How to work around audiobook limit?

Question

How to work around audiobook limit?

The ipod doesn't handle audiobooks (m4b) that are over 13 hours properly. It plays fine, but if you try to rewind a bit after passing the 13 hours mark, it "snaps" back to 13 hours or so.
for example I was on a plane listening to an 18h long audio book, around the 16 hour mark I got distracted by a flight attendant and missed a crucial minute of the book. I rewinded a few minutes without thinking and bam! the audio book now starts playing at the 13h mark or so, wiht no way to fast forward back to 16h. The only way I know to deal with it is to re-listen to the 3 hours of audiobook before catching to where I was. Let me tell you I had a few choice words not repeated here about Apple's "quality" products.
I've seen an explanation somewhere about the technical reason for the limitation (something about the max file size?), but I also hear Audible files don;t suffer such as limitation.

I'm assuming Apple will never fix this on the Classic, since it's all about the iPhone now. What is the best way to deal with it? if I split the audiobook into two files smaller than 13 hours each, each file will appear in my audiobook list twice(since I always keep a dozen books around for those long international flights, it is a big deal to me). I will have to manually start the second part of the book, which is just dumb and detracts from the user experience.

Is there a "seamless" way to make it work?

ipod classic 80G, firmware 1.0.3, Windows XP Pro, Winamp 5.52 + ml_ipod 3.08

Posted on Jul 8, 2009 10:18 PM

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Answer 1

Wichie1

Level 1

0 points

Aug 5, 2009 4:18 PM in response to papaschtroumpf

Hi,

ok I have several suggestions:

* when adding an audiobook to itunes (so the basic files), make sure you have a file for each chapter. When copying from your audioCD this should automatically happen (pop cd in computer with itunes running and it should ask whether you want to add the files to the library). Same when buying audiobooks from itunes, or downloading from free sites like librivox. Solves the length issue.

This, of course, can result in about 60 or more files for the one book, so:
take care these files are named correctly so they are in order.
I have tons of audiobooks on my ipod at the same time (lot's of travelling) and my system is as follows: name of the book_01 name of the book_02 etc.
This should result in automatic correct sorting. If it doesn't mess around a bit with the info tab information like track/cd number to get this sorted.

Also select all your audiobook files and,(again) right click select "show info" (I'm running itunes in Dutch so might show up with a different title here), then look on the different tabs and enable the function 'skip when in shuffle mode"
As well I like to tell itunes it's dealing with an audiobook rather than music (should be same tab).

Then what I do is I make a playlist (file/add playlist) or folder with several playlists (eg for historical books vs sci fi etc). Still in itunes, and give the playlist the name of the book. Add alle the files. Check the sorting (on name) en then add this playlist to your ipod (just drag it up there or run synchronise).

On your Ipod you'd select your book like any normal playlist. Scrolling back whitin any chapter is no problem and can be achieved in the normal way.

So might sound like a lot of work, but can be done really quickly once one gets into the habit.

Good luck!

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