Will Calibre work to removed DRM from MP3?

sleepy6553 · 03-28-2011, 08:53 AM

Just wondered if I can download the library's Overdrive MP3 audiobooks and have Calibre and its tools do its magic and remove the DRM on audiobooks for my Kindle? Are library audiobooks even DRM protected (I don't even know)? Anyone have any experience doing this? I wouldn't mind having a book or two loaded on my Kindle for when I am driving so I could listen. Thanks.

ldolse · 03-28-2011, 09:16 AM

Calibre doesn't have any mp3 related features, and DRM stripping is not part of Calibre's code-base.

I believe library MP3 audiobooks don't have any DRM anyway.

sleepy6553 · 03-28-2011, 09:23 AM

Thanks for the quick response.

CRussel · 03-28-2011, 10:15 AM

Some library audio downloads are MP3 - they are DRM free. Most audiobook downloads are WMA. I don't believe the Kindle suprts WMA, and Calibre doesn't know anything about audio books. Kindle DOES support .AA books (Audible.com) natively, but you won't get those for free from your library. I usually keep one Audible book on my Kindle, just in case. But never more because Audible books are much larger than eBooks.

sleepy6553 · 03-28-2011, 12:23 PM

That's what I was thinking. I just wanted one just in case I was driving a long distance and would like to listen to a book. Thanks.

cybmole · 03-30-2011, 08:03 AM

there is no such thing as a DRM protected MP3. to protect audio you'd have to use a microsoft or apple format - wma, mp4.. that supports DRM

burn to blank CD (as MP3) , then play in car / van / truck whatever is an easy bypass that works for most audio files.

theducks · 03-30-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

there is no such thing as a DRM protected MP3. to protect audio you'd have to use a microsoft or apple format - wma, mp4.. that supports DRM

burn to blank CD (as MP3) , then play in car / van / truck whatever is an easy bypass that works for most audio files.

Only really modern cars that have CD players, will play MP3 CD's

(My 2001 Nissan Sentra CD will not. My 1994 Ford F350 LST only plays Cassette tapes

Neither has an external Audio input.)

cybmole · 03-30-2011, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Only really modern cars that have CD players, will play MP3 CD's

(My 2001 Nissan Sentra CD will not. My 1994 Ford F350 LST only plays Cassette tapes

Neither has an external Audio input.)

depends how you define "really modern" - I quit driving 10 years ago but CD players in car were pretty standard back then ( in the UK). anyway the point was just that the burn to CD trick defeats most audio protection scheme. you could burn in audio cd format, no need for mp3.

off topic.....

cassette tape DRM never really worked out! - there was some tech overlay designed to mess up tape to tape copies ( VHS has that also ) but most commercial tapes were such god-awful quality it was smarter to buy the vinyl, tape it yourself, but the master vinyl away somewhere safe.... then if the tape ripped you just made a new one.
you did of course have the hassle of some albums being 47 mins long & you only had a 45 minute per side C90 tape....

I remember when computer games also came on tape ( 6 mins to load a game) and you'd mess about with tape to tape copies so as to not risk the expensive original bought copy in your cheapo tape player - with sinclair ZX computers, the cheapest mono only tape players were the most reliable for game loading... £13 for a game when £13 would buy 2 full tanks of petrol...

the world moves on but the beat-the-DRM game is ever-popular....

back to the thread

Audible uses apple DRM I think.. I tried to find a free sample to audition on my Kindle but gave up looking - there's meant to be a speed control option with audible recordings on Kindle.

I never could get the hang of "listening" to a book. a made-for-radio play is maybe OK but a book being read by someone, even by the author just puts me to sleep! - better for you than pills, I guess :-)

theducks · 03-30-2011, 12:29 PM

The Author reading

Audible has some great 'Professional', Voice Actors that do well. Almost as good as the old-time 'Radio Plays' that used a cast of actors.

cybmole · 03-30-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

The Author reading

Audible has some great 'Professional', Voice Actors that do well. Almost as good as the old-time 'Radio Plays' that used a cast of actors.

I would be very interested in hearing a (legal) free sample.
does such a thing exist ?

theducks · 03-30-2011, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

I would be very interested in hearing a (legal) free sample.
does such a thing exist ?

http://www.audible.com
Select Browse at the top.
titles have a 'sample' button

cybmole · 03-31-2011, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

http://www.audible.com
Select Browse at the top.
titles have a 'sample' button

apparently so simple , but I want to place a sample onto Kindle & that does not seem possible ! I want to audition the speed controls on Kindle. the sample buttons just stream playback to PC

PS I was clicking the big "listen to a best seller" box & getting the "choose your payment plan" screen every time.

theducks · 03-31-2011, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

apparently so simple , but I want to place a sample onto Kindle & that does not seem possible ! I want to audition the speed controls on Kindle. the sample buttons just stream playback to PC

PS I was clicking the big "listen to a best seller" box & getting the "choose your payment plan" screen every time.

Under each title (browse page) there is a combination speaker icon and play button.
BTW I use VLC on my systems and I 'did' try speed control. IMHO the actors have a good pacing. This is NOT TTS

rxmom03 · 03-31-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybmole

apparently so simple , but I want to place a sample onto Kindle & that does not seem possible ! I want to audition the speed controls on Kindle. the sample buttons just stream playback to PC

I used to use audible.com and occasionally they would have free books--if you are interested you might get on their mailing list for any promotions they might have. Failing that, I think your cheapest bet would be to look at their "tv/radio" section--you can buy one episode of some radio programs--some for as cheap as $0.95. That way, at least you wouldn't have to pay very much to get something to try.

And I must say I am glad I can use Overdrive and my local library for audible books. Some of those prices on audible.com are horrible!

Mary

03-28-2011, 08:53 AM	#1
sleepy6553 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Central Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Voyage	Will Calibre work to removed DRM from MP3? Just wondered if I can download the library's Overdrive MP3 audiobooks and have Calibre and its tools do its magic and remove the DRM on audiobooks for my Kindle? Are library audiobooks even DRM protected (I don't even know)? Anyone have any experience doing this? I wouldn't mind having a book or two loaded on my Kindle for when I am driving so I could listen. Thanks.

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03-28-2011, 09:16 AM	#2
ldolse Wizard Posts: 1,337 Karma: 123455 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Malaysia Device: PRS-650, iPhone	Calibre doesn't have any mp3 related features, and DRM stripping is not part of Calibre's code-base. I believe library MP3 audiobooks don't have any DRM anyway.

03-28-2011, 09:23 AM	#3
sleepy6553 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Central Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Voyage	Thanks for the quick response.

03-28-2011, 10:15 AM	#4
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,285 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	Some library audio downloads are MP3 - they are DRM free. Most audiobook downloads are WMA. I don't believe the Kindle suprts WMA, and Calibre doesn't know anything about audio books. Kindle DOES support .AA books (Audible.com) natively, but you won't get those for free from your library. I usually keep one Audible book on my Kindle, just in case. But never more because Audible books are much larger than eBooks.

03-28-2011, 12:23 PM	#5
sleepy6553 Connoisseur Posts: 52 Karma: 12 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Central Florida Device: Kindle 3, Kindle Voyage	That's what I was thinking. I just wanted one just in case I was driving a long distance and would like to listen to a book. Thanks.

03-30-2011, 08:03 AM	#6
cybmole Wizard Posts: 3,720 Karma: 1759970 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	there is no such thing as a DRM protected MP3. to protect audio you'd have to use a microsoft or apple format - wma, mp4.. that supports DRM burn to blank CD (as MP3) , then play in car / van / truck whatever is an easy bypass that works for most audio files.

03-30-2011, 12:29 PM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 30,914 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	The Author reading Audible has some great 'Professional', Voice Actors that do well. Almost as good as the old-time 'Radio Plays' that used a cast of actors.