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Follow these steps to convert your own CD to an iTunes/iPod readable 'Audiobook.'
*Rip the CD to AAC. You can join tracks if you'd like, and considering how it's just spoken word, it's not a big deal to lower the bit rate as low as 32 kbps. If the 'Join CD Tracks' command in the Advanced menu is grayed out, check out this doc: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93624
*Find the file(s) in the library.
*Right Click, show file. (Ctrl+R)
*Make sure that the file extensions are viewable. If they are, you'll see Track 1.m4a etc. If they aren't, go to Tools>Folder Options... on the menu bar. Click 'View' (middle tab). Make sure that 'Hide Extensions For Known File Types' is unchecked. Ok your way out of there.
*Click on the file you want to 'audiobookize.'
*After clicking and waiting a second, it should become 'editable.' If it doesn't, press F2.
*Change the last letter of the file from 'a' to 'b.' ex. 01 - title.m4a to 01 - title.m4b
*Go back to iTunes.
*Delete the files from the library.
*Drag the edited files into the library.
*Sync to iPod.
If you have multiple files, and want to rename them all easily, use this DOS command, brought to you by narya:
*Open a command line (Start>Run>cmd)
*Navigate to the folder with your audiobook files (cd c:\Documents and Settings\username\My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music\ etc)
*Type ren *.m4a *.m4b
*That's all!
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Note 1:
Audiobooks ripped using this method will show up in the Audiobooks section of the iPod, and you will be able to speed up/slow down, as well as save a bookmark. However, they will still show up in the 'Music' section of your iPod, and still get mixed in when you 'Shuffle Music,' (iPod Software as of March 20th 2005). To Shuffle Songs without audiobooks, make a new Smart playlist in iTunes, 'Genre is not Audiobooks/Comedy/Spoken Word' as you like, and shuffle that. First set the iPod-wide Shuffle to songs in Settings>Shuffle, then play the playlist.
Note 2:
If you're using a Mac, you have the much easier route of the AppleScript. Just rip into AAC (or convert to AAC), then run this Script from the excellent 'Doug's AppleScripts for iTunes' page: http://www.malcolmadams.com/itunes/scripts/ss.php?sp=makebookmarkable
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With assistance of many, with bigups going to Otto, who first pointed out the m4b thing to me.
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