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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:40 pm Post subject: Audiobook delivery poll

If you had to choose a delivery method, would you rather have one or two several hour long MP3 files or would you rather have a zip file with individual chapter files?

Clarification: I'm looking at this from a consumer standpoint. If you bought an audiobook from my site at SpringBrookAudio.com, would you prefer a large MP3 or a zip file with chapter files?
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cyclometh · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:46 pm Post subject:

I'd have to go with the second option, as it would make it much easier to find a particular point.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:02 pm Post subject:

The current concern is the average user not knowing what to do with a zip file and forcing them to use a separate utility to extract the files. Then fubaring it up somehow.
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Scott Pollak · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 4:14 am Post subject:

To me the question is slightly confusing due to your follow-up comment.

Are you asking if we, the people who do stuff like this for a living, would prefer to receive audio files this way?

OR...... are you saying would an average listener prefer to receive audio files zipped or as mammoth unzipped files?

Your follow up seems to imply that the 'average joe' - that is, someone NOT in our profession - might not be familiar with file compression utilities.

Can you clarify the question a bit? Cuz what I might prefer might or might NOT be what the average Joe prefers. And if you're wondering what the average Joe would want, you may have trouble finding a representative sample on a highly specialized forum like this.
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:06 am Post subject:

If you're talking from the consumer position, I'm happy with the format Audible.com uses with one, two, or three large mp3 files with chapter breaks built into them. My iPod handles them quite well. Their automatic downloading system seems to work quite well too.

I've dealt with a few books in separate chapter files and they won't run through the iTunes/iPod book program. They're treated like a music album.

And from the narrator position I send individual chapters by FTP in full wav format and let the publisher worry about the rest.

B
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:42 am Post subject:

@Bruce, there was no option for C) The Audible way. Smile

In truth, I'd love to be able to do that, but I have no idea how they're doing it. I have yet to figure out a way to add chapter breaks to a single MP3 file. Must be something with their .aa wrapper.
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Bruce · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 1:18 pm Post subject:

Re: Adding chapters, Try this article from CNET:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10115890-49.html

I haven't had a chance to try it but it sounds right from a quick read.

B
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I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject:

Sorry, Bruce, I'm not sure how that's relevant. That article explains to the user how to get their Audiobooks to show up as "audiobooks" in iTunes.

Did I miss something? Also, keep in mind, that not everyone uses an iPod.
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whalewtchr · Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:38 pm Post subject:

I would go with the large mp3's to allow me to figure it out on my end and how I utilize...as a consumer that is. I don't need it neatly divided into chapters at your end, as I do not listen chapter by chapter, I listen til I am tired of listening or I need to leave the car. Having files identified as audiobook files for i-Pod in advance is cool though.
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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:16 am Post subject:

Not everyone uses an iPod, but iDo, so I like the separate chapter files.
I buy audiobook CDs and rip them into my computer, then into my iPod.

THEN I give the audiobook CD set to the library.
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Bish · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:03 pm Post subject:

I seem to have a threshold with the number of files... if I've got a book with less than ten or a dozen files, I tend to leave it as it is... but if it's more than that, I'll run them through my "mp3 joiner" and get it to spit out one big file. If I'm ripping CDs, then one file per CD (approx one hour) is just fine. I had a book the other day which was around sixty short chapter files for a six hour read with most files just running out at between about five and seven minutes... the length of a music album track!

It should be noted that I manage all my files through iTunes and play them on an iPod... I don't particularly use bookmarking, but it automatically remembers where you left off, so no problem. I'm currently working my way through Keith Richards "Life", which was delivered as three files of around eight hours each. That works for me.
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Jen Gosnell · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:54 am Post subject:

For me, the big files would be better - just easier to manage, IMHO.

I have no problem knowing what to do with a zip file, but I am not the average Joe Schmoe user either. My mother, OTOH, would be beyond lost with a zip file - but she is on the far un-savvy-user end of the scale. She also might have trouble knowing what to do with a big file once she got it. Undecided

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