Specifying Audio files in .NCX file & Kindlegen?

[FunkeXMix]

Hi all,

I googled and searched this forum but I could not find any answers to this except that the amazonkindlepublishingguidelines.pdf document gives some hints. Any help would be greatly appreciated:

6.9
When creating eBooks with audio and video content, Amazon requires the creation of an NCX file that points to the audio and video assets. This file should list all video and audio files in reading order, with
links to where they occur in the book. For descriptions of the audio and video files, reuse the same audio and video metadata. (Example: A link to the video clip in section 6.8 would say “How to create Kindle
content (5:01)”.) This information should be embedded in the NavList portion of the NCX file.

So how do you add this to the .NCX? I tried this way but it's not working, Kindlegen can not find the mp3:

HTML:

 <audio id="audio_1" src=" audiovideo/myzuka.mp3" controls title="This is my audio 
(1:10)">
<br/><br/><br/>
”There is audio content at this location that is not currently supported for your 
device. The caption for this content is displayed below.” 
<br/><br/><br/> 
</audio>
<strong>This is my audio (1:10)</strong>

NCX

<navList>
     
       
		
        <navTarget id="audio_1">
            <content src="Untitled-1.xhtml#audio_1"/>
			<audio src="audiovideo/myzuka.mp3"/>
        </navTarget>
    
    </navList>

OPF

<item id="audio_1" href="audiovideo/myzuka.mp3" media-type="audio/mpeg"/>

Kindlegen

command: kindlegen sound.epub

Info(prcgen):I1047: Added metadata dc:Title        "soundkindle"
Info(prcgen):I1047: Added metadata dc:Date         "2015-04-01T14:30:24Z"
Info(prcgen):I1052: Kindle support cover images but does not support cover
 Hence using the cover image specified and suppressing cover HTML in conte
  URL: C:\Users\EBOOKM~1\AppData\Local\Temp\mbp_7DF_4_1_12_26_8_36F_534_FE
BPS\cover.xhtml
Info(prcgen):I1002: Parsing files  0000001
Info(cssparser):I10004: @rules other than @import, @charset and @font-face
ot supported.
Warning(prcgen):W14010: media file not found  C:\Users\EBOOKM~1\AppData\Lo
mp\mbp_7DF_4_1_12_26_8_36F_534_FE4_1\OEBPS\ audiovideo\myzuka.mp3
Info(prcgen):I1015: Building PRC file
Info(prcgen):I1006: Resolving hyperlinks
Info(prcgen):I1049: Building table of content     URL: C:\Users\EBOOKM~1\A
\Local\Temp\mbp_7DF_4_1_12_26_8_36F_534_FE4_1\OEBPS\toc.ncx
Error(prcgen):E24008: navlabel tag is not found inside a navpoint.
Error(prcgen):E24001: The table of content could not be built.
Info(prcgen):I1016: Building enhanced PRC file
Info(prcgen):I1007: Resolving mediaidlinks
Info(prcgen):I1011: Writing mediaidlinks
Info(prcgen):I1009: Resolving guide items
Info(prcgen):I1038: MOBI file could not be generated because of errors!

[dgatwood]

Originally Posted by FunkeXMix

Hi all,


HTML:

 <audio id="audio_1" src=" audiovideo/myzuka.mp3" controls

I see an extra space at the beginning of your src tag that shouldn't be there. There's also an extra space in the error message, so I'm pretty sure that's your problem.

[FunkeXMix]

That was one issue, thanks for pointing it out. Second was a proper NCX markup which I fixed and kindlegen generated an enhanced PRC file without errors. File size is correct. But Kindle iPad app still claims that "There was a problem downloading the audio content of this title. Please remove the book from your device and re-download it."

I guess the app just has this limit built in if you sideload ebooks into it.

Working NCX code:

<navMap>
		
		<navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
      <navLabel>
        <text>Preface</text>
      </navLabel>
      <content src="first.xhtml#_idParaDest-2" />
    </navPoint>
	
	
	<navList>
     
       
		
        <navTarget id="audio_1">
		<navLabel>
        <text>audio_1</text>
      </navLabel>
            <content src="first.xhtml#audio_1"/>
			<audio src="audiovideo/myzuka.mp3"/>
        </navTarget>
    
    </navList>
	
	</navMap>

[FunkeXMix]

Can someone with a 2nd generation Kindle Fire or Kinde Fire HD test the file attached? Would be good to settle this issue once and for all. There were some other threads about it but they did not reach a conclusion except that real publisher accounts can publish audio/video content only. Not through KDP. But some people publish on their own website, so would be nice to find a testing method that works.

[Doitsu]

Originally Posted by FunkeXMix

Can someone with a 2nd generation Kindle Fire or Kinde Fire HD test the file attached? Would be good to settle this issue once and for all. There were some other threads about it but they did not reach a conclusion except that real publisher accounts can publish audio/video content only. Not through KDP. But some people publish on their own website, so would be nice to find a testing method that works.

Your test file doesn't work because it contains several syntax errors. You may want to check it with epubcheck online.

[FunkeXMix]

I cleaned up the epub and attached the mobi. I am doubting that classic problem is the issue in regards to Kindle. They have their own requirements that don't always follow epub standards.

Withing the audio tag you can find how Kindle directs us to embedd sound. Kindlegen will complain if it can not find the audio. It is not doing that anymore. The only remaining thing not validating is this official way to put embedded audio as directed by Amazon. I am guessing it's not meant to. Can somebody try the mobi on their Kindle HD or 2 gen Fire please?

<div id="audiodiv" class="Basic-Text-Frame">
<audio id="audio1" src="audiovideo/myzuka.mp3" controls title="This is my audio
(1:10)">
<br/><br/><br/>
”There is audio content at this location that is not currently supported for your
device. The caption for this content is displayed below.”
<br/><br/><br/>
</audio>
<strong>This is my audio (1:10)</strong> </div>

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by FunkeXMix

I cleaned up the epub and attached the mobi. I am doubting that classic problem is the issue in regards to Kindle. They have their own requirements that don't always follow epub standards.

Withing the audio tag you can find how Kindle directs us to embedd sound. Kindlegen will complain if it can not find the audio. It is not doing that anymore. The only remaining thing not validating is this official way to put embedded audio as directed by Amazon. I am guessing it's not meant to. Can somebody try the mobi on their Kindle HD or 2 gen Fire please?

<div id="audiodiv" class="Basic-Text-Frame">
<audio id="audio1" src="audiovideo/myzuka.mp3" controls title="This is my audio
(1:10)">
<br/><br/><br/>
”There is audio content at this location that is not currently supported for your
device. The caption for this content is displayed below.”
<br/><br/><br/>
</audio>
<strong>This is my audio (1:10)</strong> </div>

Hi:

Yes, I can test this, but, before I do, you are aware that audio/video embedding is not enabled for self-publishers, right? You can make the book, but you can't upload it at the KDP?

Or, rather, to be precise: you can upload it, but all the audio or video will be stripped out?

HItch

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by FunkeXMix

[...]
There were some other threads about it but they did not reach a conclusion except that real publisher accounts can publish audio/video content only. Not through KDP. But some people publish on their own website, so would be nice to find a testing method that works.

Sounds like a plan.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by FunkeXMix

Can someone with a 2nd generation Kindle Fire or Kinde Fire HD test the file attached? Would be good to settle this issue once and for all. There were some other threads about it but they did not reach a conclusion except that real publisher accounts can publish audio/video content only. Not through KDP. But some people publish on their own website, so would be nice to find a testing method that works.

Well, the testing method that works is to have the devices for which the file is intended. I've tested this on my Fire, and it doesn't work. I get the text telling me that there's audio content at this location...yadda. I haven't looked at your coding.

Hitch

[FunkeXMix]

Thanks Hitch for testing. I do have a Kindle Fire but it's gen1 so audio is not supported. I'm testing in the iPad Kindle app. Has anyone in this forum successfully added audio to .mobi files?

The ePub is validating except the audio code that I copied from the amazonpublisingguidelines.pdf. Perhaps my .NCX file still isn't right, I'm not experienced adding navlists and audio to it.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by FunkeXMix

Thanks Hitch for testing. I do have a Kindle Fire but it's gen1 so audio is not supported. I'm testing in the iPad Kindle app. Has anyone in this forum successfully added audio to .mobi files?

The ePub is validating except the audio code that I copied from the amazonpublisingguidelines.pdf. Perhaps my .NCX file still isn't right, I'm not experienced adding navlists and audio to it.

Well, let's start at the beginning. Did you test the embedded audio in Kindle Previewer first? To see if it played in the iOS previewer?

(And the answer to your question is yes, we have.)

Hitch

[FunkeXMix]

Yup. Kindle Previewer opens the song in my music player (foobar) when I click the blue sound icon. Uses code:

          
          
       <div id="audiodiv" class="Basic-Text-Frame">
       <audio id="audio1" src="audiovideo/myzuka.mp3" controls title="This is my audio 
(1:10)">
<br/><br/><br/>
”There is audio content at this location that is not currently supported for your 
device. The caption for this content is displayed below.” 
<br/><br/><br/> 
</audio>
<strong>This is my audio (1:10)</strong>     </div>

NCX

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE ncx PUBLIC "-//NISO//DTD ncx 2005-1//EN" "http://www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/ncx-2005-1.dtd">
<ncx xmlns="http://www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/ncx/" version="2005-1">
	<head>
		<meta name="dtb:uid" content="urn:uuid:29d919dd-24f5-4384-be78-b447c9dc299b" />
		<meta name="dtb:depth" content="0" />
		<meta name="dtb:totalPageCount" content="0" />
		<meta name="dtb:maxPageNumber" content="0" />
	</head>
	<docTitle>
		<text>soundkindle</text>
	</docTitle>
	
	<navMap>
		
		<navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
      <navLabel>
        <text>Preface</text>
      </navLabel>
      <content src="first.xhtml#_idParaDest-2" />
    </navPoint>
	
	
	
	
	</navMap>
	
	
	
	
	
	<navList>
        <navLabel>
            <text>List of Illustrations</text>
        </navLabel>
        <navTarget id="audio1">
            <navLabel><text>Portratit of Georg Gisze (Holbein)</text></navLabel>
            <content src="first.xhtml#audiodiv"/>
        </navTarget>
    </navList>
	
	
	

</ncx>

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by FunkeXMix

Yup. Kindle Previewer opens the song in my music player (foobar) when I click the blue sound icon. Uses code:

          
          
       <div id="audiodiv" class="Basic-Text-Frame">
       <audio id="audio1" src="audiovideo/myzuka.mp3" controls title="This is my audio 
(1:10)">
<br/><br/><br/>
”There is audio content at this location that is not currently supported for your 
device. The caption for this content is displayed below.” 
<br/><br/><br/> 
</audio>
<strong>This is my audio (1:10)</strong>     </div>

NCX

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE ncx PUBLIC "-//NISO//DTD ncx 2005-1//EN" "http://www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/ncx-2005-1.dtd">
<ncx xmlns="http://www.daisy.org/z3986/2005/ncx/" version="2005-1">
	<head>
		<meta name="dtb:uid" content="urn:uuid:29d919dd-24f5-4384-be78-b447c9dc299b" />
		<meta name="dtb:depth" content="0" />
		<meta name="dtb:totalPageCount" content="0" />
		<meta name="dtb:maxPageNumber" content="0" />
	</head>
	<docTitle>
		<text>soundkindle</text>
	</docTitle>
	
	<navMap>
		
		<navPoint id="navPoint-1" playOrder="1">
      <navLabel>
        <text>Preface</text>
      </navLabel>
      <content src="first.xhtml#_idParaDest-2" />
    </navPoint>
	
	
	
	
	</navMap>
	
	
	
	
	
	<navList>
        <navLabel>
            <text>List of Illustrations</text>
        </navLabel>
        <navTarget id="audio1">
            <navLabel><text>Portratit of Georg Gisze (Holbein)</text></navLabel>
            <content src="first.xhtml#audiodiv"/>
        </navTarget>
    </navList>
	
	
	

</ncx>

Stupid Question: are you right- or left-clicking it? If you right-click, you're seeing the video (sorry, audio) in your computer's player. If you left-click, you should see it playing as it will on iOS. Which are you doing?

Hitch

[FunkeXMix]

Left-clicking, but it is still opening with the external mp3 player. Have you gotten audio to work in iPad Kindle app?

[Hitch]

FunkeXMix:

The last time I had this conversation with Amazon, you can't test an audio-embedded mobi directly. It has to go through the Amazon PW (Publishing Workflow) in order to function in an actual finished MOBI. Now, maybe I'm mis-remembering, as I haven't tried this in ages (as most of my clients can't publish A/V anyway), but that's my recollection.

I'll look through my corresp. with them, and let you know. However, at the moment, I've had a massive issue with our new website (the one that's on the staging server); it seems to have lost about half the functionality, for some weirdo reason. My priorities, at the moment, are a bit diverted. And I'm so distracted that I'm not even sure that what I'm saying is right.

Hitch