Post by: kimmer on June 23, 2007, 10:27:51 PM
An author posted a note on a list about audio books and downloading them ... and mentioned that there were available at Audible dot Com and through the iTunes store.
What really attracted me was this comment from the author:
QUOTE
Audible is becoming a great audio book outlet for those of us who don't sell more than five or six thousand copies of a title. Since they don't do actual CDs or jewel case boxes or ship to stores, they are willing to take on titles other audio book producers won't. And their recordings show up in the iTunes store as well. I think this is a terrific thing for we non-NY-Times-Bestselling mystery writers. A chance to have our books "heard" as well as read.
Sounded pretty cool so I went looking.
Books are $15.95 per book iTunes stores (at least the ones I looked at were that price).
Audible dot com is $14.95 per month (although they have a special going right now), and you need their software (or did I misread that?)
I don't know how the price compares to audio books you'd buy at the store as I've never checked into them.
Has anyone else tried audio books via either of these downloads?
I was thinking I might like to try this (likely through the iTunes store since I have an acct and the software already)
.... but my questions are ... - How do I burn these books to cd/dvd? The books I looked at were over 8 hours.
- Can I burn through iTunes and will it do a decent job of shifting to several cd's, or will it cut off in mid-sentence?
- Do I need to use DVD's rather than cd's?
- Can I buy a book, burn to cd and give as a gift to someone?
- Can they be burned so that I can listen through my reg. cd player?
Post by: sandbox on June 24, 2007, 04:55:01 AM
http://www.archive.org/details/librivoxaudio
Post by: Frances144 on June 24, 2007, 06:36:55 AM
Post by: AmicusE on June 24, 2007, 11:52:53 AM
QUOTE(sandbox @ Jun 24 2007, 05:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Here's a free source, listen online or download.
http://www.archive.org/details/librivoxaudio
http://www.archive.org/details/librivoxaudio
Wonderful site, thank you very much.
All the best/æ
Post by: kimmer on June 25, 2007, 11:29:00 AM
I'm still hoping someone can help answer my basic questions (at the end of my post).
Post by: sandbox on June 25, 2007, 01:28:10 PM
QUOTE(kimmer @ Jun 25 2007, 12:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks for the site, sandbox. The only prob is they don't have the books I'm looking for - not current enough for myself or my friend.
I'm still hoping someone can help answer my basic questions (at the end of my post).
I'm still hoping someone can help answer my basic questions (at the end of my post).
ops
* How do I burn these books to cd/dvd? The books I looked at were over 8 hours.
If the book is on dvd then you would make a disk image on your desktop and copy it to a new dvd. If the book is an audio feed you could use a piece of software called audio recorder or audio hijack to record the feed.
* Can I burn through iTunes and will it do a decent job of shifting to several cd's, or will it cut off in mid-sentence?
audio hijack lets you set the start and finish line.
* Do I need to use DVD's rather than cd's?
depends on the length of recording. You will first copy the book to your computer, measure it and then see how much space you need.
* Can I buy a book, burn to cd and give as a gift to someone? sure but it's not legal.
* Can they be burned so that I can listen through my reg. cd player? Yes if your cd player, stand-alone dvd or dvd player connected to your TV is relatively new.
Post by: kimmer on June 25, 2007, 05:19:17 PM
'
It looks like I'll need several cds/dvds per book and that's okay -- as long as I can illegitimately buy and give away. My friend doesn't see well enough to read, so audio books are her life to "books". I think this would be a cool gift if I can get it to work.
Post by: sandbox on June 25, 2007, 10:43:47 PM
Which books? example please.
Post by: Xairbusdriver on June 26, 2007, 03:03:25 PM
QUOTE(kimmer)
as long as I can illegitimately buy and give away.
Is that what's called a "Freudian slip"? 
I'm a little surprised that there isn't a 'sight-challenged' help agency that might be supplying this kind of product to those with your friends needs. 
Our county library system broadcasts about 18 hours a day of book and newspaper readings on FM, they're almost always looking for volunteers to do the reading.As for playing them on CD players, as long as they are recorded as 'regular' AIFFs, they'll play on any CD music player. If you use MP3 to compress them, you will need a newer model player.
Post by: kimmer on June 26, 2007, 04:24:59 PM
QUOTE(sandbox @ Jun 25 2007, 07:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Which books? example please.
How about books by Chris Grabenstein? They are at iTunes and audible.com; but not the site you just shared.
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Jun 26 2007, 12:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE(kimmer)
as long as I can illegitimately buy and give away.
Is that what's called a "Freudian slip"? ROFLOL!!!!!!!! Oh gads ... yes ... major slip.
QUOTE
I'm a little surprised that there isn't a 'sight-challenged' help agency that might be supplying this kind of product to those with your friends needs.
Might be one that's mail order. Our library has a GREAT selection of audio books, but I also wanted some by authors that don't sell the thousands of copies needed for the publishers to go audio with their books.
QUOTE
As for playing them on CD players, as long as they are recorded as 'regular' AIFFs, they'll play on any CD music player. If you use MP3 to compress them, you will need a newer model player.
So I can do it with iTunes, and I think I can grab them at audible.com as well. Once my computer and net connection are functioning on a reg. basis again, I'll look into it more closely.
THANKS!
Post by: sandbox on July 02, 2007, 02:02:13 AM
Audible http://www.audible.com/adbl/store/btq/xmra...es&noExit=1
http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelguide.x...h=sonic_theater
Post by: kimmer on July 02, 2007, 07:40:31 PM
I listen to either NPR radio, or one of the local stations early in the morning -- otherwise it's cd's. My selection, my mix - when I want and no monthly service fee.
Thanks anyhow about the audio books. I think I'll download one from the iTunes store and see how it goes.
Post by: sandbox on July 03, 2007, 05:14:13 AM
Post by: kimmer on July 03, 2007, 12:12:44 PM
QUOTE(sandbox @ Jul 3 2007, 03:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
For 8 bucks a month a person could listen to many books and their genre of music. ....so they'll be getting their moneys worth for a hundred bucks per year.
Not if the audio books I'm looking for aren't available without paying that "12-16 bucks."