How do I join the tracks of this audiobooks 8 CDs?
Hi Gang,
I recently bought an audiobook containing 8 CDs. I've ripped each CD into iTunes, after first joining each CD's tracks. Now I have 8 tracks (1 for each CD), but can't seem to join them together. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks a bunch.
shuffle1
[292 byte] By [
shuffle1] at [2007-11-9 20:27:54]
# 1 Re: How do I join the tracks of this audiobooks 8 CDs?
The short answer is...you can't do it in iTunes, you're going to need a third-party application to handle that. Try some Google searches for join audio Mac or joining audio Mac or joining audio tracks Mac and see what you come up with. You might also want to check the Downloads section of this site.
AndyH at 2007-11-15 16:42:51 >
# 2 Re: How do I join the tracks of this audiobooks 8 CDs?
Thanks Andy. I appreciate it the info! I'm on my way...
Originally posted by AndyH
The short answer is...you can't do it in iTunes, you're going to need a third-party application to handle that. Try some Google searches for join audio Mac or joining audio Mac[/b] or joining audio tracks Mac and see what you come up with. You might also want to check the Downloads section of this site. [/B]
# 3 Re: How do I join the tracks of this audiobooks 8 CDs?
I use the shareware audio utility Amadeus II (http://www.hairersoft.com/Amadeus.html) to join audio files that span across several CDs, as in Anthony Robbins' PowerTalk series, where an interview might span 2 or 3 CDs. I can edit out the ending and opening theme music between CDs, so what you hear sounds like one long continuous interview with no breaks. I've also done this with audiobooks that span several CDs.
Generally, I use the JOIN FILES command in iTunes to burn one AIFF file for each CD, then use Amadeus II to join the AIFF files. Then I open the combined AIFF file in iTunes and convert it to whatever compressed format I desire. The only problem with this scenario is that it only works for about 3 CDs. The file size limit for AIFF is 2GB, so doing this with 8 CDs would require joining the files in iTunes and encoding direct to MP3 or AAC. Amadeus II will import both formats (although joining files works a lot faster when using AIFF format). You could then save the entire audiobook as one encoded file, which could then be reopened in iTunes.
One thing to consider... I'd suggest using AAC because you can use a much lower bitrate and get better sound than the same bitrate MP3, which results in smaller file sizes. Also, AAC allows you to employ a bookmark feature that isn't available for MP3. An excellent script called Make Bookmarkable (http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=makebookmarkable) is available from Doug's AppleScripts. It adds a bookmark feature to any AAC encoded file, and is an excellent choice for audiobooks encoded from CDs.
Another Doug's AppleScript you might find useful in this venture is Track Splicer (http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=tracksplicer) but I have no experience with it, and while I suspect it will work for joining encoded files, it won't allow you to edit out parts of the sound file that probably occur at the end of each CD, where the reader states "This audiobook is continued on the next CD." But, it might be worth a look.
Hope this helps.
# 4 Re: How do I join the tracks of this audiobooks 8 CDs?
Thanks a bunch Jim. I really appreciate the info. Since you mentioned it, I'm going to go back and re-encode the books I already did, but at a much lower bitrate than 128! Should save some room too. Thanks again.
shuffle1
Originally posted by Jim Reese
I use the shareware audio utility Amadeus II (http://www.hairersoft.com/Amadeus.html) to join audio files that span across several CDs, as in Anthony Robbins' PowerTalk series, where an interview might span 2 or 3 CDs. I can edit out the ending and opening theme music between CDs, so what you hear sounds like one long continuous interview with no breaks. I've also done this with audiobooks that span several CDs.
Generally, I use the JOIN FILES command in iTunes to burn one AIFF file for each CD, then use Amadeus II to join the AIFF files. Then I open the combined AIFF file in iTunes and convert it to whatever compressed format I desire. The only problem with this scenario is that it only works for about 3 CDs. The file size limit for AIFF is 2GB, so doing this with 8 CDs would require joining the files in iTunes and encoding direct to MP3 or AAC. Amadeus II will import both formats (although joining files works a lot faster when using AIFF format). You could then save the entire audiobook as one encoded file, which could then be reopened in iTunes.
One thing to consider... I'd suggest using AAC because you can use a much lower bitrate and get better sound than the same bitrate MP3, which results in smaller file sizes. Also, AAC allows you to employ a bookmark feature that isn't available for MP3. An excellent script called Make Bookmarkable (http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=makebookmarkable) is available from Doug's AppleScripts. It adds a bookmark feature to any AAC encoded file, and is an excellent choice for audiobooks encoded from CDs.
Another Doug's AppleScript you might find useful in this venture is Track Splicer (http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=tracksplicer) but I have no experience with it, and while I suspect it will work for joining encoded files, it won't allow you to edit out parts of the sound file that probably occur at the end of each CD, where the reader states "This audiobook is continued on the next CD." But, it might be worth a look.
Hope this helps.
