Audiobooks

This past October General Conference we introduced a new format: M4B

We've created audiobook files for each session in multiple languages. The M4B format allows for bookmarks and lets the listener skip and jump around to different speakers within the session. Also, the bookmark feature lets a listener pick up exactly where they left off. However, these features are only used on certain MP3 players, such as iPods. Other MP3 players can play M4B files, but do not always recognize the audiobook features (this could easily change in time with a simple firmware update on their part).

For iPod users, M4B files will show up in your Audiobooks folder rather than being shuffled around in music playlists.

We're always testing out audiobooks on different MP3 devices. And so if there is anyone using MP3 players that would like to put General Conference audiobooks on their personal players, we would love to hear your feedback on how they work. Thank you!

General Conference Audiobooks URL:
http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,4 ... -2,00.html

Thank you for this! Another advantage of the audiobook m4b format is that it allows iPod users to listen at a faster-than-normal speed without a higher-than-normal pitch. Newer iPods allow this with podcasts but, with older iPods, only audiobooks will play faster.

In iTunes you can go to the "info>options" setting on a given file and tell it under "media kind" to treat it like an audiobook even if it isn't in the m4b format. But I appreciate that you're creating files which will be recognized as audio books already.

It might be nice to offer the Standard Works audio book files in the m4b format too. Of course, that's asking someone to do a lot of busywork. Then again, I downloaded the MP3 files and converted them to m4b for my own use and it wasn't such a bad task (although the extra encoding step I performed probably took away some of the audio quality).

We are looking at publishing more audiobooks in the near future. The standard works is definitely on the list.

We're also looking at other avenues like Audible, so that our files will be made available on iTunes and Amazon as well (Audible is the 3rd party behind iTunes and Amazon audiobooks).

For now, the LDS audiobooks will be available from the lds.org website. I'll post the links once we get the others out there. I'm glad there is an audience for them!

This is fantastic! I would love you have the Scriptures in this format.

Hedrick wrote:For now, the LDS audiobooks will be available from the lds.org website. I'll post the links once we get the others out there. I'm glad there is an audience for them!

Could you use any help? I'd be happy to lend some time.

We're looking at getting our audiobooks on to iTunes. Since Audible is the big backer behind audiobooks on iTunes, we've been chatting with them on how to get our content on there.

Here are some questions I have and I would love to hear your feedback:

1. The Book of Mormon is about 25 hours long. Would you like the audiobook version to be split up in to 1, 2 or 3 M4B audiobook files?

2. What's the maximum length you would like to see on an M4B audiobook file?

3. Other than the scriptures, what are some other audiobooks you would like to listen to?

1. The Book of Mormon is about 25 hours long. Would you like the audiobook version to be split up in to 1, 2 or 3 M4B audiobook files?

2. Having the entire book in one file is a huge plus for me. Does m4b allow bookmarking to other m4b files? If so, that would give the benefit of one big file with the convenience of smaller files.

3. Other than the scriptures, what are some other audiobooks you would like to listen to?

Gospel Principles
General Conference
Ensigns
Lesson Manuals
Preach My Gospel
World Wide Leadership Trainings

I am interested in this. Have there been any updates lately?

I have an Android smartphone. I greatly prefer to have the conferences in an audiobook format so I can resume where I left off. I downloaded the audiobook in iTunes, but was not able to transfer it to my Android because of DRM issues. It would be great to have this removed or to have them available in Audible. Audible would be preferred because it is available to both Apple and non-Apple players. I tried to get my wife to listen to conference on her mp3 player, but it was too frustrating for her because she could not resume (no bookmarking on mp3) upon returning. She has Audible on her mp3 player.

I would second this comment. I do not know the particulars of audible format, but if we could have each of these books available for purchase or free from the audible store, I can download those anywhere, anytime... iphone, android, tablets, desktop, etc...

Thank you everyone for your feedback! I wanted to give you a quick update on our audiobook progress.

1. We are currently working with Audible to make available some audiobooks in Audible, Amazon and iTunes. This is the .aa audible format which plays on Android and iOS devices. It covers a wider range of devices (check out Audible's website for a full list of compatible devices). One of the issues with using Audible is that Audible charges listeners to download audiobooks. We like to make all our digital content available for free but using third parties like Audible require a charge to the user. Currently the Digital Distribution Committee is evaluating this and hopefully in the next 2-3 months we will move forward one way or another.

2. General Conference will continue having the audiobook format. We are doing 15 languages this time and in all 5 sessions plus the General Relief Society Meeting. Each session will be available on LDS.org's General Conference page within 5-8 hours after each session.

3. Because iTunes uses Audible for all things audiobooks, our way of getting around that is to make the audiobook format in podcast form. You can find these on itunes.lds.org (the URL will automatically pull up the Mormon Channel iTunes Page in iTunes). The scriptures are all available right now. I will work with the audiobook scripture team to strip the DRM from the audiobooks. There is no DRM on the General Conference audiobooks, but this may have been an oversight on the scriptures. I'll make sure those get changed and swapped out with DRM-free audiobooks asap. Thank you for the heads up on that!

4. We are working to make more audiobooks and the LDS Media Library site will house them. They are not quite in the audiobook/ebook distribution phase, but they are coming shortly. So even if our audiobooks are not on Audible, they will be available on the LDS Media Library.

Again, thank you for all your feedback. Let us know what you are finding out about the format. We're still working out all the kinks. We're continually refining our requirements and would love to hear from you! Feel free to shoot me an email as well if you have any thoughts or feedback: emily@ldschurch.org

Scriptures in MP3 used to be hosted here on lds.org. May I ask why they were removed? Having to download itunes is something I'm not at all excited about doing. Why not continue hosting them on lds.org for easy access to church members who are used to going there for content?

sgoodmansen wrote:Scriptures in MP3 used to be hosted here on lds.org. May I ask why they were removed? Having to download itunes is something I'm not at all excited about doing. Why not continue hosting them on lds.org for easy access to church members who are used to going there for content?

I'm not sure what location you are referring to that once hosted MP3 scriptures, but the scriptures are still available on Classic LDS.org at Church Publications in Compressed Audio Format.

Audible advertises that their audiobooks are compatible with over 500 devices, so this would be a big plus. It is also possible the DRM got into the files due to the software the Church was using to create the audiobooks, as that would probably have been an option in the software. Probably got left in as a result of forgetting to uncheck or check something while setting up the audiobook.

My name is Emily with the Media Services Department. I'm currently overseeing audiobook distribution for the Church. Currently our audiobook portfolio is for General Conference and the Christmas Devotional. We are looking at possibilities to develop more content for other broadcasts and shows. We have been working with Audible to distribute our content. However, they do have rigid requirements and unfortunately not a lot of our content could fall into publishing through Audible. We are currently working through this and hope to have a solution for our Android users as well as distribute to more devices. As we develop our audiobooks we would love to get your feedback and suggestions on how we can better make our content available to you.

iTunes M4B are encrypted with the bothersome DRM so it is hard for users to stream Audiobooks on different devices, so maybe you need some tools like iTunes M4B audiobooks to MP3 converter for helps.

Yes, I am using audible for audiobooks.