Audiobooks discussion
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Importing Audiobook CD's Using iTunes11
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The options to join tracks -- that is what you mean? It is no longer on the top menu bar, but in the right hand corner of the box where you can view the CD tracks.
Here are some screen images: http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/arti...https://discussions.apple.com/thread/...
When you import songs from a CD into iTunes, you can group songs so they always play together (even when you're shuffling songs).
1) Insert an audio CD into your computer's CD or DVD drive, and click No in the window that appears.
2) When the songs on the CD appear in the iTunes window, hold down the Shift key to select the ones you want to join.
3) Click "Options" (near the top-right of the iTunes window) and choose Join CD Tracks.
Don't get me started on how much I dislike iTunes 11. It's taken me awhile to figure it out. I didn't think they could make it any less user-friendly, but they did.I don't have a disc to check this, but I believe when you have a CD in, there should be a button on the top right for "options." It drops down, and "Join tracks" should show up.
Sorry...hopefully someone has more definitive instructions for you than mine. Good luck!
Kristie wrote: "Don't get me started on how much I dislike iTunes 11. It's taken me awhile to figure it out. I didn't think they could make it any less user-friendly, but they did.I don't have a disc to check th..."
I'm so glad Regina was so much more helpful than me! :)
Sorry for the newbie question, but what does joining tracks do? I have imported audiobooks from CDs into iTunes without doing this and listened to them with no problems... am I missing something crucial?
Joining tracks allows one CD to be one big track, rather than having a whole bunch of little short tracks clogging up iTunes and iPod. Just a lot less clutter on your device and iTunes.
Kristie wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Don't get me started on how much I dislike iTunes 11. It's taken me awhile to figure it out. I didn't think they could make it any less user-friendly, but they did.I don't have a ..."
LOL -- we cross posted the same thing. :)
Kristie wrote: "Joining tracks allows one CD to be one big track, rather than having a whole bunch of little short tracks clogging up iTunes and iPod. Just a lot less clutter on your device and iTunes."Exactly -- and it allows in a much easier way for the iPod to "remember" where you last were in the audiobook even if you go and listen to something else before returning to the book.
Regina wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Don't get me started on how much I dislike iTunes 11. It's taken me awhile to figure it out. I didn't think they could make it any less user-friendly, but they did...."
Yes, but yours was actually helpful. Mine was relying on my memory, which is far from exact. :)
I keep trying this, but the only options I'm getting are "Get track names" and "Submit CD track names". This shouldn't be so difficult.
I had to do a search on this...go to the column where the tracks are numbered and click on the header to re-order them last to first, then first to last, then try again to find Join Tracks. Very quirky.
Kristie wrote: "I had to do a search on this...go to the column where the tracks are numbered and click on the header to re-order them last to first, then first to last, then try again to find Join Tracks. Very qu..."You have got to be kidding. That sounds so ridiculous. (I'm talking about iTunes, not you.) I'll give that a shot. I want iTunes 10 back.
Sandi wrote: "Didn't work. I'll try again tomorrow."Shoot. Did you select all the tracks? They have to be all selected. If that's not it, I'm out of ideas. Stupid iTunes.
Yes, I did. I'm going to start from scratch tomorrow.
it took me a while to figure out - but it won't let you join tracks, if the tracks are out of order from how they appear on the CD, or if you haven't selected them all
Don't know if you are on a Mac, or not. If you are, I have long used a great program for building audiobooks out of CD's - but it only runs on the Mac - no Windows version available or planned. Its inexpensive $7.95 single user or $14.95 for a family pack. It will bind up all the tracks into one or two files that are ready to be imported into iTunes. It is called Audiobook Builder and created by Splasm software: http://www.splasm.com/audiobookbuilde.... I found this software by reference to a blog by Michael Alderete. You can find and read his posts about audiobooks at http://aldoblog.com/audiobooks/.
You will find a variety of articles there with instructions on how to import a variety of different audiobook formats into iTunes. Read Michael's articles and check out Audiobook Builder. You will not be disappointed with either.
Thank you to all for the help. The first disc was giving me the most trouble, so I started with the last disc and managed to get them all downloaded. Sadly, the digital information on the CD's didn't include which disc it was as part of the title, so I had to go in and add Part 01, Part 02, etc. to the title of each one. I also found it a bit frustrating that iTunes does not let you indicate the media type when you download. You have to find the files in your music section and then fix it so they appear in your books section. What a pain it the rear. But, it's done and I can now listen to my new audiobook.
I used Audiobook Builder for importing my audiobook CDs. It's far more flexible than iTunes.
Tim wrote: "I used Audiobook Builder for importing my audiobook CDs. It's far more flexible than iTunes."If this becomes a regular thing, I'll check that out.
I just struggled through getting an audiobook on CDs from the library uploaded into iTunes V.11. The process seemed to be the same as I've been using for several years (joining the tracks, sequentially numbering the files, etc), but the changes to the files in Get Info just weren't working right. Plus it was a LOT slower and it seemed like the iTunes program was hanging up.Too bad that Audiobook Builder isn't for PCs. I'm running Win7. I don't know if I want to try to downgrade to iTunes V.10x; the directions I've seen are a bit sketchy.
to CatBookMom, There is a detailed, step by step posting on Michael Alderete's AldoBlog. Here is the link to his instructions on iTunes V.11http://aldoblog.com/2013/02/importing.... Audiobooks on an iPod was what brought me over to the Dark Side of Apple. Maybe you have a friend or family member with a Mac who you could set up with Audiobook Builder. I've read through all the steps you have to take for iTunes under V.10 or V.11 and honestly, I could not do all that stuff.
Funny thing is that I'm using Audiobook Builder right now, as I write this blurb. It needs no ongoing attention after initial setup, except to be fed the next CD. When it wants to be fed, you hear a tone and the completed CD pops out, ready to go back into its sleeve. So easy! So find a Mac nut within your realm of friends. You'll be hooked and maybe you will hook them into the world of audiobooks.
Frank wrote: "to CatBookMom, There is a detailed, step by step posting on Michael Alderete's AldoBlog. Here is the link to his instructions on iTunes V.11http://aldoblog.com/2013/02/importing......"
Thanks for this info, Frank. We do have a Mac in the house, which my husband adopted after hearing too many swear words from me. He's happy with it, and I mostly keep my temper with Win7. But I'll see about borrowing it back to use with Audiobook Builder.
My frustration last night was that iTunes was telling me something different than the folder and file names on my PC revealed. I've used the join-tracks procedure for several years (though I don't know where I learned it originally). But having the Get Info window tell me the file name was one thing, and the storage data on my computer showing something different was a new glitch, even for Apple.
to CatBookMom, Rather than borrowing it back, just assign him a task - burning your CD's into audiobooks. LOL, don't know how well that might play. In any case, serendipity dropped this article from MacWorld's MacWeek in my inbox - "Preparing Audiobooks for the Road" - http://www.macworld.com/article/20325.... In that article, the author points to another track-joining program, alas, also only for the Mac - Doug's AppleScripts for iTunes - http://dougscripts.com/itunes/itinfo/.... I have not used it and would not probably try it. I have used Audiobook Builder for years and it is so simple and easy to use. Besides, if your hubby will feed the discs and send you the finished file, it couldn't get any simpler. ;>) Frank
Frank, does Audiobook Builder make files for only iPods, etc? I use a Sansa Clip that reads WMA and MP3 files. I looked at the Audiobook Builder page and didn't see anything definitive, though it did say it could manage already-ripped files....
It makes files for iTunes - .m4b files. These are bookmarkable audio files, part of the MPEG-4 file format family. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_P...)
I don't believe they can be played on the Sansa Clip. However, it seems like any .m4b files that are not DRM protected can be converted to .mp3 files. Go to: eHow Tech's article at: http://www.ehow.com/how_8794766_conve....
I think that should do what you are looking to do. That is burn the CD's into iTunes, then convert the file(s) into Sansa Clip playable .mp3 files.
Frank wrote: "It makes files for iTunes - .m4b files. These are bookmarkable audio files, part of the MPEG-4 file format family. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_P...)
I don't believe they can be ..."
Thanks for the detailed help. I'll check it out with the next book-on-CDs I get.
Kristie wrote: "Don't get me started on how much I dislike iTunes 11. It's taken me awhile to figure it out. I didn't think they could make it any less user-friendly, but they did.I don't have a disc to check th..."
I didn't like 11 either. I rolled mine back and am again using the previous version. I gave someone else here the links on how to do that.
Argggghhh! Somehow between yesterday and today, my Books listing seems to have vanished. What-the???I was part-way through uploading a library audiobook-on-CD and when I went back to finish, the left-hand column (thanks, whoever told me how to get it back) doesn't show any books or audiobooks.
Stupid, stupid Apple!! I did NOT change anything between yesterday and today, at least not that I authorized.
Sorry, rant-let calming down now.
I haven't downloaded the upgrade to iTunes 11 yet . . . and I think I'll wait awhile longer before I do. I have a 27 in. iMac that's 2 years old.But in the past when I ripped a CD - I created a playlist file for each book . . . imported the tracks . . . most of the time using Gracenotes for metadata and making any corrections if necessary. When the tracks were imported I used the shift key and selected the tracks and dragged and dropped the tracks into the pre labeled playlist file. I did this for each disc until they were all done.
When I transfer the playlist to my iTouch or iPad I just click on the playlist and the tracks play in the correct order. I don't know if I'll be able to use that with the latest upgrade . . . I'll have to try it out later.
CatBookMom wrote: "Argggghhh! Somehow between yesterday and today, my Books listing seems to have vanished. What-the???I was part-way through uploading a library audiobook-on-CD and when I went back to finish, th..."
I am hearing lots of good vibrations about MediaMonkey as an alternative to Itunes. I may jump ship at some point.
Forney_bill wrote: "Kristie wrote: "Don't get me started on how much I dislike iTunes 11. It's taken me awhile to figure it out. I didn't think they could make it any less user-friendly, but they did.I don't have a ..."
Thanks Bill. I might have to do that, but for now I've figured 11 out well enough to do what I need to do. Doesn't mean I like it though.
Through the mercy of Google, I found a solution for my missing audiobooks. Apparently quite a few others have had this problem since the end of March. The solution involves replacing the mangled iTunes library (which only has items bought from iTunes and held in the Cloud) with an earlier edition. Then I was able to sort my more-recent additions by date and add those few folders to iTunes. Then I did a new backup!!
Link to the info on how to fix (http://tinyurl.com/cx2wmd6)
Update:This afternoon my library had the same problem, suddenly no music or books other than those stored in the Cloud. The same fix worked. Arrrrrgggghhhh!
Frank wrote: "It makes files for iTunes - .m4b files. These are bookmarkable audio files, part of the MPEG-4 file format family. (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_P...)
I don't believe they can be ..."
I'm going to try this, but boy, those steps look complicated! Sounds like I basically rip the CD into iTunes, then do this mp3 encoder? Or do I have to rip the cd that way to begin with? And do I do this before or after joining tracks? Just want to be able to get the CDs onto my Sansa the simplest way possible without having 100+ tracks.
This discussion has been quiet for a while, but I wanted to mention a little fix that I remembered today, since I desperately needed it.If, when you are trying to upload an audiobook from CDs, there is no option (under the Option icon, on the left) to "Join CD tracks", try selecting all the tracks and then clicking on the column with track numbers. Sometimes, in ways that are not visually apparent, iTunes thinks your CD tracks are not in the proper order, and won't join the tracks.
So, does anyone know what to do?