When it comes to audiobooks, the universal format used by many audiobook converters is MP3; however, when it comes to Apple devices, the format is M4B. This format contains almost everything you might need, such as chapter markers, hyperlinks, and even cover images. Another advantage of the M4B format is it is bookmarkable. This means that you can bookmark a chapter or page and return to it whenever you resume playing.
But if you convert MP3 to an audiobook, then there are two ways to go about it. For those who want to convert MP3 to an audiobook with chapters, you have come to the right place. This article will help you understand those two ways, and you can pick one method at your convenience.
Part 1. How to Convert MP3 to Audiobook (M4B) #Audacity
You can use Audacity and Audiobook Converter to create a merged audiobook with split chapters from your MP3 files. This method involves breaking down the MP3 file into smaller chapters using Audacity and then merging them into an M4B audiobook file with Audiobook Converter. While this may require some learning, the steps below will guide you through the process.
Step 1Identify and Label Chapter Breaks [MP3]
- Launch Audacity.
- Go to File > Import > Audio and select your MP3 audiobook file.
- The file will load into the Audacity interface.
- Use the Magnify (Zoom In) button or press CTRL + 1 to zoom in on the audio waveform for better visibility.
- Scroll through the audio track to locate the start of each chapter.
- Play the audio to confirm where each chapter begins and ends.
- Note the duration of silence before each chapter heading to establish a baseline for detecting chapter breaks.
Pro Tip: Label Chapter Breaks
- Press CTRL + A to select the entire audio track.
- Go to the Analyze menu and select Label Sounds (in newer versions of Audacity, this may be named differently, such as Silence Finder).
- Set the "Minimum Silence Duration" based on your earlier measurement (3-4 seconds is often effective).
- Click OK to label the silent segments.
- Manually review each label to ensure accuracy.
- Use Edit > Labels > Add Label at Selection (or press CTRL + B) to add labels if needed.
- Right-click on labels to delete any unnecessary ones.
Step 2Export Multiple Files [MP3]
- Once labels are correctly placed, go to File > Export > Export Multiple.
- Ensure Split files based on Labels is selected.
- Choose Using Label/Track Name for naming the files.
- Click Export to save each chapter as a separate MP3 file.
Step 3Merge Files into an M4B Audiobook [M4B]
- Launch Audiobook Converter.
- Drag and drop the MP3 files you exported from Audacity into the program window.
- Add files one at a time to control the order.
- Navigate to the Chapters tab.
- Verify that the chapter titles are correct.
- Right-click to edit chapter titles if needed.
- Options like Title, File_Name, or manual entry can be used for naming.
- Enter metadata for the audiobook, such as title, author, and cover art, at the bottom of the screen.
- Click Start to merge the files into an M4B audiobook format.
By following these steps, you can effectively convert your MP3 audiobook into an organized M4B format, ready for a seamless listening experience. If you encounter any issues, refer to the Reddit post by Step-3-Profit and the YouTube tutorial by Underdrummer for additional guidance.
Part 2. How to Convert MP3 to Audiobook (M4B) #iTunes
iTunes is a popular media player and library application that allows you to manage and organize your audio files. By converting your MP3 files into the M4B format and changing their media kind to "Audiobook" in iTunes, you can enjoy enhanced features such as bookmarking and better organization. This method is straightforward and involves a few key steps to ensure your MP3 files are properly recognized as audiobooks in iTunes.
Step 1Add MP3 to iTunes [MP3]
- Launch iTunes from your desktop or applications folder.
- Click on File in the top menu, then choose Add File to Library (or Add Folder to Library if you're adding multiple files).
- Select the MP3 files you want to convert. These files will now appear in your iTunes library.
Step 2Change the Media Kind to Audiobook [MP3]
- In iTunes, go to the Songs section under the Library tab to find your imported MP3 files. You can also use the search bar to find them quickly.
- Click on the MP3 file to select it. For multiple files, hold down the CTRL key (or CMD key on Mac) and click each file to select them all.
- Right-click on the selected files and choose Get Info.
- Change Media Kind to Audiobook:
- In the Get Info window, click the Options tab.
- Find the "Media Kind" dropdown menu and select Audiobook.
- Click OK to apply the changes.
Step 3Organize and Enhance Your Audiobook [MP3]
- While still in the Get Info window, go to the Details tab.
- Update the metadata such as title, artist (author), album (book title), and track number. This will help organize your audiobook in iTunes.
- In the Options tab, make sure the "Remember playback position" option is checked. This allows iTunes to remember where you left off in the audiobook.
- Optionally, you can change the artwork:
- Click the Artwork tab in the Get Info window.
- Click Add Artwork and choose an image file from your computer to use as cover art.
Step 4Convert to M4B Format [M4B] (Optional but Recommended)
- Go to Edit > Preferences (or iTunes > Preferences on Mac).
- In the General tab, click Import Settings and select AAC Encoder from the dropdown menu. Click OK.
- Go back to your library, select the MP3 files, right-click, and choose Create AAC Version. iTunes will create new AAC versions of your files.
- Locate the newly created AAC files in your iTunes Media folder on your computer. The path is usually something like Music > iTunes > iTunes Media > Music.
- Change the file extension from .m4a to .m4b. You may need to enable file extension visibility in your system's settings.
- Delete the old MP3 files from your iTunes library to avoid duplicates.
- Drag and drop the newly renamed .m4b files back into iTunes.
Part 3. How to Convert MP3 to Audiobook (M4B) #ViWizard
M4B - The audiobook file format:
As LABS mentions, a file with an M4B extension is an AAC encoded, MPEG-4 audio file, usually used within the Apple ecosystem to bundle audiobook files. In addition to storing audio content, the M4B file format also supports digital bookmarking (so that you can resume listening from the point you left off last time) and chapter markers (a feature similar to that found in DVDs).
Best MP3 to M4B Audiobook Converter - ViWizard Audio Converter:
For those who want to learn how to convert MP3 to Audiobook into different formats, you need to use an audio converter tool. The recommended tool is ViWizard Audio Converter. For Apple users, method one will be sufficient, but if you are an Android user, you will have to change the format because it won't work that way. So, what you can do is convert the MP3 to either M4B or M4A format. This fantastic audio converter is easy to use. The intuitive and easy-to-understand interface makes it one of the best audio converters. You can use this tool to convert MP3 into multiple other formats, such as WAV, FLAC, and AAC. Moreover, all the songs will be converted at 5X speed, which means you won't have to wait for a long time.
Please note that ViWizard Audio Converter is available for both Mac users and Windows users. You will first have to download and install ViWizard Audio Converter on your computer and then follow the steps mentioned below. Don't worry; you don't need to be a tech expert to start using ViWizard Audio Converter.
Key Features of ViWizard Audio Converter
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- Seamless compatibility with both iTunes and Audible audiobooks.
- Smooth transition for users with collections integrated into the iTunes platform.
- Extends capabilities to Audible, accommodating users storing AA/AAX files.
- Supports various output formats, including MP3, WAV, AAC, M4A, FLAC, etc.
By now, you have learned that ViWizard Audio Converter is the best tool to use to convert MP3 to audiobooks with chapters. The files will be converted fast and downloaded in the local folder of your computer, which you can later transfer to the device where you want to listen to the audiobook.
Step 1Launch ViWizard Audio Converter and add MP3 files
Download and install ViWizard Audio Converter on your computer. Now, launch it. The main screen will give you two options to upload the MP3 files that you want to convert to audiobooks with chapters. You can drag and drop the files; else, click on the Add Files option to manually add the MP3.
Step 2Set output format for Audiobook
After the songs are added to the audio converter, you can make some changes to the output format and audio parameters. Since you want to convert MP3 to Audiobooks with chapters, the recommended format to choose is M4B and M4A. Along with that, you can change codec, channel, sample rate, and bit rate.
Step 3Convert MP3 files
Once you are satisfied with the changes you have made, please click on the convert option. ViWizard Audio Converter will convert the MP3s at 5X speed. Next, click on the file option to locate the downloaded file on your computer. Now, your Audiobooks are ready with chapters.
Conclusion
Now you have learned how to convert MP3 to Audiobook in Windows and Mac. For iTunes users, as mentioned earlier, method one will be enough, but if you want to convert the audiobooks with chapters in different formats, try ViWizard Audio Converter. To download, please visit the official website of ViWizard Audio Converter.
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