Ever wonder how could move your podcast novels into iTunes' Audiobook section?

As it stands only audiobooks you buy from the iTunes store get placed in the audiobooks folder. Audiobooks have bookmarking, immunity from shuffle, and the ability to play faster or slower on your iPod. So there is an advantage to having things listed as an audiobook.

I did find a way to get a podcast novel over into the audiobook section. Unfortunately you have to jump through quite a few hoops first.

My example is using iTunes on Windows Vista and Mur Lafferty's Playing for Keeps podcast novel.

1. Helpful to have a completed podcast novel.
   
   
2. Put the whole thing in a playlist if you haven't already. This will make it easier to edit on.
   
   
3. Take the time to clean up the id tagging (Track #s, Artist, Title, Album, etc.). Highlight a single track in the playlist, right click, "Get Info", make your changes, and click the "OK" button.
   
   
   
   
4. Highlight all in the playlist, right click, and "Convert to AAC". This will take some time. I suggest you go have some lunch and come back later.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. After the conversion is done you'll need to find where iTunes put the new (.m4a) files. Again right click, "Get Info", and click on the "Summary" tab to see file location ("where:").
   
   
6. Move or Copy all these files into one folder.
   
   
7. Rename the .m4a files to .m4b.
   
   
8. Add these renamed files back into iTunes (drag the folder into iTunes). You should then see a new listing in the "Audiobooks" library folder.
   
   
   
   
9. Clean up any other references in the iTunes "Music" library.
   
   
10. Now your podcast novel is listed as an iTunes Audiobook. Enjoy.
    
    

References:

• Converting CDs to iTunes Audiobooks
• Turning MP3 audiobooks into iPod audiobooks
• Audiobook Builder 1.0.8 (OSX)