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About MP3-CDs and Players
About MP3 (most) MP3 Players iPods
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About MP3-CDs
MP3 is shorthand for Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG), Audio Layer 3. Layer 3 is the level of audio compression used. What this means
is that the total file size is smaller, without sacrificing audio quality, allowing for more storage. While a regular audio CD
holds 74 minutes of audio, our MP3-CDs can hold up to 12.5 hours of audio at 128kbps. Also, if the primary use of the audiobook
is to be played on a MP3 device, it is the most practical as the longer tracks create less file 'clutter' and MP3-CD audiobooks
cost less,averaging only $20-$30. This all makes MP3 an excellent choice for audiobooks.
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MP3 Players
MP3 is a data file, compared to an audio CD that contains audio files. Since they are data files, you need a special player to listen to MP3 files.
There are now many new CD players that are listed as MP3 compatible. Also, many new cars have MP3 compatible audio systems.
A new CD player that is MP3 compatible can play regular audio CDs, however many old CD players cannot play MP3 CDs. In addition,
computer media players (Windows Media Player, iTunes) can play MP3's. Now, there are also many portable MP3 devices (iPod, Zune, even cell phones) that can be
loaded with MP3 files.
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How to transfer Tantor audiobooks to (most) MP3 devices
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These instructions are meant to serve as a general guideline. For further instructions consult your MP3 player instruction manual.
Step 1:
Start the multimedia player of your choice, for example Window’s Media Player. The MP3 device likely
came with a multimedia player that is suited for a specific MP3 player. You can also use Windows Media Player,
a standard multimedia player that is on most computers. For the purpose of simplicity, we will use Windows Media
Player as the example as to how to upload music.
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Step 2:
Attach the MP3 device to your computer.
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Step 3:
Insert CD 1 into the disc drive. The CD will automatically start to play in Windows Media Player.
If using one of our MP3 CD’s, the titles of the tracks will be listed. If using an audio CD audiobook, many of our newer titles
will download the 'album' information from an online database.
Step 4:
Select [File]>>[Add to Library]>>[Add folder..] to download the audiobook to Window’s Media Player library.
Select the folder in the disc drive where the Tantor audiobook appears, typically (D) or (E). This will upload the
entire audio CD content to the Windows Media Player library. If the audiobook is more than one audio CD, the track names will have to be renamed so that there are not
duplicate track 1, track 2, etc. for each imported disc.
Repeat step 3 & 4 until all mp3/CD’s have been uploaded
into Window’s Media Player.
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Step 5:
Go to the >>[Media Library] tab which is typically on the right side of the Media Player.
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Step 6:
Identify (by highlighting with your mouse or choosing Select All) all of the Tantor audiobook files that were just
added to Windows Media Player Library.
Step 7:
‘Right click’ on the highlighted text and choose >>[Copy to CD or Device]
Step 8:
In the List pane, verify that the items selected to synchronize will fit on the device, as shown in the screen shot.
If necessary, remove items from the list.
Step 9:
Click Start Sync
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How to transfer Tantor audiobooks to iPods
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These instructions are meant to serve as a general guideline. For further instructions consult your iPod instruction manual.
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iPod
Apple's iPod is one of the most popular portable media players out there. They offer a variety of ways to enjoy listening your audiobooks, however
this can add some extra steps in getting the most of your audiobook. Primarily, they require the use of Apple's iTunes. Some other things
to consider are if the iPod is set to 'automatic' or 'manual' update and if the audiobook is audio CD or MP3 format. Also, the iPod Shuffle,
as a 'shuffle' player does not accommodate audiobooks well. A bonus for users who are ambitious, is that iPods recognize special
'audiobook' files that have the ability to bookmark, adjust playback speed, and more.
In order to listen to your audiobook the basic idea is to get your audiobook from the CD to your computer, then onto your iPod. Depending on the audiobook format and iPod settings,
there are different ways to go about this.
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Audio CD to iPod
Using an audio CD audiobook with iPod on automatic update.
When a disc is inserted into a computer, iTunes will contact the Gracenote online database (requires an internet connection) and download
'album' information, filling in track information, title, author. Many of our new titles are in the database. However, if the audiobook
has not yet been entered into the online database,
you will have to rename all of the tracks in sequential order for the iPod to play the audiobook tracks in the proper order.
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Audio CD with Gracenote info
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Step 1: Open iTunes and insert disc 1 into the computer. iTunes will attempt to contact the Gracenote online database and download
'album' information.
Step 2:Click 'Import CD'
If the audiobook has track information, repeat for all discs. If not, when the disc is finished importing, go to [Library]>>[music] and
locate the tracks that were just imported. 'Right-click' on the track, choose >>[Get Info]>>[info] and enter track information.
You can then choose 'next' to rename the next track. If this is not done, when all the CDs have been imported, you will be left with
several 'track 1's, 'track 2's, etc.
Step 3: When all discs have been imported, connect the iPod to the computer and iTunes will automatically sync to the iPod.
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MP3-CD to iPod
Using a MP3-CD audiobook with iPod on manual update.
This is probably the quickest and most straightforward way. Since it is basically transferring data files there are slightly
different methods of doing it, essentially...
Step 1: Insert the MP3-CD into the computer and open it to view the files, [My Computer]>>[CD drive letter].
Step 2: Open iTunes and connect iPod. In iTunes, browse to the iPod's music, [iPod name]>>[music].
Step 3: Select all files from the CD (ctrl+a) and click-and-drag/copy+paste into [iTunes]>>[iPod]>>[music].
If there is some difficulty taking the files straight from the CD to the iPod, it may be easier to copy the files to the computer first.
Create a folder on the computer named the title of the audiobook. Click-and-drag/copy+paste the files from the CD to this folder, then
from there to the iPod.
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Transferring files
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About MP3 (most) MP3 Players iPods
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