Conversion for Dummies...

GraceKrispy · 02-14-2009, 07:12 PM

Ok, first off, I must apologize for my deplorable lack of technology skills. I was super psyched to figure out (with the help of this forum and surfing a zillion relevant posts) how to download books from the public library. Took me half of Christmas Day, but, hey, I did it!

So my new question is this: Is there some way to convert WMA overdrive books to a format that can be read by a sony? I know it says it's not compatible, but I wasn't sure if it could be forced to be compatible.

I notice so many books I want to check out are in that format rather than PDF. I read that there is a way to convert mobipocket books as well, but I don't understand what I've read of it. Anyone with "instructions for dummies" for me, please post!

I know I have seen a lot of information about how to use calibre; what formats will that convert? Is that like ADE type thing where it has its own program that opens up and I just drag stuff over into my reader?

I appreciate all the easy instructions I can get!

dordale · 02-14-2009, 08:31 PM

GraceKrispy--
Answers to a couple of your questions--

WMA overdrive books are audio books that will either play on your computer or on compatible mp3 players. (The iPods will NOT play WMA books.)

Calibre will convert a lot of different formats into either LRF or ePub (both of which work with the Sony Reader). But, it won't convert books with DRM, so you'll have to find a way to strip the DRM off first.

dordale

HarryT · 02-15-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

So my new question is this: Is there some way to convert WMA overdrive books to a format that can be read by a sony?

WMA is an AUDIO format. Those are AUDIOBOOKS that you're looking at

.

GraceKrispy · 02-17-2009, 02:36 AM

yikes, I guess I've proven myself to be a real dummy, huh?

I guess I was confused by the two types of WMA that were listed- one was MP3, so I knew that was audio.

I will have to check out calibre to try to figure it out. Thanks for the responses.

<--you can stop laughing now

desertgrandma · 02-19-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GraceKrispy

yikes, I guess I've proven myself to be a real dummy, huh?

I guess I was confused by the two types of WMA that were listed- one was MP3, so I knew that was audio.

I will have to check out calibre to try to figure it out. Thanks for the responses.

<--you can stop laughing now

Please. Like every person on this board hasn't made a silly mistake at one time or another.

Lift your head and keep on plowing away....you'll figure it all out sooner or later.

Xenophon · 02-19-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

Please. Like every person on this board hasn't made a silly mistake at one time or another.

Lift your head and keep on plowing away....you'll figure it all out sooner or later.

Well, I don't know about you, but I never make silly misteaks!

Xenophon

desertgrandma · 02-19-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophon

Well, I don't know about you, but I never make silly misteaks!

Xenophon

mmmm............steaks. BBQ'd, over charcoal, well done and crispy fat!mmmmmmmmmm....................

WmGoat · 09-12-2010, 03:33 PM

did anyone ever figure out how to get overdrive wma audio books to play on a sony reader?

igorsk · 09-12-2010, 04:47 PM

Reader does not support any kind of audio DRM, and only knows how to play mp3 and aac(m4a). Not a big loss IMO as it's not a very good music player anyway.

WmGoat · 09-12-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igorsk

Reader does not support any kind of audio DRM, and only knows how to play mp3 and aac(m4a). Not a big loss IMO as it's not a very good music player anyway.

I just didnt want to have to drag another device along with me to hear audio. Too bad, I was almost positive that it could play wma files.
\
BTW, I CAN transfer these wma audiobook files to my sansa media audio player, and they work just fine. They arent drm after downloading, but since Im still new at this, I dont know if they will go away/cant use when the 14 day library checkout limit is reached

goldberry · 09-12-2010, 08:17 PM

There seem to be lots of programs, many free, that can convert wma files to mp3 format which would play on your reader.

http://www.google.ca/search?q=convert+wma+to+mp3&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US

fficial&client=firefox-a

Bookworm_Girl · 09-12-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WmGoat

I just didnt want to have to drag another device along with me to hear audio. Too bad, I was almost positive that it could play wma files.
\
BTW, I CAN transfer these wma audiobook files to my sansa media audio player, and they work just fine. They arent drm after downloading, but since Im still new at this, I dont know if they will go away/cant use when the 14 day library checkout limit is reached

Overdrive has a list of compatible devices on their website. You can find it here.
http://www.overdrive.com/resources/d...ledevices.aspx

You can transfer MP3 audiobooks (but not WMA) from Overdrive to your Sony ereader. I am not sure what the Overdrive website means by limited functionality. However, here is an example of what I find to be a limitation. Suppose you pause an audiobook and then go listen to other audio tracks on your ereader. When you return to your audiobook, it does not remember where you stopped and starts over (unlike my iPod which remembers where I stopped). Unfortunately not all e-libraries offer MP3 content. Until recently most e-library audiobooks have been WMA files. Fortunately my local e-library has been expanding their MP3 selection. Although there is usually a waiting list for popular titles/authors.

I usually transfer audiobooks to my iPod rather than my ereader. In my experience the audiobooks still function after the expiration date. When you open the Overdrive Media Console software, it reminds you if you have expired content and requests you to delete it. You also cannot return audiobooks early like you can with ebooks.

Robert22 · 09-12-2010, 10:13 PM

It's just a supposition on my part but I think the reason that libraries were distributing WMA files instead of MP3 files is because they had DRM capabilities. However the most popular/prevalent players in the world, iPods along with some other players, don't support WMA files, so maybe that is why some libraries are changing over to MP3's, which all players support.

Good riddance, what the heck does it matter if you listen to a book within 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years if they are going to let you check it out anyway... it's not like a physical book that deprives other readers from using it. And it's not like music that you want to play again and again... how many time will you listen to an audio book... 10 times, 20 times?

Bookworm_Girl · 09-13-2010, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert22

It's just a supposition on my part but I think the reason that libraries were distributing WMA files instead of MP3 files is because they had DRM capabilities. However the most popular/prevalent players in the world, iPods along with some other players, don't support WMA files, so maybe that is why some libraries are changing over to MP3's, which all players support.

Yes, I suspect that libraries realize that MP3 files are in demand. Just like libraries are finally growing their EPUB content instead of supporting just PDFs.

Actually you can now transfer WMA files to your iPod, iPhone or iPad via Overdrive Media Console for the PC. It doesn't work for the Mac version. I have to switch over to running Windows in Bootcamp on my Mac. Overdrive Media Console for the PC has a transfer button which communicates with your iPod in the background. The library audiobooks show up as "Protected AAC" files on my iPod in iTunes. Somehow the Overdrive software is doing the conversion process and then communicating with iTunes for you. Unfortunately the current version of Overdrive software doesn't support a similar process for transferring WMA files to the Sony ereader.

Robert22 · 09-13-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bookworm_Girl

Actually you can now transfer WMA files to your iPod, iPhone or iPad via Overdrive Media Console for the PC. It doesn't work for the Mac version. I have to switch over to running Windows in Bootcamp on my Mac. Overdrive Media Console for the PC has a transfer button which communicates with your iPod in the background. The library audiobooks show up as "Protected AAC" files on my iPod in iTunes. Somehow the Overdrive software is doing the conversion process and then communicating with iTunes for you. Unfortunately the current version of Overdrive software doesn't support a similar process for transferring WMA files to the Sony ereader.

Thanks Bookworm_Girl, that's good to know!

02-14-2009, 07:12 PM	#1
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	Conversion for Dummies... Ok, first off, I must apologize for my deplorable lack of technology skills. I was super psyched to figure out (with the help of this forum and surfing a zillion relevant posts) how to download books from the public library. Took me half of Christmas Day, but, hey, I did it! So my new question is this: Is there some way to convert WMA overdrive books to a format that can be read by a sony? I know it says it's not compatible, but I wasn't sure if it could be forced to be compatible. I notice so many books I want to check out are in that format rather than PDF. I read that there is a way to convert mobipocket books as well, but I don't understand what I've read of it. Anyone with "instructions for dummies" for me, please post! I know I have seen a lot of information about how to use calibre; what formats will that convert? Is that like ADE type thing where it has its own program that opens up and I just drag stuff over into my reader? I appreciate all the easy instructions I can get!

09-12-2010, 08:17 PM	#11
goldberry Groupie Posts: 199 Karma: 1105816 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindles (wife's), now obsolete Nook and Sony	There seem to be lots of programs, many free, that can convert wma files to mp3 format which would play on your reader. http://www.google.ca/search?q=convert+wma+to+mp3&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&client=firefox-a

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02-14-2009, 08:31 PM	#2
dordale Wizard Posts: 1,731 Karma: 3472866 Join Date: Apr 2008 Device: Sony PRS-650 & 350; Kindle Voyage; Kobo Aura HD, Aura One, and Forma	GraceKrispy-- Answers to a couple of your questions-- WMA overdrive books are audio books that will either play on your computer or on compatible mp3 players. (The iPods will NOT play WMA books.) Calibre will convert a lot of different formats into either LRF or ePub (both of which work with the Sony Reader). But, it won't convert books with DRM, so you'll have to find a way to strip the DRM off first. dordale

02-17-2009, 02:36 AM	#4
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	yikes, I guess I've proven myself to be a real dummy, huh? I guess I was confused by the two types of WMA that were listed- one was MP3, so I knew that was audio. I will have to check out calibre to try to figure it out. Thanks for the responses. <--you can stop laughing now

09-12-2010, 03:33 PM	#8
WmGoat Junior Member Posts: 3 Karma: 10 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Sony 600 (prospective)	did anyone ever figure out how to get overdrive wma audio books to play on a sony reader?

09-12-2010, 04:47 PM	#9
igorsk Wizard Posts: 3,442 Karma: 300001 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Belgium Device: PRS-500/505/700, Kindle, Cybook Gen3, Words Gear	Reader does not support any kind of audio DRM, and only knows how to play mp3 and aac(m4a). Not a big loss IMO as it's not a very good music player anyway.

09-12-2010, 10:13 PM	#13
Robert22 Zealot Posts: 108 Karma: 17102 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: San Diego, CA Device: PRS-505 600 300 350 T1 T2 Kindle PW1 PW2 KV Clara 2E Libra 2 Leaf 2	It's just a supposition on my part but I think the reason that libraries were distributing WMA files instead of MP3 files is because they had DRM capabilities. However the most popular/prevalent players in the world, iPods along with some other players, don't support WMA files, so maybe that is why some libraries are changing over to MP3's, which all players support. Good riddance, what the heck does it matter if you listen to a book within 2 weeks, 2 months or 2 years if they are going to let you check it out anyway... it's not like a physical book that deprives other readers from using it. And it's not like music that you want to play again and again... how many time will you listen to an audio book... 10 times, 20 times?

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