How to organize pre-existing audiobook mp3 files into the iTunes Audiobook category?

Question by mehtuus: How to organize pre-existing audiobook mp3 files into the iTunes Audiobook category?

I just got my first iPod and now I am trying to import all of my audio files into it. I have Gigabites of music, video and audiobook files.

The problem that I am having, is that the audiobook mp3 files are getting imported as "music" files. I have not yet found a way to move the audiobook files into the Audiobook category. This makes it a pain when trying to listen to music, because the audiobook files keep playing. I have also noticed that with the video files that iTunes converted for the iPod "most" of them have lost the sound. Some of the videos did convert just fine, just not the majority.

My system:
WindowsXP
iTunes v7.0.2.16

Because I am very new to iTunes and the iPod, it is possible that the answer is very simple, but I am just not aware of it. At least, that is what I hope is the case.
Well, it seems that nobody else knows the answer to this either. I may have to sort my files with playlists. If I make general playlists such as "music" and "audiobooks" then it may work out ok.

It still is annoying...
Thank you VERY much imsomne for that bit of wisdom. This should help out others too. Now I have some converting in my future... ;-]




Best answer:

Answer by imsomne
Well, same thing happens to me and I still haven't found a solution either. It is quite annoying. I even tried changing the genre of the audiobook into Books & Spoken. But that didn't work either. if you find a solution let me know.

I can help you with the video thing though. The thing is that iTunes leaves certain type of video format without sound. The solution I found was to use another converter. Here's the link to a free and really easy to use one that I found somewhere.

http://www.videohelp.com/tools?tool=3GP_Converter

It's really light so it wont harm your computer.

Good Luck!

edit:

Found it!

To convert a mp3 file into the kind of file that iTunes will recognize as an audiobook 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.

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