Chapter 8: Import Audio Cd Audio Books To Itunes

Many people think that the iPod is only for music. If you do, you are missing out on a big feature since the iPod is ideal for listening to audio books. The iPod can provide you with a great audio book experience. However, if you listen to a lot of audio books it can get expensive downloading them from the iTunes Music Store. This is the time for you to find a source of free audio books.

One good source for free audio books is the public library where you can often find them on CD. Audio book CDs can’t be played directly on your iPod. This is where iTunes is so invaluable. iTunes is known for making it possible for you to import CDs, keep them organized, and synced with your iPod. However, there is one problem even with iTunes: iTunes has been optimized for music CDs. It is often hit and miss when it comes to producing audio book files that are easy to use on an iPod. This is because the size and quality of an audio book CD file from the library isn’t always as good as the audio book files you get when you purchase your book from the iTunes Music Store. There are a few things that you can do to improve your luck when it comes to downloading audio book CDs from the library, or other free sources, to your iPod.
Optimize your Import Settings

The first thing that you need to do is make sure that your import settings are at their optimum best for the spoken word and audio books. The following steps will ensure that your import settings are the best that they can be:

*Open up iTunes and click on the preferences dialog.
*Click on the advanced icon. Then click on the importing tab.
*Choose the on CD insert to show songs. You don’t want to choose the auto-import because when you are in the process of importing an audio book there are some steps that need to be completed before the import begins. If the import begins automatically make sure to stop it.
*In the import using pop up choose the AAC encoder. You’ll get higher quality when you choose this format as well as get better support for your audio bookmarks.
*When the setting pop up comes up, choose custom.
*Choose a stereo bit rate of 64 kbps when the AAC encoder setting dialog appears. You’ll also want to choose (1) sample rate of auto, (2) channels of auto, and (3) make sure that optimize for voice is checked.
*Click okay.
*Uncheck play songs while you are importing the audio book. You’ll also want to uncheck the use error correction when reading audio CDs option. Both of these options will slow down the import process so you’ll want to have them both unchecked to speed things up.
*Click okay.

Once you have optimized your import settings on your iPod you will find that importing audio book CDs is that much easier. This will certainly encourage you to use your iPod for than just music.

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