Ebooks with soundtracks...you knew it was coming.

[L.J. Sellers]

I have mixed feelings about this development. I worry that a soundtrack could be emotionally manipulative, telling me how to feel about the scene or plot development.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/bo...tml?_r=2opment.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-p...455841488?mt=8

[RainingLemur]

It's an interesting concept. On one hand, I like the possibilities of having a nice little tune that plays, that isn't too intrusive or distracting. On the other hand, I don't want the music to go from somewhat-peaceful to SUPER-INTENSE-PLOT-TWIST-MUSIC mid-page before I get to where the supposed plot twist actually is.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

I have mixed feelings about this development. I worry that a soundtrack could be emotionally manipulative, telling me how to feel about the scene or plot development.

I really don't care if audiobooks or soundtrack books try to manipulate the audience. It happens in movies all the time.

[wyndslash]

as long as i have the option to turn it off, it's fine with me ;3 unless of course they use this new feature as a reason to hike up ebook prices :x

[tubemonkey]

One problem with this concept - you need an ereader with an audio player. That means the Nook Touch is a no go. The same with the Kobo Touch and Sony 350.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by wyndslash

...unless of course they use this new feature as a reason to hike up ebook prices :x

Very real possibility. Just look at the cost of audiobooks.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by L.J. Sellers

I have mixed feelings about this development.

I don't. It's a bad idea, just like web pages with sound that plays automatically is a bad idea. I won't be buying any of these, ever, unless there's no way to tell (and if that's the case, I'll stop buying ebooks entirely).

[elcreative]

Aaaaghghh... and they're putting the cost up as well...

[banjobama]

It doesn't seem like a good idea at all for ebooks. People read at different speeds, so how could it tell what particular sentence the reader's eye was at at that moment? What if the reader hears the "patter of footsteps" or the "booming gong" before he reaches that passage in the book?

I don't think I'd like it. However, I LOVE the playlists Moxie Mezcal has online for her (his??) books. Putting the playlist online is a cool little "extra" thing that readers can check out (or not), and it draws people to the website. I wish more authors would do it.

[Catlady]

There used to be a line of children's books with sound effects--as you were reading the book, there'd be an indication to press one of the buttons along the side to get some specific sound, like birds chirping or pigs oinking or whatever. That's what this reminds me of.

I don't see the point of sound with books for adult readers. Can't imagination fill in anything anymore; must everything be spoonfed to us?

[kjk]

Originally Posted by banjobama

It doesn't seem like a good idea at all for ebooks. People read at different speeds, so how could it tell what particular sentence the reader's eye was at at that moment? What if the reader hears the "patter of footsteps" or the "booming gong" before he reaches that passage in the book?
.

eye-tracking!!

[Hellmark]

Personally, when I am reading, I prefer quiet. Music and other things actually distract me and prevent me from being immersed.

Not only that, but people read at different paces, so how would you have it to where the music switches at the appropriate times? Can't really do it by page turn, or risk spoiling what may be at the end of the page.

The New York Times article mentions:

In 2010 enhanced e-books with video and audio were all the rage...but sales for many enhanced e-books were dismal, and the books were often expensive to produce.

However, if sales were dismal, how would that really be all the rage?

[anamardoll]

We talked about this in the innovative ebooks thread -- I like the idea for, say, integrating Mercedes Lackey filk music into her books.

But in that case, the song would be (a) at the end of the chapter and (b) triggered at the user's whim.

[xg4bx]

i'm of the mind that if you need music or bells&whistles in a book, then just put it down and go watch a movie or something because thats what you really want.

personally i think its just another sign of our unable to sit still without constant stimulation, a.d.d. ravaged society.

[anamardoll]

Surely we can allow some room for personal taste and not turn this into ANOTHER flame war thread.