Audio Books – 10 Frequently Asked Questions – Part 1

My friends and colleagues consider me as the audio books expert. They tell their friends that they know an audio books expert and the outcome is that I keep getting dozens of audio books questions and inquiries each day. I have decided to gather the most frequently asked questions for everyone’s benefit.

Here are the top five frequently asked questions about audio books (and the answers of course):

1. Are there free audio books? How do I get them?

In one word: NO. In two words: Not exactly. Depends of the type of audio book you are looking for (downloadable audio book are cheaper than the other types), and the audio book title (new audio books cost more), you could find low cost audio books.

I believe that one should pay for each product or service he gets. Yet, you could find free audio books mostly by signing up for the free trials most of the online audio book services give you.

2. What is better – Audio books rental or audio books buying?

I personally prefer audio books rental. Mostly because of the price – I read a lot of audio books and it will simply cost too much to buy them all. However, audio books that I really like, Ones that I want to listen to time after time, I buy and keep them on my audio books library.

Yet, I have friends who are more possessive – they are not willing to rent audio books and they must hold a remarkable huge audio book library.

3. What do you suggest – downloadable audio books, audio books on CD or books on tape?

Well, that’s a tough question. Basically, I believe that the most worthy audio books format nowadays is downloadable audio books. You must own a media player (e.g. Ipod) to listen to it. Yet, it costs less than the others and has a better quality.

However, the widest collection of audio books could be found on the audio books on CD format. If you want to listen to old books you will find them only on CDs.
I do not recommend getting books on tape (also known as audio books on cassettes). They are expensive, low quality and not user friendly.

4. When can I read audio books?

The answer is – Anytime and anywhere. Here are a few examples: While cooking, cleaning the house, exercising, running, walking, driving, flying, before going to sleep, commuting, working etc.

5. Are audio books expensive?

Audio books are not expensive at all. In fact, Downloadable audio books are very cheap – they cost much
less than real books and renting them is the most worthy deal. Audio books on CD cost about the same as real books and books on tape are the most expensive ones.

Audio Books on CD – The Best Quality Available

By using digital technology to place audio books on CD, it brings the stories to life like never heard before. Audio books on tape are soon to be replaced by audio books on CD bringing a superior audio quality and improved durability. The CD format is used by publishers, retailers and rental clubs making it a favorable format for the industry.

Audio books on CD have two types of formats:

1. Regular CD compression which allows for approximately 80 minutes of audio recording time. But the time also depends on the audio file size of the audiobook. This is the most common type that everyone is use to as most computers have the appropriate CDR burners. With the regular compression, this means that multiple CD’s are needed for one audiobook recording.

2. MP3 CD compression takes the same audio file and compresses it down to a much smaller size. This allows for more audio recording time and less CD’s needed for an audiobook. Audio book rental clubs have less CD’s to ship and listeners can now listen to audio books on fewer CD’s. MP3 compression has become very popular with the creation of Apple iPod and the various MP3 players. Audio book MP3 CD’s are growing in popularity as a result of the players, therefore more audio book titles are available in this format.

This does not mean you should take your old audio books on tape and throw them out. No…

You can convert tapes to CD very easily, adding more titles to your audio book on CD library. Converting audio books on tape to CD’s improves the audio quality, allowing greater enjoyment on older audiobook titles.

Audio books on CD can be played on many components such as:

• Personal computers
• Automobile stereos
• Mini stereos
• Home stereos
• Portable CD players

Also, audio books on CD can be converted into MP3 file formats with a computer then transferred onto an MP3 player. This allows greater versatility of audio books on CD which is a benefit for you the listener. Audio books on CD are a great choice for all listeners due to the superior audio book quality, large title selection and simple operating devices.

Audio books on CD have become a regular part of our lives and we recommended them as one of your primary audio book formats.