Splasm Software Discussions

Hey there.

Long-time user and lover of ABB. I just recently found an issue with a couple of books I created from iTunes audiobook podcasts.

I know that sometimes the podcast track order doesn't translate to ABB properly, so I've made it a habit to always create a new playlist and use that to create an audiobook. This has always worked for me in the past, but I'm not able to get the tracks over in the correct order unless I drag or hilite and add from ABB with only 3 at a time. If I do more, the tracks get mixed up. Also, the start time I've set for all the chapters is not honored when played back in the completed audiobook. Each track plays from time zero, even though I set the start seconds or minutes into the chapter.

I haven't made audiobooks in a while, so I don't know if it was an update to ABB, an update to iTunes, or what.

I'm currently using a MacBook Pro running 10.7.5, ABB 1.5.3, and iTunes 11.0.2.

More details on the sorting problem:
The podcast I'm having difficulty with is "We're Alive" on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/wer ... 00476?mt=2) and the tracks are named

Chapter 1 - It Begins - Part 1 of 3
Chapter 1 - It Begins - Part 2 of 3
Chapter 1 - It Begins - Part 3 of 3
Chapter 2 - The Two Things - Part 1 of 3
Chapter 2 - The Two Things - Part 2 of 3
Chapter 2 - The Two Things - Part 3 of 3
....

If I just drag them or add them as they're displayed in the playlist (like above) they add with all the "Part 1" then all the "Part 2", etc. If I drag or add them in groups of 3 then they appear in ABB in the correct order.

I'm hoping someone recognizes the symptoms and there's an easy fix.

Thanks for any useful or helpful info,


Markie

It's all about the naming scheme for the files you're using. Typically, Audiobooks are broken down into Parts first and foremost and so Audiobook Builder's probably lumping all of your Part 1's together, all the Part 2's together, and so on because in many situations, this would be correct for an Audiobook where matching Part #'s go together. We'll have to look into factoring in this differing sort of situation—wherein a story is broken down into Chapters and then those Chapters broken down even further into Parts—when resorting dragged-in items.

Your workaround for adding the files three-at-a-time is certainly a good way to drag in the files, keeping them in order. Or, for a slightly quicker method for adding everything all at once, select all the files where they show in iTunes and use Audiobook Builder's 'Add iTunes' button. This should respect the way the files are intended to be ordered.

As for the Start time changes, we'll have to look into adding that sort of support to a future release. That's something that iTunes saves, so it doesn't actually become a part of the file, making it difficult for other applications to access the information. Moving forward, it may be necessary to actually trim the files in an audio-editing software to remove some part from the beginning so that it doesn't end up in the audiobook version.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

_________________
Allan Woodall
Phosphorescent Phage
Splasm Software
http://www.splasm.com

Allan,

Thanks for the response, but I think I may not have been clear on a couple of things: I actually have a playlist in iTunes with the desired sort order. Regardless, ABB doesn't honor the same order when importing. This isn't directly from the podcast list.

I've also hilited all the tracks and use the 'Add iTunes' button in ABB with the exact same results as dragging and dropping. If I don't 'Add' or drag just 3 at a time then the order is incorrect in ABB regardless of how I've arranged it in iTunes.

Also, in the past if I set a new start time in the track using iTunes (hilite track, Info, Options, start time) that is honored in the audiobook.

Such is not the case with these files.

So what I'm attempting to describe is a loss of previous functionality: sort order and start times from iTunes being used for the book chapters.

But I don't see it with every set of files. This is why I'm wondering if there's some version specific interaction that might be affecting the outcome.

Does that clarify?


Markie

OK. Looking further into the issue you're describing, we did find that the latest version of iTunes has changed how file information is moved along with items that are being dragged out of it. Basically, because of that change, Audiobook Builder is no longer able to receive track information, both ordering and Start time settings set in iTunes, like before.

When using the 'Add iTunes' button, everything's still the same, though—Audiobook Builder gets the appropriate track information along with the moved over files. We tested with your exact files and that holds to be true from both the Podcast section and a from a properly ordered Playlist, no matter the amount selected. Have you for sure given that a try?

_________________
Allan Woodall
Phosphorescent Phage
Splasm Software
http://www.splasm.com

Well, you can't argue with success.

I tried each way multiple times, but I'm getting it to work now with the "Add iTunes" button, so I'm all good again.

Thanks for the responses and assistance,


Markie