Audiobooks discussion
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Where do you get your audio content and what device do you use to listen?
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John, Moderator
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Jul 14, 2011 12:33PM
I keep forgetting about the sleep function, though my portable speakers' indicator light is so bright that I'd need to turn that off anyway.
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I love the sleep function! I just discovered it about two weeks ago and use it nightly. I like that you can pick the amount of time up to 90 minutes.
I've never used it on mine. Probably because when I read in bed each night before going to sleep, I read from actual paper! :P It's a good time to catch up on The New Yorker. Since it's weekly, I sometimes fall behind.
Claire I read print books and at night when I get sleepy I plug my sansa into my pillow speaker and it is good night for me!
Now, that's what I call a dedicated reader, Heidi! :D
I have 2 Clips - both refurbs. Love love love my clip! I get most of my audiobooks from my library - ripping CDs/MP3s or downloading from overdrive.
I can't bear to use up an Audible credit on something my library has.
I can't either, and my library has most of what I want from Audible, although they've had enough "Audible original" productions to keep me from canceling.
I'm a 4 gig Sansa Clip person too now. I have a 16 gig Creative Labs Zen Mozaic that I just loved, but it got too close to the heart rate monitor on my treadmill and somehow fried the screen. I reloaded the software, tried everything imaginable, but still can't navigate without being able to see the screen. I like the Clip, but miss being able to play things directly from the speaker on the Mozaic. That little speaker was actually loud enough to listen in the car without having to plug it into the car radio, and it was nice when traveling.I too get my content mostly from the library, and then through audible for anything I can't find there. My library system is reciprocal with two other huge library systems. I suggest people check which libraries are affiliated with your own too. There will often be a 50+ hold list for an item at my city library and county library, and the same item will be available with no one waiting through our neighboring county.
I have an 8 Gb iAudio D2 (that also plays videos), which is about as perfect as it gets in terms of features. However ... it's rather a pain in terms of ON and OFF requiring both moving the switch and using the touch screen. I use it almost entirely for traveling. It takes (regular not micro) SD cards as well.
Sansa Clip seems very popular here - a deal on them at NewEgg, (sorry, don't know how to do links here) - the 4gb for approx $35.http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product...
Is it easier loading books onto the Sansa Clip than the iPod? I haven't had much luck with my iPod.
I think it is much easier Shirley. It is very user friendly IMO.
Are you talking about library books, Audible ones, or books you rip yourself, Shirley?
Shirley wrote: "Is it easier loading books onto the Sansa Clip than the iPod? I haven't had much luck with my iPod."It's different for everyone depending on how they get audiobooks.
I make mp3 files from CDs (if book is not already mp3) and then I 'tag' them to suit me and the Clip. After that I just drag & drop using Windows Explorer.
I'm able to drag and drop with all 3 of my Sansas. Only one is the clip but drag and drop works for all of mine.
I don't think one can drag-and-drop WMA library books, though once transferred they don't expire.
I have to admit that I never check any out of the library. (And would you believe I'm a librarian -- although I worked at a university medical school library so I didn't have the fun stuff around.)
I would like to download books from the library as well as from CDs.
I listen on my ipod touch and get me books from a lot of various sources.
Has anybody tried the Archos players? I heard they are very nice and popular in Europe.I had a 2GB SanDisk Sansa Express which went missing and am in the market for something new. Most likely the Sansa clip from what I read around here, but I just was wondering...
Kara wrote: "Has anybody tried the Archos players? I heard they are very nice and popular in Europe.I had a 2GB SanDisk Sansa Express which went missing and am in the market for something new. Most likely t..."
I looked at the Archos players with real interest when I was first looking, but something put me off. Could it be that it uses specific software? I was determined to use no software, only windows 'drag and drop'.
If not that then maybe it just did too much and all I wanted was to play audiobooks. I was moving away from the iPod and the issues that came with iTunes etc :)
The two models I was examining are similar in style to my old Sansa Express and the Sansa Clip, and priced about $20-30. The one thing I did really like about the Express, was the extendable SD memory, and it looks like that's how their model works... does the Clip actually have this too? My express was always buggy though, and crashed often... I'll definitely have to check on the Arthos software. Thanks for the help!
Yes, the Clip+ does have a micro SD card feature, but at 4Gb internal I don't really come close to needing to go that route, even with several books loaded.
KAra, Don't opt for the new Sansa Fuse without going to their Web Site forum and reading about the audio book issues people are having. Reads like a nightmare :(The price might seem right, so check it out before making that committment.
John and aprilla,Thanks for the advice. 4GB really is plenty, but I do like to load up music too... and I already have an SD card. I'll have to go read the forum... why just problems with the Fuse? I'm guessing the are similar to my problems with the Express (OverDriveMedia and Audible books play completely different, even down to the ability to keep your current position - plus no bookmarking ability, and then there was the CRASHING, which forced several users to buy the SD card just for reboot purposes).
Seems the previous Fuse was fine for audiobooks (I never used one) but the new Fuse is changed and there are audiobook issues, one being you have to put them in a podcast folder... seems messy.The same problems DO NOT exist for the Sansa Clip current (+) or previous model, square & round controls respectively.
My Clip+ (which does use the miniSD card) did crash 3 times within its first 3 months (resetting brought it back) but after that it's worked perfectly for over a year and is still going strong... and I use it a minimum of four hours daily. Not bad :)
Sounds good. I was just trying to determine the difference between the Clip and the Clip+. So the + is newer, but cheaper? Will the Clip+ do voice recording as well? (this has been nice when traveling for work)
I had a major crash with my Clip+ once, requiring not just a reset, but actually formatting it. Otherwise, it's behaved very well, near perfect for audiobooks. To ensure bookmarking, not just accurate re-start at the same point, it's necessary to tag books as Audiobook (or "audio book") before transfer. Audible books seem to be okay that way without any fiddling. If you don't want to deal with tagging, then you'll use the Advanced feature at Overdrive to send the books to the Audiobook folder on the Clip+ rather than the default Music folder -- books in Music, that are tagged drama, mystery, history, etc. will not resume at the same place if you exit that book to go to another file.
John, this is new info for me. I didn't know Overdrive had an "advanced" feature - will go check that out.
What is bookmarking with a Clip+. I had always assumed it simply meant that my audiobook could re-start from the spot I had left off. Can you tell me more?
Thanks.
The Clip+ has a "resume" feature - you power down from your book, and then when you turn the device back on, it's at the same point."Bookmarking" means you can exit your book for another book, a podcast, music, etc. and when you return to the book you exited, you'll see "Resume at the same point?" as a choice. Audible books are tagged as Audiobooks, so no issue there, but Overdrive books are tagged by genre "mystery, fiction, etc." instead. So, with a clip+, if you exit and return (without editing the tagging), you must start at the beginning, and find your own way back. The "fix" is to change the Overdrive tag to "Audiobook", or use the Advanced feature to send the book to an empty file you've created in the Audiobooks (NOT music!) folder on your clip+ if you don't want to get into tagging. Ripped-from-CD books (and Librivox, etc.) should be dropped into the audiobooks folder.
Hope that helps some!
That DOES help. Thanks! But... does it do voice recording??
(I noticed the old Clip does, but I don't see it in the tech specs for the Clip+).
The resume feature on the Express had issues... and no bookmarking. My ODM audiobooks always took forever to fast forward through, and I'm guessing it was because they were in Music. Very good to know.
I just looked carefully at the clip+ and saw nothing resembling a microphone "hole", not even a tiny one. In scrolling through menus I'd not seen recording as an option either. The fast forward feature on the clip+ is very fast - I had to use it earlier today and overshot the mark the first try!
Yes, the Clip+ does do voice recording.The only differences between the old Clip and Clip+ are cosmetic (round to squared, volume moved to other side etc) and the addition of SD card.
A reset fixed my problem with the crashes (wasn't really a crash, just wouldn't come on, odd) but I regularly format my Clip+ just to keep its database working at optimum, I load/unload very often and reckon it must make a mess, right or wrong that's my habit now LOL
I don't use Overdrive etc so can't comment on use with them.
I convert all my books to mp3 and take two minutes to change the metaTags to suit me using Mp3Tag (free program) but these are the ones that matter.
Genre = Audiobook (clip knows how to treat it)
Album = Name displayed in Audiobook list
TrackNumber = To keep many files in correct order
Because the Clip+ knows my content is an Audiobook (genre tag) when I pause, it resumes from where I was.
I'm always looking for other players but have yet to find one to suit me better as an audiobook only listener. If I could change the Menu to suit me I'd buy enough to last my dwindling years! (but might anyway) ... from what I see all major players are adding more and more unnecessary (to me) features to their players.
I wanted to thank everyone for their help in choosing an audio device. My Sansa Clip+ 8GB arrived at the hospital earlier this week and I have really enjoyed it. Once I figured out the basics I was off and running. I have downloaded tons of books and podcasts and I still have plenty of room to add more. Again, I appreciate everyone's advice. I can only imagine how much I will enjoy it when I finally go home in September.
I've been a diehard Apple fan and used my iTouch for everything - but most of books from the library come in WMA format which converting. I gave in and bought a Creative Zen device. I feel so liberated that I can take advantage of all the free books available for download.
Cathy wrote: "I've been a diehard Apple fan and used my iTouch for everything - but most of books from the library come in WMA format which converting. I gave in and bought a Creative Zen device. I feel so lib..."I've been able to put WMA format books on my i-Touch using Overdrive. Is that particular to my library?
Lori wrote: "Cathy wrote: "I've been a diehard Apple fan and used my iTouch for everything - but most of books from the library come in WMA format which converting. I gave in and bought a Creative Zen device. ..."I had trouble. I have a first gen iTouch and I installed the Overdrive software for the iTouch. Everytime I tried to download a book in WMA format (either on the Mac or PC), I would get an error message and Overdrive would close with the message it couldn't handle the format. I wasted a lot of time trying to troubleshoot this, but the Creative Zen worked seamlessly. It's not a bad idea to have to devices for books at any rate, one as a backup.
aprilla wrote: "Yes, the Clip+ does do voice recording..."Thank you. I'm ordering one today.
John wrote: "I have three at present :)"Yes, after reading the reviews here I just might buy a Sansa Clip also.
One thing to get used to with the Clip+ is that because the screen is small (the whole unit fits in the palm of one's hand!) the display consists of two items: Artist and Track, no album itself. What I do like is being able to see where I am in the book immediately as there's a "track of total" feature (2/9, for example), so along with the track progress bar, I can automatically work out "I'm most of the way through the second track of nine."
Just ordered from Amazon... new Clip+ 4GB for $39.99. I will say though, I had forgot how handy having the usb charger attached to the player was... no cords! As I'm not the most organized person, I was a little nervous about having A TINY CORD TO CARRY AROUND, BUT THEN i NOTICED IT WAS A MINI-USB (stupid caps), and there are plenty of those connectors lying around the office.
I find the battery indicator depletes faster after 50% - I've had the device shut off on me when I thought I still had a bit left, so I'd advise not waiting much past half depleted to re-charge. I sprung for an AC charger ($10), which I've found worthwhile.
that was one of the few things I dislike about the Sansa Fuze, stupid proprietary cord. if not for that and the lack of a clip, it would have found mp3-player nirvana. as it stands now, i am very happy with the Sansa Clip.
I recently researched different MP3 Players and I looked at the Creative Zen, which model did you decide on? I seriously considered the Creative Labs Zen X-Fi 2 16 GB MP3 and Video Player with Touchscreen and Built-In Speaker (Black). I ultimately went with the Sansa Clip+ because of recommendations and cost.
My first choice last year when I was buying for audiobooks was a Creative player. A co-worker has one and he was very happy with it for music/battery etc... when I went to buy it I was told it was a discontinued model (I can't rem exactly which one, stone maybe?) but that stopped me up and I went back to research ending up with the Clip+.It wasn't the Zen X-Fi 2 though, that one is really very nice but does more than I would want :)
I've just been looking at the Archos players, the little 14 Vision MP3 player looks very cute but in comparing with what I have doesn't make me want to change... it costs approx 20.00 more, doesn't have the clip I've become used to, and just does too many things I won't use. There's no mention of audiobooks in it's description, just that it will play MP3, WMA, FLAC, APE and WAV files as well as show photos or movie clips. Cute but I'm not converted :)
Kara wrote: "Just ordered from Amazon... new Clip+ 4GB for $39.99. I will say though, I had forgot how handy having the usb charger attached to the player was... no cords! As I'm not the most organized person, I was a little nervous about having A TINY CORD TO CARRY AROUND, BUT THEN i NOTICED IT WAS A MINI-USB (stupid caps), and there are plenty of those connectors lying around the office...."
I hope you'll be really happy with it Kara!
Yes, I use a long cord from a camera which has a wall fitting and leave the short one in my bag for any emergency...
The Clip+ battery is a kind where you recharge as much as you want without shortening its life. I'm not too good at battery types but this seems to be true as my habit is to be charging it whenever I listen while I'm sitting, the Clip+ is plugged into the WALL nearby. And I charge it overnight also, again in a wall plug.
I only ever attach it to the computer to add/delete books really.
After a year of this type of recharging it still gives me at least 10 hours play on the rare occasion I've not been near a plug, but I charge a lot, I simply don't want to be without my book!
ps I don't bother with the radio but my bro-in-law wanted to use it on the Clip+ he lifted from me lol. We discovered the radio also has a record function. If you're listening to a program you want to record, go to the Radio> Radio Options> scroll down to Recording> Record Now.
Aprilla:I have the precursor to the Creative Stone, the Zen Nano Plus - 1GB, runs on a AAA battery. Great for books, although only Audible (format 3) ones self-bookmark. It's only slightly larger than the Clip+, fitting well in my shirt pocket. My old one gave up the ghost after almost 5 years, so I got a refurbished one from ebay, and then I learned about the Clip+ not long after that.
5 years! It certainly didn't owe you anything :)The new Zens look really nice but I honestly don't want more than audiobooks on board. The house is full of gadgets and gizmos that do all sorts with music and books and video and internet and and and... but the only things that get daily use are the kettle, TV and the Clip+ ... and if I was alone we could leave out the TV. I have found my 'good place' :)
'till the next new thing!
Audiobooks
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