iPod: How to Convert MP3 files to iPod Audio Book format (m4b)
In this post we will discuss, how to convert a mp3 file to iPod audio format (.m4b). You may download lot of audio books in mp3 format and transfer it to you iPod for listening, but these files don’t have the useful features of iPod audio book format.
Why Convert MP3 audio book to iPod audio book format?
Audio books are most of the time quite large files, it’s unlikely that you listen them in one piece. Your iPod remembers the position where you stopped listening the last time. So when you continue listening to your audio book, maybe days later, you don’t have to waste time finding the right position to start. This even works, if you are listening to music or other audio books in the meantime. These features are only available for audio books in the iPod format (.m4b) but not for MP3 files.
How to convert MP3 files to iPod audio book format (m4b)?
1. Download MP3 to iPod Audio Book Converter from freeipodsoftware.com or from this mirror.
2. Add the files that you wish to convert by clicking “add button” and start the conversion process by clicking the “start conversion” button. The best part is that you can add multiple mp3 files and the program will merge it into a single iPod audio book file. Refer to the screenshot below (click it to enlarge)
3. The program will ask for file name and location where the file has to be saved. Give the required details and the conversion process would start. (click on the screenshot below to enlarge)
4. Once the conversion is complete transfer the newly created iPod audio book file to your iPod using iTunes. Now go and listen the audio book that you created. 
[eminimall products="ipod"]
Now that you are aware of the advantages that iPod audio book format (.m4b) offers, you should probably try converting all your audio books that are in MP3 format. So that you can listen to your large audio books in a much better way.
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[...] Convert MP3 files to iPod Audio Book format (m4b) by Shiva [...]
If you’re on a Mac, this is a much more elegant option, AudioBook Builder, check out the video review here.
http://www.macseven.com/files/20070128_update_video_review_of_audiobook_builder_by_splasm.html
1. Create M4A file from MP3 that can be played in iTunes at the appropriate (reduced) bitrate.
2. Convert the M4A file to an M4B file.
3. Augment the M4B file with bookmarks or ‘chapters’.
I have found the right tools and have successfully done this without any intermediate CDs. The results are quite acceptable. Additionally, I’ve been able to use some small tools to digitize books on tape and get them into my iPod too.
I have been looking for something like this ever since I bought my ipod, thanks! Now all of my audio books will go into the “audio books category, just hope it is really actually free.
How to edit the m4b/IPOD audiobook art (add cover picture)?
/Mike
I would, but everytime I download this my antivirus AVAST detects it as a trojan virus and stops the download. Anyone else has this problem?
Actually, it is incorrect when it says that the bookmarking playback feature is only available for audiobook files and not mp3s. You can easily make any mp3 file remember its playback position - just right-click on the file in iTunes, click ‘get info’, and on the ‘options’ tab click ‘remember playback position’. Done! Then it will always start playing in the place that you left off last time, even if you’ve listened to other songs in the meantime. You don’t have to convert to an audiobook file.