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Audible .aa to .mp3

I checked out a few applications that claimed to be able to convert Audible's crappy DRM'd .aa files to .mp3.  All of them failed (for me at least), except one:  Total Audio Converter from coolutils.com.  For a well spent $19.99 I am now able to automatically convert my Audible downloads to a format (mp3) in which they will work on my cell phone and my mp3 player, neither of which are otherwise supported by Audible.  Woohoo!

Now if only Amazon would provide direct MP3 downloads for Audible books (where possible).

I have the output folder for Total Audio Converter set to a Live Mesh folder, so that I can have access to my books both on my laptop at home and on my desktop at work.  And my friend Eric pointed out that Total Audio Converter supports command options, so I can completely automate the whole process from the point of downloading from Audible!  All I'll have to do is start the Audible download and voila!

Update:  I amm using Audible Download Manager 6.5, and Audible Manager 5.1.0.2.

Print | posted on Friday, June 20, 2008 4:35 PM

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# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by AZ Geek at 6/23/2008 8:30 PM
Gravatar It appears that, sometime over the past couple of months, Audible forces everyone using older versions of Audible Manager, such as 3.5, to upgrade to the current version (which reportedly blocks conversions from aa to mp3, which was possible using an older version of Audible Manager plus Goldwave). If you use an older version of Audible Manager, you cannot download files (you get "cannot open parameter file" error message). Does anyone know if Total Audio Converter or any other program will handle the conversion task even as to aa files downloaded with the current version of Audible Manager?

AZ Geek
June 23, 2008

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by Mike G at 11/19/2008 12:38 AM
Gravatar I found it easy. Just purchased a copy of Sound Taxi to convert the .aa file to MP3 and then used a CoolMp3 Splitter to break up the audiobook from a single large file into more listenable smaller segments. My Sansa MP3 Player can only be loaded via Windows Media Player and it was a bit fiddly renaming some of the book files so that they came out in the right order on the Sansa. Part of this problem was caused by Windows Media Player which never reloads a deleted file to the library unless you ask it to restore them (in which case it picks up the 'old' file name - not the renamed filename). To get the sequence right it's best to view properties for each file and rename the files in sequence in Windows Media Player before synchronising. Seems crazy but it all works. I can't believe that Windows Media Player is so ordinary!
PS I also had to reformat my Sansa evertime it came out wrong because that too does not substitute 'new' for 'old' filenames when synchronised(when not formatted).

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by PEter at 11/23/2008 7:57 AM
Gravatar i have tryed with both. I am using Version 6.6 for audible.

if i try with sound taxi, it askes me for a valid playing licence.

i i try with total audio converter, it gives me the error: cannot open file.

i tryed with a backup of itunes-libary.

:-(

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by Lance at 11/23/2008 10:11 AM
Gravatar Yeah...*the latest version* of TAC no longer works on my Audible downloads. Fortunately I still have the old version of TAC on a different computer and it works on my current downloads! Whew! I'll find out what version it is and post it here for download.

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by Mark at 6/27/2009 2:52 PM
Gravatar I found something that works! It really can convert Audible aa to mp3. It is called All Music Converter and you can get the basic version for less than $20. http://www.allmusicconverter.com It has a free demo so you can test it before you pay.

I am so disgusted that Audible put me through all this crap. All I want to do is listen to the material that I paid for. They make you feel like a thief when all you want is fair use. I spent hours on this and I am really pissed.

Honestly, I am so mad at this point that I am considering learning how to make a torrent just to share this stuff. If I hadn't already wasted so much time on this project I think I would, just a way of saying SCREW YOU to Audible.

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by Pancho at 7/10/2009 9:38 PM
Gravatar Wat version of AMC works?

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by scr2009 at 8/8/2009 8:59 AM
Gravatar because of the aa format, I never use audible. too bad because I think they would have many more customers if they removed DRM and the aa format

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by scooby at 12/1/2009 8:44 PM
Gravatar I am so pissed at Amazon because I can not get my file in mp3 format. After buying an audio book, I find out it is not MP3 format, but AA format. This means instead of needing just 1 CD to burn everything, I have to burn it on 8 CDs! Their restrictions are annoying me so much.

They currently have a promo. Try 2 CDs for free, and if you cancel within 30 days, you wouldn't get charged for membership. Guess what I'm going to do?

I only use audio books because I wanted to SAVED TIME. And if I have to take time myself to convert AA to MP3, then I am no longer saving time. Defeats the purpose huh?

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by Martianka Mars at 12/30/2010 11:14 PM
Gravatar Yes after everything I've been through thanks to Audibles restrictions on books I have paid for...
I will upload all of it to bittorrent as soon as I've got a good conversion process up and running.

# re: Audible .aa to .mp3

Left by Pekka at 1/12/2011 8:04 PM
Gravatar SoundTaxi (about $30) works well converting .aa or .aax to mp3. Used it for 3+ years. Save registration codes. You will need also to download iTunes, make sure that you can play back .aa/.aax with iTunes before attempting conversion. Conversion takes time, best to let it run on background or overnight.

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