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I don't know if it has been commented upon in this thread, but up until recently I haven't found a book befitting a 2 star rating. Now, I recently have and I love that audible is kind enough to allow me to return it for a refund. What I do not appreciate is that I can no longer post a review for that book afterwards. I listened to the whole thing and was disappointed. Seems only fair that I should get my chance to voice my displeasure and play devil's advocate. I hate now looking at the high ratings of some books and knowing that that score may be different should people that found the book wanting and got a refund BUT listened to the entire book have their reviews listed.
Philip Blake wrote: "I don't know if it has been commented upon in this thread, but up until recently I haven't found a book befitting a 2 star rating. Now, I recently have and I love that audible is kind enough to all..."Let that be a lesson to us all... write a review first before returning a book to Audible. I pay close attention to well thought out negative reviews, not just the positive ones. I find more and more that the best information is contained in these reviews. It's not that I necessarily let them turn me away from a book, but I get a fuller picture of what the book is if I'm not familiar with it already. And I have been saved more than a credit or two by helpful reviewers who point out the very things that would make me want to avoid a book, the very things never listed in the positive reviews.
On GR one finds positive and negative reviews. I find it better to check out the GR reviews before I buys something at Audible. I recommend using the two sites together.
Chrissie wrote: "On GR one finds positive and negative reviews. I find it better to check out the GR reviews before I buys something at Audible. I recommend using the two sites together."Agreed. In fact, I have seen negative reviews marked as the most liked for a couple of the last books I've looked at. I find them to be a nice change of pace. I definitely check both sites, but it's nice to see what the narrator adds or takes from the story in an audible review.
Philip Blake wrote: "but it's nice to see what the narrator adds or takes from the story in an audible review."More and more GR reviewers, me included, address the quality of the narration in their reviews. That is if they listened to the audiobook format! You can often see that by how their book is shelved.
Agree with all of the above, although I usually only do reviews on books I have strong feelings about. I just did one on The Painted Veil, a most excellent and riveting book read beautifully by Kate Reading. Highly recommended. I saw the movie a few years back and now want to watch it again.On to The Case of the Gilded Fly
I totally agree! That is how I choose what I will listen to!
Yesterday I found that the new Audible.com website does not let you look up "Narrators", and I'm cross about it!
it let me just now - I typed in Tavia Gilbert's name and got a listing of all the books that she has narrated
I think the issue is not being able to sort initially by narrator. However, I've found in the past that this doesn't always sort correctly anyway. I've put in a name and indicated "Author" and still got versions that were narration only by that person--Neil Gaiman's stints as narrator for introductions to other things still came up. In some ways it's better that the search doesn't mislead in the first place, and you can search for a specific narrator by name.
This could just be me, but has anyone found that with the updated iphone & ipad apps the narration speed has changed for the 1.5x setting ?.I've been listening to Tess of the D'Urbervilles and previously had it on 1.5 but now its too fast.
Anyone ?
Nikki wrote: "This could just be me, but has anyone found that with the updated iphone & ipad apps the narration speed has changed for the 1.5x setting ?.I've been listening to Tess of the D'Urbervilles and pr..."
I've never sped it up. Seemed too distorted to me.
Katalin wrote: "Sometimes I come across books on audible that are free for a short period of time, but I never know how to search for these freebies.. I just hear about them or come across them accidentally. Any way to search for or see what books are free? ..."Sorry to answer an old post but I saw it and have been wondering the same. I found the answer courtesy of Lifehacker who writes....
"While a lot of sites have a dedicated section to their free offerings (Amazon and iTunes, to name two), Audible does not—in fact, you can't even arrange your search results by price. Redditor Parrot0123 discovered a trick, though: just search Audible for "$0.00" using a site-specific Google search. To do so, just type the following into Google:
$0.00 site:audible.com
It worked for me. Good Hunting. [Edit - I find it works better if I click on advanced search and insert words in the "and any of these words" box".] Play around and find your own uses.
OK - As I recall, I don't have to download all my books to stop my membership. Even after I am no longer an audible member, I still I have full access to my library.Can someone else confirm?
Thanks
Yes, that is true. But, I thought you were going to do their available annual hiatus, not quit entirely?
John wrote: "Yes, that is true. But, I thought you were going to do their available annual hiatus, not quit entirely?"What is the annual hiatus? I thought one would quit and then at some time sign back up.
Once every twelve months you can have your account "suspended" for three (consecutive) billing cycles for a breather if you're backed up -- I'm in the midst of one now. You can spend the credits you have, and are still considered a member in terms of paying the member price, etc.
John wrote: "Once every twelve months you can have your account "suspended" for three (consecutive) billing cycles for a breather if you're backed up -- I'm in the midst of one now. You can spend the credits yo..."That's cool. I won't get caught up in 3 months. Someone wrote about a Audible lite plan where you paid a minimal amount per year with no purchase requirement but I could not find anything like that.
I like to buy in bulk because the unit cost is less. Then jump off for a bit. Then come back. I guess I risk losing a plan I like but other than that I don't see a downside as long as I can log in and download my inventory if I need to do that.
You'll have a no-membership account where you can access your purchased materials, and buy new ones at full non-member price, and that's about it. Audible Lite hasn't existed for years.
John wrote: "You'll have a no-membership account where you can access your purchased materials, and buy new ones at full non-member price, and that's about it. Audible Lite hasn't existed for years."Thnx, John. That's what I needed to know.
This a heads up to Audible. You guys have done a good job with series and I'm grateful. I've recently discovered another one by Keith McCarthy whose mysteries are a series, and reading out of order can be confusing, as there is a lot of back story between the three main characters. It starts with A Feast of Carrion. The most recent one is The Taste of Wormwood. It's a great series, and I am buried in the middle of it!
John wrote: "Audible Lite hasn't existed for years."Are you sure? I have this subscription:
AudibleListener® Light Membership - Annual: $9.95 a year. Keep your existing credits. Plus get access to valuable discounts and coupons throughout the year.
I think I switched to this level summer of 2011 so can't be sure it still exists.
It doesn't appear as an option in writing anywhere. If my credits back up much more, I'd be tempted to ask them about it.
John wrote: "It doesn't appear as an option in writing anywhere. If my credits back up much more, I'd be tempted to ask them about it."I did the 3 month hiatus as a stop gap (thnx). If you ask about audible lite, let me know what they say.
Hey Everyone,Recently I noticed that "Burn to CDs with Nero" was no longer an option when I right-clicked on an audiobook title in Audible Manager.
I thought that either the option was dropped in the latest Audible Manager update (which seems to happen every time I download a new audiobook) or the authentication for Nero had somehow gotten screwed up.
So I asked Audible customer service. The agent who responded told me that support for Nero had been dropped. He also said he would forward a request to Audible that older versions of Audible Manager be made available for download.
In the meantime, Nero has been dumped by Audible. Fortunately I've found that I can still use Nero to burn Audible titles to CD, but I have to launch Nero Express separately and open the AA file from there. It works but it's not as convenient as right-clicking on a title in Audible Manager. Also, there's no telling if and when Audible will implement some kind of DRM protection to break Nero Express, even for customers who have purchased their titles.
This angers me because I don't want a program like iTunes forced down my throat just because I want to burn CDs of the books I buy from Audible. I know the iTunes client application is free. It's just that it comes with a lot of baggage, including ads for the subscription service, promos for the other crap they try to sell (with a lot of "internet flash" I do not want to be bothered with), and services like the Apple Application Update manager that are installed without permission (of course I immediately disabled this service the one time I tried iTunes. The problem was that iTunes was updated regularly anyway, every time I used it to burn CDs. The application update service would get then re-installed and started, and I'd have to disable it again, etc, etc. It was another good reason to dump iTunes).
So the long-winded question is: does anyone else here burn Audible files to CD? If you're not using iTunes, what do you use?
Thanks for your time,
Alan Mintaka
John wrote: "It doesn't appear as an option in writing anywhere. ...."I've had an audible lite account for a couple years. They sort of forced me into that account when I called them up and told them I wanted to stop my Platinum subscription. When I go into my account area, and then click on "Change My Membership" I find a description of "Audible Lite" along with "Gold," "Gold Annual" and "Platinum."
Perhaps it appears because you have such an arrangement already? It doesn't appear for me.
@Alan - sorry, can't help. I don't usually burn CDs, but when I do I use iTunes since my books are already imported.
Leslie wrote: "@Alan - sorry, can't help. I don't usually burn CDs, but when I do I use iTunes since my books are already imported."Hi Leslie,
Do you use iTunes for anything besides downloading audiobooks? If not, how do you keep all of the other clutter (promos, internet ads, space wasters in general, unwanted Apple services running in the Task Manager, etc) at bay?
BTW, there's no need ever to apologize to Old Man Alan. Besides, I wanted to ask you: when you burn your CDs, do you burn them directly to Audio CDs and later rip them to MP3 discs?
The reason I ask this question is because I've found a great way to burn the Audio CD's to "virtual discs" using freeware called Daemon Tools lite. The freeware basically pretends to be a CD drive. I use it to rip the MP3 files from virtual discs without having to burn all the physical discs. Later I burn the MP3 files to disc, but that process uses a fraction of the physical media.
It saves a huge amount of overhead in terms of both money and bookshelf space (1 or 2 MP3 discs as opposed to dozens of Audio CDs).
If you're not already doing things this way and are into MP3, let me know and I'll go into details about the process. I can do it, so it can't be a tough row to hoe for anyone else.
It's not hokus-pocus, either. Daemon Tools Lite can be used for a lot of other applications requiring virtual discs. A great example is burning or ripping Blu-Ray discs to image files, then mounting the files on a Daemon Tools Lite virtual drive. You can then play those Blu-Ray discs on your PC even though you don't have a physical Blu-Ray drive and/or burner. The Daemon Tools Lite virtual drive serves as your Blu-Ray drive, all in software. It's incredibly handy.
I'm more into MP3 than Blu-Ray as described above. It works just as well either way.
Here's a link to CNet's download page for Daemon Tools Lite. It's safe and free.
Daemon Tools Lite Freeware Download
Happy Listening,
Alan Mintaka
Clif wrote: "John wrote: "It doesn't appear as an option in writing anywhere. ...."I've had an audible lite account for a couple years. They sort of forced me into that account when I called them up and told..."
Clif, what do you mean they sort of forced you into that account? You can get full access to all your books even if you end any subscriptions with them. Just curious.
Al - I don't often reread (re-listen) to books, so have never thought of burning Audible copies, but there are a few I've bought that I wouldn't mind having as mp3's.
John wrote: "Al - I don't often reread (re-listen) to books, so have never thought of burning Audible copies, but there are a few I've bought that I wouldn't mind having as mp3's."Hey Big John,
I have to say that I don't honestly know if there's a way to burn those Audible AA files directly to MP3 files. Maybe there is with iTunes and something else, and I'm just too pigheaded to put up with Apple's nonsense to save myself a little work.
However I can tell you that with the old setup with Nero, you had to burn the AA files to Audio CDs first, and then rip those CDs to MP3 files. The procedure went something like this:
1. In Audible Manager, right-click on a title and select "Burn to CDs with Nero" from the popup menu
or
Run Nero Express, navigate to the folder containing the downloaded Audible AA files, and open the one you want to burn
2. In Nero Express, select the "Image Recorder" as the device you want to burn the CDs to. Instead of being prompted to shove a blank disc into your CD burner drive, you'll be prompted to enter a folder location and file name. Nero will bother you about "Autocreating file names" in the event that the AA file will consume multiple discs (they always do). If you select the default ("Autocreate") it'll just index the files by adding numeric suffixes. Not a biggie.
3. When the "burning" process is done (which doesn't tale long for virtual discs) you wind up with a folder full of image files, one per disc, indexed and easy to identify. In the case of Nero, the files will have a NRG extension. Many other "virtual disc" burning programs use the ISO extesion. It doesn't matter for the next step.
4. NOW you run Daemon Tools Lite and open one of those disc image files. In Daemon Tools the jargon is "mount" instead of "open" but it works the same way as opening a file in any other application that works with files. Click on "mount" and use the file manager to navigate to the first image file, select it, and suddenly you have a new virtual drive on your PC with a "disc" that has all the tracks of the first "CD" that you burned to the "Image Recorder". You'll be able to see it along with the drive letter in the Windows File Explorer.
5. Use freeware such as Free Rip MP3 or Audiograbber to access that new virtual drive. In the General Settings Menu, enter that new virtual drive as the source. It'll be in the drop-down list of disc drives.
6. As soon as you select that virtual drive in either program, a list of the tracks in the image file will appear in the track window. Then, depending on which program you're using to rip those tracks, set your MP3 parameters (sample rate, etc), output folder, and filename template. You can set up either program to index the MP3 files with numeric prefixes or suffixes. There are also pre-defined templates that use folder names, date-time stamps, etc. I always use the "user defined" templates because I can stick the title names where I want them in the filenames, and add placeholders for things like track numbers, etc. There's handy documentation in the program menus to explain how to use all that crap.
7. That's it! Click "Grab!" (Audiograbber) or "Rip" (FreeRip) and you get a folder full of MP3 files.
What you do with those files after you're done with all of your virtual disc images depends on what you want for the final product(s). I use the MP3 files two ways:
(Oboy! Another list!!!)
1. Copy them to my MP3 players so I can listen to them on my daily walks and while doing the usual household stuff (plus landlording chores)
2. Use the Ashampoo Burning Studio Free to burn them to physical discs. These are my "Bookshelf Copies" and backups.
That was simple, wasn't it?
Well, maybe not, but burning the AA files to physical Audio CDs and ripping those to MP3 files is even more work and more costly in terms of all that media. Plus, what do you do with all those Audio CDs when you also have the much smaller MP3 copies? Throwing them away seems like a waste, but....
I know that sounds like a lot of ado. But once you get the routine straight, it's not so bad - and the end result is a library of MP3 audiobooks that aren't limited to Audible playback "devices".
Happy Listening,
Alan Mintaka
Ali-ef wrote: "Clif, what do you mean they sort of forced you into that account?. ...."I'm being a bit melodramatic. They did a sales job on me, and convinced me that it was the best deal for me (and it probably was). Also, I wasn't too confident about having access to my library of purchases books though I can't blame them for that. The Audible person on the phone said that I would have access to them even if I had no membership.
Alan wrote: "John wrote: "I know that sounds like a lot of ado. But once you get the routine straight, it's not so bad - and the end result is a library of MP3 audiobooks that aren't limited to Audible playback "devices". That's good information. Audible uses DRM to limit how the files can be used and so some devices can't play the audible file. And I think you are limited to the number of devices or computers that can have audible files on them.
There is software out there that will covert the audible file to an MP3; it basically plays the file and records it. I think Aimersoft is the best known. However, the PC can't be doning anything else. If a program makes a noise or you watch a youtube, I think that gets recorded as well.
The DRM is to prevent piracy. The audible books are cheap enough that most of us wouldn't take the time to pirate them anyway. Plus, I find value in my library being stored online for me by audible. I suspect Audible will kill the DRM at some point.
Nice job on the write up on Nero and Daemon Tools lite.
Here is a great program for converting DRM protected files:convert-wma-to-mp3.biz
It works on .aa files and also Overdrive and OneClick files.
Once converted all you have to do is burn the files to a CD.
Forney_bill wrote: "...There is software out there that will covert the audible file to an MP3; it basically plays the file and records it. I think Aimersoft is the best known. ..."Brian wrote: "Here is a great program for converting DRM protected files:
convert-wma-to-mp3.biz
Hi Forney_Bill and Brian,
Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, both programs run just shy of $40.00 each. At this point I'm not willing to spend more money to compensate for Audible's arbitrarily cancelled support for products I already own.
I'm hunting for freeware to do the job at the moment.
Meanwhile the option to run Nero Express (v.7) standalone to load the AA files is still working.
As I've said, this method doesn't have the convenience of the old right-click option in Audible Manager, and does not have any security in terms of when (not if) Audible will make the approach impossible.
I'll just have to keep doing things this way as long as it works, unless I find freeware that does the job.
Thanks also to Forney_Bill for the compliment on my write-up. I always wonder what good my long-winded litanies do. It's nice to discover at least one message of appreciation.
If I can find freeware that works, I'll post my results here.
Thanks again to you both,
Alan Mintaka
Alan,Good luck with the freeware - I look all over. It might exist, but that is why I bought the other program. BTW, the convert program is only $27.
Brian
Brian wrote: "Alan,Good luck with the freeware - I look all over. It might exist, but that is why I bought the other program. BTW, the convert program is only $27."
Thanks Brian, I see it now. I jumped to conclusions when I first saw the manufacturer's product listing. I wanted a more permanent solution than a subscription and grabbed the wrong price from the features list for client software.
Still - that's $27.00 too much at the moment. I agree, freeware is lacking. However, purchasing bloatware like Nero should be more than enough to deal with these AA files. That Audible is dropping that support is unacceptable. What's next? We're being required more and more to buy and use applications on Audible's list of acceptable programs, and that list is being dominated more and more by iTunes. I don't want to be forced to buy "special" programs that meet with Audible's approval on an arbitrary basis. I've already done that once with Nero and I especially do not want to do it again (at added cost of any kind) with iTunes or any other non-freeware program.
Sorry to rant on your dime, Brian. Audible's dropping of Nero support really has me steamed.
Audible could very easily remedy this situation by selling THEIR OWN SOFTWARE to convert those idiotic AA files to MP3 - or else, just offer the audiobooks in multiple formats, including AA and MP3. That way, third-party software like iTunes would not be necessary and Audible's customer base would be a lot happier.
It's bad enough that we have to jump through these hoops to keep Windows Media Player out of the equation. Adding Apple to the mix is just too much.
Anyway, thanks for pointing out my pricing error. Despite my revolutionary tone, I may be forced to compromise my attitude and buy a lower priced program like the .BIZ converter.
I would still consider such a purchase as temporary at best, given Audible's insistence on that idiotic AA format, and their inconsistent support of programs that can do something.
Audible must be using a business plan akin to Google's these days: "We control the market. We can do whatever we want. If you don't like it, don't buy it."
It's tough advice to take from someone who controls the market. Audible knows this, which is why they're using this sort of business model.
Contrary to what the CEO of Audible thinks (if he/she does think beyond patronizing the stockholders to get a large bonus), Audible isn't the only player in town these days. I'll be looking more and more at AudiobookStand DL and Blackstone Audiobooks, both of whom are offering download titles. They don't have the price breaks that Audible members get these days, but that could change if they decide to try to get more competitive.
Take care,
Alan Mintaka
Brian wrote: "Alan,Good luck with the freeware - I look all over. It might exist, but that is why I bought the other program. BTW, the convert program is only $27.
Brian"
Brian,
Thanks for this. Nice to have a real user recommend software rather than just a vendor claim.
Do you know how it works? Does it basically re-record the file and store the output as a MP3 file? I see it leaves the Meta data. Does it leave the DRM protection as well?
Forney_bill wrote: "Do you know how it works? Does it basically re-record the file and store the output as a MP3 file? I see it leaves the Meta data. Does it leave the DRM protection as well? ..."Another question might be: "how long will it continue to work until Audible figures out how to break it?"
Unfortunately, that's the kind of question that's unanswerable, and is one reason I'm reluctant to spend money on the program.
Still, it would be good to know how it works, at least for the time being. As Brian suggested when he said "Good luck with the freeware", I haven't been able to find any freebies that will do the job.
As far as using Nero Express the way I've described is concerned, I think that's about as secure an approach as owning a copy of "convert-wma-to-mp3.biz". You never know when Audible will make it impossible to use. Since I already own Nero, it's another reason not to spend money on anything else.
Cheaply,
Alan Mintaka
Alan - I haven't read back through the whole thread but Tantor audio sells downloads that is essentially the digital from an MP3 CD. I too make it a habit to convert all of my audible purchases to straight mp3 for backup.
Vic wrote: "Alan - I haven't read back through the whole thread but Tantor audio sells downloads that is essentially the digital from an MP3 CD. I too make it a habit to convert all of my audible purchases to..."Hi Vic,
Thanks for the info about Tantor. I have it in my favorites folder and go there whenever I can't find a title at Audible, Audiobookstand, or Blackstone.
How do you convert your Audible titles to MP3? Do you use 3rd party software as I do to get the files into Audio CD format, then rip the tracks to MP3?
Ever since I stumbled across Daemon Tools Lite, I've save myself a ton of money by forgoing the need to record actual media Audio CDs before ripping to MP3. However, the process is still convoluted in the sense that the requirement to record to Audio CDs first is a completely artificial layer of complexity imposed by Audible.
Audible should provide registered users like us with the option to rip those AA files directly to MP3. This intermediate step of recording to Audio CD first is phony.
Audible has great price deals, but I've always hated that Audio CD burning nonsense.
Evidently I still haven't worked off my tantrum. But you're right, Tantor is definitely another option I should have listed in my previous post about Audiobookstand and Blackstone.
Happy Listening,
Alan Mintaka
I noticed when I downloaded two books today that the file extension was different--letters and numbers rather than my email address. I downloaded another book a few days ago and didn't notice this new ending. Is there any special reason for the new file names?
How can I sort search results on Audible by price? This function is obvious on Amazon but I can't seem to figure out how to do it on Audible's website...
Well, I truly believe that the "wave" of the future or the business model is going to be that no one will OWN a book or DVD anymore . . . you'll just be paying a price for the ability to read or watch on an electronic device the info stored on a server somewhere in cyber space. :-( I don't know if ultimately this will be good or not. It's good in a sense . . . save's a tree . . cuts down on storage, etc. . . . But if your power supply is disrupted . . . or the remote server power is disrupted . . . then you lose your access ability . . . and what if your ISP's download speed isn't adequate to handle the traffic?
There are still many issues that need to be resolved in this area.
Leslie wrote: "How can I sort search results on Audible by price? This function is obvious on Amazon but I can't seem to figure out how to do it on Audible's website..."Leslie - I've just read this entire thread, and it seems from replies to previous questions like yours that it isn't possible. I find it astonishing too - it's the first thing I do with any search results on Amazon.
I gather that one can order one's Wish List by price, although I'm not sure how that helps.
I asked this question on another thread but I think it may belong better here:Am I right in thinking that we still don't have Kindle whispersync audio available for a discounted price in the UK? - for us, all whispersync does is sync where we've got to in reading the book on different devices (and it's a bit temperamental about how well it does that). We don't have the option to get the audio at a discounted price once we've bought the ebook on Kindle.
Anyone know differently? or have any idea when it might reach us here?
@Hj - thanks, at least I can be reassured that I wasn't missing something obvious!
Hj wrote: "I gather that one can order one's Wish List by price, although I'm not sure how that helps ..."That wasn't possible until a few weeks ago. For some time I had been whining to Audible about the inability to do that, and was able to get a support person to duplicate the problem and verify it. Nothing much happened for a few more weeks after my calls and then one day it started working.
Probably it took a few more complaints from other customers before the managers finally took notice and decided to do something about it. Or, it was just coincidence. When the support person said she was going to refer the problem to the development engineers, I figured it would die on its own stick right there.
What's always amazing to me is how such basic functionality can be left out of lists like this in the first place. It's not a luxury feature for the convenience of the customers - it helps us buy the books we're looking for.
While I was at it with the support tech, I included a whine about adding folders to Wish Lists - also per Amazon's method. It's another way to help us buy the books we're looking for.
Since Amazon and Audible are some kind of "business partners" now, you would think that Audible would mine Amazon for useful marketing strategies such as organizing and sorting product listings of any kind. Amazon certainly has a wealth of experience in that area.
Maybe that's my problem with not understanding why Audible actually makes it difficult for customers to find what they want by crippling these product listings: "you would think" is evidently a bad assumption on my part.
Sorry. Breakfast didn't sit well. I'm not sitting well now, either.
Alan Mintaka
Audiobooks
Books mentioned in this topic
Tilt-a-Whirl (other topics)Death of a Poison Pen (other topics)
Death of a Bore (other topics)
A Night in the Lonesome October (other topics)
A Night in the Lonesome October (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
David Monteath (other topics)David Monteath (other topics)
David Monteath (other topics)
Keith McCarthy (other topics)
Diana Gabaldon (other topics)
Where's the Agree(10) button? Thankfully, between reading posts here and in the Audiobook Knitters forum at Ravelry, I knew about it, and used 3 credits by 2/24. No acknowledgement from Audible though, so I hope I get my $10 bonus.