/how-to-make-an-itunes-ipod-audiobook-tutorial/
Thanks for the comment Garth. Yours is for mac it seems. Are you sure you need that many steps?
Thanks for the detailed instructions. It was working really well, I got one and a half audio books imported before things went bad. All of a sudden in the middle of the second audio book itunes stopped letting me join tracks. Any idea why this is? What can I do to fix it? Thanks again for the help.
Definitely a little bit of a hassle, but THANKS for making it much easier! ITunes didn’t always get the CD info, so I had to play around with the file name.
Hello there, You’ve performed an incredible job. I?ll certainly digg it and for my part suggest to my friends. I’m sure they’ll be benefited from this site.
Thanks for teaching me about Importing Audio Book CDs into iTunes. I got so many Audio books and your post help me alot. Thanks for the detailed instructions. It was working really well.