Is it possible to convert song files to audiobook files on an iPod?

Question

I have a lot of audiobooks on my computer and would like to play them at the faster speed that the audiobooks option allows. Unfortunately iTunes will only convert them to song files. I would really apprecate all you help.

Answer 1

If what you want is that the audiobooks appear under audiobooks in your iPod and in iTunes, then here are the instructions.

Go here: iTunes Preferences -> Advanced -> Importing and, from the Import Using pop-up menu, choose AAC Encoder. From the Setting menu choose Custom. In the resulting AAC Encoder window choose 64 kbps from the Stereo Bit Rate pop-up menu. Leave the Sample Rate and Channels settings at 44.100kHz and Stereo respectively and click OK in both the AAC Encoder and Advanced windows to close iTunes’ preferences.

Now select the file you wish to become an audiobook and choose Advanced -> Convert Selection to AAC. iTunes will convert the track using the settings you just entered.

When the conversion is finished, select the converted file and choose File -> Show in Finder (Mac) or File -> Show in Windows Explorer on Windows. Select the file and change its extension from .m4a to .m4b. Return to iTunes and delete the track from your iTunes library (but don’t move it to the trash when iTunes makes the offer). Now drag the .m4b file into iTunes to reimport it. iTunes should recognize it as an audiobook file. When you sync it with your iPod, the iPod should also classify it as an audiobook, thus letting you adjust its playback speed.

Hope this helps and good luck!