photohk

Q: Unable to upgrade artwork on audiobooks

I've been unable to upgrade (or even delete) artwork on my audiobook files to higher resolution files after 12.5.1.  And so I'm stuck with the almost illegible low res' files provided by the vendor (typically Audible in my case).

 

Grateful for advice if anyone has a work-around.

 

I note from other posts that there are several issues with artwork on albums too.  I've been okay with individual album covers but have the same issue as reported elsewhere with the artist photos that have now disappeared in favour of a microphone, except in cases of purchases from iTunes.

 

You can count on Apple to mess-up something on iTunes with every upgrade.

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on Sep 28, 2016 9:42 AM

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Q: Unable to upgrade artwork on audiobooks

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  • Helpful answers

  • by jameson.h,

    jameson.h jameson.h Sep 29, 2016 12:28 PM in response to photohk
    Community Specialists
    Sep 29, 2016 12:28 PM in response to photohk

    Hi photohk,

     

    Welcome to the Apple Support Communities!

     

    From your post, it sounds like you want to edit the artwork on your audiobooks. If this is the case, the following article explains how to complete the process. 

     

    iTunes for Mac: Add artwork to songs and other items

     

    Cheers!

  • by photohk,

    photohk photohk Sep 30, 2016 12:45 AM in response to jameson.h
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iTunes
    Sep 30, 2016 12:45 AM in response to jameson.h

    Hello jameson.h,

     

    Thank you for taking the time to answer my post.  However, this is what I have been doing for several years (although I can only access 'Get info' via Command-clicking on the file, and not via the 'File' menu).  I have tried repeatedly to change the artwork both by dragging the preferred jpg file and by opening it via the Artwork box, i.e. as per the iTunes guidance article you linked for me.  Initially all appears to be fine but when I close the 'Get info' box, the artwork reverts to the original low-res' version that came with the download.

     

    I am no expert, for sure, but it seems to me that a bug has been introduced with 12.5.1.

     

    Thanks again,

    Nick

    Hong Kong

  • by chris_g1,

    chris_g1 chris_g1 Sep 30, 2016 8:49 AM in response to photohk
    Community Specialists
    Sep 30, 2016 8:49 AM in response to photohk

    Hi photohk ,
     

    Thank you for following back up with us. At this point, because you are unable to permanently change the artwork for your audiobooks, it may be best for you to contact us directly so we can really dig in to this situation. 

     

    To contact us, use the following link:

     

    Apple - Support - Product Selection

     

    Have a great day!

  • by photohk,

    photohk photohk Oct 1, 2016 1:54 AM in response to chris_g1
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 1, 2016 1:54 AM in response to chris_g1

    Thanks, I've followed your suggestion,

    Nick

  • by iamsink,

    iamsink iamsink Oct 13, 2016 1:24 AM in response to photohk
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 13, 2016 1:24 AM in response to photohk

    I have this same issue - low resolution audio files that look a pig on my mac.

     

    I had previously been managing my audiobooks and their artwork just fine until I upgraded to iTunes 12.5.

     

    The way I used to do it:

     

    command 'i', artwork tab, add artwork, select a higher resolution file downloaded (from the internet from a designated folder that stays in the same place and backed up), select that file, click ok. Job done.

     

    The update has reverted all my audiobooks to low resolution files, which not only looks a pig in iTunes, but also stops me from recognising what audio file is which and now i can't go back in and undo what the update had done. It's infuriating.

     

    What it's like now after the update:

     

    If try to repeat this logical and simple process to my audio files, iTunes does not remember to complete my simple instructions to manually change my audio art work files. iTunes now has amnesia and simply reverts back to the pig art work audible supplies. All the artwork for my iTunes music files seem to be in tact, even in cases where I edited the artwork of those files (because my music library includes rare music files that came from physical album copies that iTunes does not have the artwork for). So the issue appears to be artwork associated solely with audio files. So then, my extended question to this quandary is this: Have the clever iTunes coders intentionally sabotaged the way audio files appear in iTunes because they want audio listeners to swap over to apple audio? Because they know audio listeners are a fickle and picky bunch and nothing grinds the bookish more than ugly pixelated artwork or a bent crumpled book jacket - shrewd and clever iTunes, shame on you. Sure, Its a clever ruse that the same mentality that operates in the IKEA packing department also operates in an iTunes lab; omitting necessary tools to complete a simple task, leaving your customers blind with rage and anxiety about something that doesn't really matter - you clever, annoying little geniuses iTunes (and IKEA).

     

    Please help me whip my audio files back into their former pretty glory and rid them of this pixelated menace. 

  • by photohk,

    photohk photohk Oct 14, 2016 10:55 PM in response to iamsink
    Level 1 (5 points)
    iTunes
    Oct 14, 2016 10:55 PM in response to iamsink

    I have extended my tests to my music library and have found this issue affects all my iTunes artwork, not just audiobooks, although it's really only noticeable on the latter due to the poor quality.

     

    As noted above, I did contact Apple Support and was given a few suggestions such opening a new library.  I have not followed this all through fully as I am fairly sure the issue is connected to whatever they changed to give us Apple's photos for artists in the Artist view ... but only if you have purchased an album of that artist from iTunes it seems!  I would like to think this was not something that was intended when they revamped iTunes and so hopefully it will be fixed soon.

     

    Meanwhile, I'm stuck with Audible's grotty pixelated sleeve photo's that come with their audiobook files.  Incidentally, earlier this week I showed a chum the audiobook I am currently "reading" - the audiobook title was barely legible but his question was "Gosh, have you changed your 'phone from Apple to Samsung?"  I did correct him on that!