- \n
- The basic file types used for each audiobook market<\/li>\n
- The best formats for lossy or lossless audiobooks<\/li>\n
- The file types you need for submitting to ACX and Findaway Voices<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Audiobook File Types<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When discussing audiobooks and audio file types, there are quite a number of formats that exist<\/a>, but only a few that are relevant to audiobook creators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ll take a look at each type, but know that the only ones you really need to worry about are MP3, WAV, and FLAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lossy Compressed Audio Formats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The term \u201clossy\u201d means that the audio has undergone a compression process. This significantly decreases the audio file size, but can result in loss of quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Still, it\u2019s common to use these as audiobooks, and ACX actually recommends the MP3 as their main file format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let\u2019s take a look at each of the compressed lossy audio formats for audiobooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MP3<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
By far the most popular (possibly of any file type) is the MP3 (.mp3). MP3 uses its audio coding compression to remove a lot of superfluous data that most of us don\u2019t hear anyway. It stands for MPEG audio layer 3, with layer 3 being its own unique coding scheme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An MP3 file is the most common lossy audio format, and though the quality is slightly diminished, vocals still come through without much loss. This means that audiobooks in MP3 are not going to be much different than higher-quality formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AAX<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
You might see an AAX file if you find the actual files of your Audible audiobooks. AAX was an audiobook format developed by Audible using an MPEG-4 container that also allowed for the file to be encrypted with DRM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is not a file type that you will ever have to worry about creating. Audible does the transfer for you, but it\u2019s worth knowing that it exists, and that this is what Audible is using to deliver your audiobook files to readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M4A\/M4B<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The compressed format used by Apple, just as the AAX is used by Audible, is the M4A or M4B. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is also the format used for music from the Apple store. M4A is more common for music, and the M4B file is more common for audiobooks and podcasts, since it allows for additional metadata like bookmarking, which M4A does not have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AAC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The AAC format stands for Advanced Audio Coding, and it\u2019s actually a superior form of compression when compared to the MP3. The sound quality is a lot better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, AAC has never really caught on the same way that MP3s have, at least for the majority of us consumers. That said, it is a common format used by a variety of companies, including YouTube, the iTunes library, most smart devices, and consoles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M4P<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
M4Ps are merely a version of AAC that have digital rights management included. It was originally built by Apple for the iTunes Music store. Like the AAC, the sound quality is generally better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OGG<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
OGG is a sort of digital container that holds Vorbis files. Vorbis files are open source, unlike most of the other file types we discuss. It\u2019s also a superior form of audio quality and compression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That said, it\u2019s a file type that has had some trouble competing with the MP3s and AACs of the world, so it\u2019s often overlooked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WMA<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
WMA stands for Windows Media Audio, and there are both Lossy and Lossless formats for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you use a Windows machine, you\u2019re likely familiar with it, as it was developed by Microsoft and commonly used on their operating systems. That said, it isn\u2019t widely used in other non-Microsoft devices, and it doesn\u2019t really offer any benefits that aren\u2019t also served with an AAC or OGG.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lossless Compressed Audio Formats<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Whereas Lossy files are compressed to significantly decrease file size, sacrificing some quality in the process, \u201cLossless\u201d files use a compression method that isn\u2019t quite as effective at reducing the size, but maintains all of the audio quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are one or two of these that you should know about when creating your audiobook. So let\u2019s take a look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FLAC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
FLAC is largely considered to be the most superior form of lossless compressed audio, and it\u2019s no surprise why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
FLAC stands for Free Lossless Audio Codec. It\u2019s an open-source file, which means that there\u2019s no intellectual property problems, and it\u2019s compression is almost as good as an MP3, but without sacrificing any quality whatsoever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is one of the formats accepted by Findaway Voices, and you\u2019ll see it pop up more and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
WAV<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
WAV is one of the most popular files types for audio. It\u2019s an older format, but despite this, it is still widely used and is superior to a lot of formats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WAV files don\u2019t sacrifice any quality at all, though they are a lot larger than a compressed, lossy file. So must audiobooks, even if they were produced as WAVs, will likely be converted to a lossy format by the time the listener gets their hands on an audiobook.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ALAC<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) is Apple\u2019s own file format for high-quality audio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though originally exclusive to Apple, it became open source and royalty free in 2011. However, it\u2019s still widely in use by Apple, to the exclusion of some superior files like FLAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like others on this list, it doesn\u2019t sacrifice quality, but the compression is not quite as good as FLAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
WMA<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Wait, didn\u2019t we talk about this already?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, WMA has both a lossless and a lossy format. They both use the same extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While this is a common format with Windows, it\u2019s not one you should use for audiobooks. The software is proprietary, and has limited hardware support. It\u2019s also the worst in terms of compression efficiency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So best to stick to FLAC or WAV for your lossless files.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Which is the Best Format?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When it comes to adapting your Kindle ebook for audiobook listeners, there are really just a few formats that you should use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For lossy formatting, the best are MP3 and AAC. AAC is the best in terms of quality and compression space savings. However, MP3 is so widely used at this point, that you\u2019ll have a better chance of successfully submitting your MP3 audiobook in this format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For lossless formatting, your best bets are FLAC and WAV. The latter is far more common, but FLAC is easily the superior file type. And a lot of people are beginning to accept FLAC files to begin with, including Findaway Voices.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n
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Audible\/ACX Submission Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We know all the different formats, but what exactly do we need for submitting our book to ACX?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ACX has a number of different requirements<\/a> for their audiobooks, but the audiobook format is relatively simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to ACX\u2019s own website, they want an MP3 file with a 192kbps (or higher) Constant Bit Rate at 44.1 kHz.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does this mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bitrate is a measurement of quality with MP3s. A high bitrate will result in a higher-quality MP3 file, though it will also result in a higher file size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The range for MP3s tend to run from 96 to 320kbps. ACX\/Audible\u2019s requirements put it around the middle of that range. You can go higher, but Audible points out that this will likely not result in an increase of quality that listeners will be able to discern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other words, just submit an MP3 at 192kbps, and you will be fine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can see more of their audio requirements on their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Findaway Voices Audio Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
While ACX is largely considered the gold standard when it comes to producing audiobooks, Findaway Voices is another major powerhouse that you should consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Findaway Voices works with a wide variety of publishers, so if your audio is good enough for Findaway Voices<\/a>, it should be good enough for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n