Audible moving to Enhanced Format ONLY

[CRussel]

The "Enhanced format" is simply AAC with a DRM wrapper. A quite weak DRM wrapper, from all I've seen. Certainly, there are definitely tools to handle it.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by CRussel

The "Enhanced format" is simply AAC with a DRM wrapper. A quite weak DRM wrapper, from all I've seen. Certainly, there are definitely tools to handle it.

Which AAC?

https://videoconverter.iskysoft.com/...ac-format.html

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Which AAC?

https://videoconverter.iskysoft.com/...ac-format.html

I'm honestly not sure, since I had no idea that AAC was so multiformat.

However, a quite google gives me this from online-convert.com:

Technical details of AAX files
AAX files can contain – next to the usual audio data, bookmark and chapter information – images and other features like links as well. This makes it a very popular extension primarily for children's books. AAX files support a bitrate from 32 to 128 kbit/s. The audio data is AAC encoded which provides a very high audio quality. AAX files are heavily protected and can only be played with a paid Audible.com account.

[Iris-maybe]

I know Audible already tested their new format aaxc on android devices. There is a great opportunity that they will replace this “enhanced format” with aaxc as aaxc is also called enhanced format on Mobile devices.

[Iris-maybe]

Also, the aaxc is with harden DRM wrapper and no tool can handle it for now.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Iris-maybe

Also, the aaxc is with harden DRM wrapper and no tool can handle it for now.

I suspect that the issue with aaxc is the same that Amazon had with their attempt to roll out a new format - i.e. backward comparability. If it's only going to work on new devices with the latest version of the Audible app, then it's not going to get much, if any traction. At a minimum, they are going to need to get Apple to support it.

Publishers may want a format with hardened DRM, but not at the expense of reduced sales. Of course, there is always the analog hole. If I can play it on my computer, I can capture the audio.

[stumped]

even simpler - if Alexa can read it out loud, anyone in the room can record it

and they can't afford to drop the "alexa read my audiobook to me" option

Amazon should do what they sensibly did years ago with amazon music, [ and what Overdive did for all library audiobooks ] make it all unprotected MP3. I have not seen any reports of damage to sales from that decision.

People who want to pirate always will, people who don't want to will become increasingly annoyed by the extra hoops that honest customers are forced to jump through, and sooner or later, some will join the pirates, rather than buy new hardware which is new-DRM compliant.
the Law of unexpected Consequences strikes again.

e.g. I get increasingly cross with the new HDCP2.2 smart HDMI ports on my 2019 Samsung TV which can't cope with device swap outs, or HDMI switches, and cant handshake properly with the latest 4k fire stick, like the older dumber ones could.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Iris-maybe

Also, the aaxc is with harden DRM wrapper and no tool can handle it for now.

It's trivial. Either a device driver that splits the audio, or simply record with another device.
Similarly DRM on Video and HDCP is studio stupidity and robs consumers. A pirate either pirates from inside studio or projection booth. Once it's on DVD/BD/Streaming, just point an HD camera at at decent TV in a dark room.

Books? The commercial pirates cut off spine, bulk ADF on an industrial scanner and upload PDF to Google Books and Pirate sites. They might bother to run OCR so search works.

DRM is only about controlling consumers. It's never stopped commercial pirates. It's a lie that it's about maintaining the Copyright. That's what courts are for.

DRM on audiobooks or streaming music simply doesn't actually work! It's an illusion. Sony even went one step further and was installing root kits via CDs. It was a bad day for consumer Electronics when "suits" decided Sony was a Media company. They crippled minidisk.

[binaryhermit]

Originally Posted by Quoth

MP3 is 48K sampling

Actually, mp3 can be 8khz, 11.025khz, 12khz,16khz,22.05khz,32khz,44.1khz, or 48khz.
Usually 44.1khz since most mp3s are sourced from CDs or files meant to be put on CDs (and using 48khz theoretically might provide lesser quality due to the encoder's psychoacoustics being tuned for 44.1khz, emphasis on might)
Opus, on the other hand, only does 48khz for the reasons you say.

[binaryhermit]

Originally Posted by stumped

even simpler - if Alexa can read it out loud, anyone in the room can record it

and they can't afford to drop the "alexa read my audiobook to me" option

Actually, if you're able to convert it into sound waves at all or the analog electric representation thereof, you can record it.

I'd love to see them stop me from golng headphone out to my Sony PCM-M10, for example.

[Paperbackstash]

Does this mean the new files will take up more room? I mainly use to audio on my phone when downloaded but space is an issue at times

[CRussel]

Yes, the files are substantially larger.

Charlie.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by binaryhermit

Actually, mp3 can be 8khz, 11.025khz, 12khz,16khz,22.05khz,32khz,44.1khz, or 48khz.
Usually 44.1khz since most mp3s are sourced from CDs or files meant to be put on CDs (and using 48khz theoretically might provide lesser quality due to the encoder's psychoacoustics being tuned for 44.1khz, emphasis on might)
Opus, on the other hand, only does 48khz for the reasons you say.

Yes, I wasn't clear. I didn't mean that MP3 was only 48 KHz sampling. You could argue that actually 128K bps 12kHz speech is much better than 32k bps 48 kHz sampled, if it's properly downsampled before encoding. Actual capture uses high sample rates, higher than the nyquist limit so as to allow simpler filters. Or indeed a filter that's achievable with analogue parts.

[Paperbackstash]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Yes, the files are substantially larger.

Charlie.

That's a bit annoying. I thought the quality sounded fine before but I'm not an expert audiophile or anything.