iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
I just bought a 160gb iPod Classic, but I'm disappointed to find that the audiobook feature is rather lacking. Instead of organizing my books nicely into "author" - > "book" -> "chapter list" like it does with my music, it just throws all the chapters into one long list regardless og which book it belongs to.
Has anyone got a nice solution to this?
My best guess is to rename all audiobook files from m4b to m4a/m4p and mark them all as genre:"audiobook". That way I will have to acces them from the music menu, but they should organize OK by "author" - > "book" -> "chapter list".
However I would appreciate if anyone has found another solution to this.
[700 byte] By [
epiktet] at [2007-11-11 20:54:55]
# 1 Re: iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
OK, I tried to rename a DRM protected audio book bought on iTunes (LOTR) from .m4b to .m4p hoping that this would place the audio book in the music library rather than the "audiobook" area of my iPod, but that didn't make any difference. The book still shows up in the rather unpractical "audiobooks" category in my iPod.
Isn't there any way to force DRM protected audio books to list in the music library?
# 2 Re: iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
Sorry I don't have a solution, but I would love to know HOW you managed to get an audio book into the audiobook folder. Are your audio books purchased from the music store or did you load them up? I can't figure out how to get them in there.
Paula at 2007-11-15 12:12:15 >
# 3 Re: iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
I have several audiobooks that I have purchased from Audible. When I download them from Audible, they get imported into iTunes automatically and then sync up to the audiobooks folder on my iPod automatically.
If a book is in several sections such as the Talisman by Stephen King, each section will be listed in the audiobooks section. When I select one of these, it brings up the chapters listing. This is how it's supposed to be, you can't get an audiobook to show up in the music listing such as artists. It will not break it down by author, it's just a listing of what books you have on the iPod.
# 4 Re: iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
I don't think that's what he's getting at...
I think that when an audiobook is three separate parts, it should be listed under one main part (much like a regular music album) and then you click on that, you get the separate parts of that audiobook.
It treats audiobooks downloaded from the iTunes music store in the fashion mentioned on the first post, which I find annoying. I downloaded a free audiobook that was three parts... when I go to "Audiobooks" on the iPod classic, all three parts are listed one after the other, even though they all share the same album info/artwork/etc. I think it would be better if it treated audiobooks much like albums.
# 5 Re: iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
I don't think that's what he's getting at...
I think that when an audiobook is three separate parts, it should be listed under one main part (much like a regular music album) and then you click on that, you get the separate parts of that audiobook.
It treats audiobooks downloaded from the iTunes music store in the fashion mentioned on the first post, which I find annoying. I downloaded a free audiobook that was three parts... when I go to "Audiobooks" on the iPod classic, all three parts are listed one after the other, even though they all share the same album info/artwork/etc. I think it would be better if it treated audiobooks much like albums.
I agree, it should put them all together if a book comes in three parts, it should be listed as one "folder" and then selecting that will open the three sections but it doesn't. As far as I know, iPods have never done this and my old iPod Photo didn't do this either.
# 6 Re: iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
Audiobook support on the IPOD is sadly lacking. I spent about 4 hours + yesterday converting a few audiobooks I have to put on my Classic. Waste of time. I manaaged to get 3 on there by converting to AAC (read mpa renamed to mpb). What is the point in that? It should work by using regular mp3's with audio book in the genre tab. Not too hard to figure that out by apple is it?
A couple of my books being over 20 hours long wouldn't play in itunes, so I couldn't convert them. But quicktime will play them. WTF? makes no sense. A book that is 23 hours played and converted fine but one that was 17 hours failed.
I am going back to using my rockboxed sansa for audiobook support it is drag and drop, no two hour conversion process. It is way too much hassle.
I guess audible books work fine, I haven't tried any of mine yet, that would be one small mercy at least.
I could split my books into small chapters to get them to convert, and it works; But then you get the problem of hundreds of chapters appearing in your audiobook folder as mentioned above.
Sort it out Apple! Conversion is crap
sebulr at 2007-11-15 12:16:18 >
# 7 Re: iPod Classic throws all audiobook chapters into one long list
Playlists seems like the best way to handle them. I converted MP3 chapters from multiple books to AAC, then changed the extension to M4B. All were dumped into one list on my iPOD. So, I have to make playlists for each. At least the audiobooks won't play when shuffling songs.
