Libro.fm for audiobooks

[rhyta]

I thought I would put in a plug for the Libro.fm audiobook program. I switched from Audible in March to it and think it is a good alternative to Audible. It helps your local bookstore and all the files are DRM free and MP3.

I don't like to listen on my phone so I like that I can download these onto an MP3 player easily. They do have an app that looks like it would be similar to other audiobooks services.

Take a look, it might be worth it to check out. https://libro.fm/

One reason I left Audible is their change to enhanced files, I know they want everyone to use their phones to listen and they say the change improved the sound quality but it makes the file twice as big as before and therefore harder to use an MP3 player.

[odamizu]

Has anyone used Libro.fm's download option recently to download mp3 or m4b? If so, does it have chapters?

[icedtea]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Has anyone used Libro.fm's download option recently to download mp3 or m4b? If so, does it have chapters?

I've purchased a couple audiobooks from Google Play, but the download is m4a format without chapters. Loading it into an audiobook player (e.g., Bound or BookPlayer for iOS) results in a single long volume with no chapters in the TOC.

I'm fairly sure downloads from Libro were normal (assuming the publisher's files included chaptering and table of contents); although I only have a handful of purchases there.

Like you, I've bought a few from the Play store and was very disappointed that the m4a files seem to be without chapters across the board (my books there were almost all from a Big 4 publisher so pretty sure those books have working chapters when obtained elsewhere). I don't know why Play seems to ignore / not included chapters.

[odamizu]

Thank you! I may give Libro a try, then.

I do know that when you listen to a Google Play audiobook on the Google Play app you get chapters. I'm guessing the downloadable m4a is deliberately chapter-less to encourage you to use the app and discourage sharing while at the same time enabling Google to claim they provide (crippled) DRM-free downloads.

Originally Posted by icedtea

I'm fairly sure downloads from Libro were normal (assuming the publisher's files included chaptering and table of contents); although I only have a handful of purchases there.

Like you, I've bought a few from the Play store and was very disappointed that the m4a files seem to be without chapters across the board (my books there were almost all from a Big 4 publisher so pretty sure those books have working chapters when obtained elsewhere). I don't know why Play seems to ignore / not included chapters.

[rhyta]

When I download the files, they have multiple parts and it always says the chapter number at the beginning of the narration.

I use the MP3 format.

[odamizu]

Originally Posted by rhyta

When I download the files, they have multiple parts and it always says the chapter number at the beginning of the narration.

I use the MP3 format.

Thank you! Is each mp3 file a chapter or are there multiple chapters in one mp3 file? And do you get a Table of Contents with chapter titles or does the Table of Contents simply label each mp3 file as Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, etc.?

[icedtea]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Thank you! I may give Libro a try, then.

I do know that when you listen to a Google Play audiobook on the Google Play app you get chapters. I'm guessing the downloadable m4a is deliberately chapter-less to encourage you to use the app and discourage sharing while at the same time enabling Google to claim they provide (crippled) DRM-free downloads.

Ah, I had no idea, thanks for this heads up. I've never actually used the Play app.

Your question made me login to double check file types, and I'm pleased that m4b files have been added to some of my books where zipped mp3 was the only download option previously.

My mp3s from Libro seem to be one mp3 file equals one chapter, so there isn't a table of contents at the file level, but I don't think audiobooks work that way like an ebook.
I think as long as the file names are correctly named in the metadata for sequential play, the app/device playing them should automatically play them in order.
You can manually edit/rename the metadata and file names to your liking with something like mp3tag. I add leading zeroes to files that don't have them, so 01 instead of just 1.

This book shows as free for me, if you want to test - https://libro.fm/audiobooks/97816649...rbidden-ground

[odamizu]

Thanks @icedtea!

[rhyta]

Originally Posted by odamizu

Thank you! Is each mp3 file a chapter or are there multiple chapters in one mp3 file? And do you get a Table of Contents with chapter titles or does the Table of Contents simply label each mp3 file as Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, etc.?

Looks like someone already answered your question, I didn't get email notification until today you had responded.

There is no table of contents but each MP3 file is a chapter and they are in sequential order. Hope this helps.

[odamizu]

Thanks @rhyta!