|
About Audio Book Formats An audio book is simply a digitally recorded version of the printed paper book being read out aloud by a narrator. The narrator may be the author, a professional narrator or an actor. Often the recording may use a cast of narrators supported and embellished by the use of special sound effects.
Audiobooks are usually distributed on CDs, cassette tapes, or digital formats (e.g., MP3 and Windows Media Audio).You can play your audio books on iPod, MP3, CD, DVD, Car Stereo players or your computer and many other devices.
Most new popular titles put out by the major publishers are available in audio book format simultaneously with publication of the hardcover edition. There are approximately over 30,000 current titles on CD, Cassette, or Downloadable format.
Unabridged - audio books are narrated word for word. It has the exact content of the printed book.
Abridged - audio books are one that is shortened and doesn't contain the exact word for word narration as the printed book. They have text edited out by an abridger and are a shortened version, which may be anything from a quarter to three quarters of the book.
Audio Books also come as fully dramatized versions of the printed book, sometimes calling upon a complete cast, music, and sound effects.
Abridged Editions have an average running time of about 3 to 6 hours, whereas Unabridged Editions can be much longer. For many titles, Audiobooks.co.nz has both Abridged and Unabridged versions available so keep an eye out for the Products Edition: "Abridged" or "Unabridged” version.
Audio Books on CD
Currently compact discs are the most popular medium. These are the easiest to find and the most commonly available. A regular CD can hold up to 80 minutes of content. This is why some audio books like the Harry Potter series can contain over 17 CDs.
What's A MP3-CD? - What's the difference between a normal CD and an MP-3CD?
MP3 is a digital format that compresses large audio files into small files. An MP3-CD can hold about 10 to 16 hours of content, while a regular CD can hold up to 80 minutes of content. This is why a large majority of audio books fit on one MP3-CD -- rarely is an audio book beyond two MP3-CDs.
With MP3-CD books you get to listen to most audio books in this format in their entirety from one or two CDs!
Most new cars come with MP3-CD players and new car stereo systems can play MP3-CDs. You can also listen directly from most DVD Players and computers. Most new CD players can now play MP3-CDs. If a device is capable of playing music, then it is most likely capable of playing audio books also. To find out if you’re CD, DVD, Car Stereo player will play MP3-CDs, check the manual or contact the manufacturer or the retailer.
Currently only a few publishers are releasing audio books in MP3-CD format. As their availability increases, we will add more titles to our site.
Audio Books on Cassette
The term "books on tape" is frequently used as a synonym for audiobooks, but cassette tapes are no longer the dominant media for audiobooks. In 2005, Cassette-tape sales made up roughly 16% of the audiobook market, with CDs sales accounting for 75% of the market, and downloadable audio books accounting for approximately 9%.
Books on Cassette have been around the longest and are the most robust. However they are on the decline and new audio books in cassette format are becoming less available from publishers.
How To Clean & Care For Your CDs
|