I threw away Audible’s app, and now I self-host my audiobooks - Ars Technica
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I love Audiobookshelf, my main complaint is the Android app crashes when killed by Android (so when I try to open it I get a message about it crashing and then have to reopen it). That might just be a me thing.
I used the tool Libation to download my Audible books. There was a Firefox extension to download audiobooks from Libby but it's no longer working because Libby changed something and the dev didn't have time to fight the battle, anyone have a good solution to that?
If you already have a Plex instance running, Prologue is an app that turns it into an audiobook host as well. Plex doesn’t natively support audiobook metadata like chapters, but Prologue simply uses Plex’s remote access to reach the files.
All you do is throw the .m4b audiobook files into a music library on Plex, sign into your Plex account on Prologue, and Prologue handles all of the metadata for the audiobooks instead of using Plex’s built-in music player.
I mention this because I had massive issues trying to get ABS to work on my setup. It simply refused to read or write any data from my NAS. After a day or two of throwing myself at it to no avail, I found Prologue and haven’t looked back. I already had Plex running for some friends and family, so setting up the music library was as easy as dropping the audiobooks into a folder.
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If you already have a Plex instance running, Prologue is an app that turns it into an audiobook host as well. Plex doesn’t natively support audiobook metadata like chapters, but Prologue simply uses Plex’s remote access to reach the files.
All you do is throw the .m4b audiobook files into a music library on Plex, sign into your Plex account on Prologue, and Prologue handles all of the metadata for the audiobooks instead of using Plex’s built-in music player.
I mention this because I had massive issues trying to get ABS to work on my setup. It simply refused to read or write any data from my NAS. After a day or two of throwing myself at it to no avail, I found Prologue and haven’t looked back. I already had Plex running for some friends and family, so setting up the music library was as easy as dropping the audiobooks into a folder.
Thanks for the tip, unfortunately I don't use Plex I'm on the Jellyfin side but someone pointed out there's another app connected to Audiobookshelf so I will use that next time.
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Yes, I am aware of where this is posted and am prepared for my inevitable crucifixion as a result of this observation. But, like... is this really a problem that requires a self hosting solution? That seems like quite the overcomplication to me unless you absolutely require access to your entire selection on multiple devices that will have 24/7 network connections for some reason. I imagine most people actually don't. And if you do, a simple file share is probably a less convoluted solution, and surely already exists on the server you already have.
MP3's take up negligible amounts of storage space on modern devices and can be played on anything, and can be easily taken with you anywhere including out of network range.
I guess teaching people how to drag-and-drop audio files onto their phone and open them with VLC would be a much shorter article.
(Ed: Punctuation.)
Yeeeah, gonna have to disagree with that. Having dead simple access to your library on any device is amazing. ABS syncs your listening position between devices, has offline downloading, supports rich metadata, collections, customized sleep timers, and quite a bit more.
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Yes, I am aware of where this is posted and am prepared for my inevitable crucifixion as a result of this observation. But, like... is this really a problem that requires a self hosting solution? That seems like quite the overcomplication to me unless you absolutely require access to your entire selection on multiple devices that will have 24/7 network connections for some reason. I imagine most people actually don't. And if you do, a simple file share is probably a less convoluted solution, and surely already exists on the server you already have.
MP3's take up negligible amounts of storage space on modern devices and can be played on anything, and can be easily taken with you anywhere including out of network range.
I guess teaching people how to drag-and-drop audio files onto their phone and open them with VLC would be a much shorter article.
(Ed: Punctuation.)
Yup. Audio books aren't very big once converted to a reasonable format and with the amount of space these days, I can comfortably keep a dozen on me at all times.
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Shoutout to Libation, that allows you to download and deDRM your Audible library.
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In addition to self-hosting, I'll throw out a few other alternatives:
Free:
Paid:
- For a user experience closer to Audible, I went with libro.fm. You can pick a local, independent bookstore that gets a portion of the sales. Their catalog is pretty extensive as well, have been able to find most books I'm interested in. Books are DRM-free and you can pause your membership.
- Downpour - DRM-free as well
DRM-free is important IMO because otherwise you're at the mercy of the platform and if the company ever changes its Terms of Use or wipes your account, you lose your purchases. Amazon have remotely deleted books from users' libraries in the past or replaced them with modified copies (e.g. Roald Dahl books). Kindle announced last month they won't let you download your eBooks via USB so it's possible Audible could see changes for the worse in the future as well.
Unfortunately my local library only keeps like 3 copies of each book and they're already rented for eternity.
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Yes, I am aware of where this is posted and am prepared for my inevitable crucifixion as a result of this observation. But, like... is this really a problem that requires a self hosting solution? That seems like quite the overcomplication to me unless you absolutely require access to your entire selection on multiple devices that will have 24/7 network connections for some reason. I imagine most people actually don't. And if you do, a simple file share is probably a less convoluted solution, and surely already exists on the server you already have.
MP3's take up negligible amounts of storage space on modern devices and can be played on anything, and can be easily taken with you anywhere including out of network range.
I guess teaching people how to drag-and-drop audio files onto their phone and open them with VLC would be a much shorter article.
(Ed: Punctuation.)
MP3s do not show artwork or keep your place, and they don't sync across devices.
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MP3s do not show artwork or keep your place, and they don't sync across devices.
Artwork
Yes they can, via images embedded in their ID3 tags. This is supported by a huge array of players in terms of both physical hardware and software.
Keep your place
Yes they can, via many players (including both VLC which is what I use, and also my car stereo).
Sync across devices
This much is true, at least in the players I use. There's probably a solution with some specific player somewhere.
But specifically for audiobooks, I don't... need... to play across multiple devices. I listen via only two methods: My headphones (which are driven by my phone) and in my car (which works with my phone). I only actually use one player. It goes with me everywhere. Ours go with most of us everywhere; we're naked without 'em.
If your use case requires a networked solution, you do you. I'm just saying, don't automatically get blinded by how the Streaming Era has kind of fucked up everyone's brain.
Edit: Downvoting me doesn't change the fact that what you said was false.
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I use the Voice app on Fdriod but it doesnt do syncing that I know about. I fully recommend instead of using Audible.
If you dont own the files, then you dont really own the media.
AudioAnchor + Syncthing for Android via F-Droid has been my mobile audiobook app stack. Takes some setting up and concatenating audiobook mp3s into mkv's for convenience, but I haven't had to touch it since... 2020?
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For any other Audiobookshelf users looking at that article and thinking, "Wait, how did they get that nice wooden shelf look in the UI?"
Login as Admin
Settings
Change these settings to be enabled:
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Shoutout to Libation, that allows you to download and deDRM your Audible library.
Oooooo, but there be dragons.
Documentation? Yer lookin' at it
This is a single-developer personal passion project. Support, response, updates, enhancements, bug fixes etc are as my free time allows
I have a full-time job, a life, and a finite attention span. Therefore a lot of time can potentially go by with no improvements of any kind -
Unfortunately my local library only keeps like 3 copies of each book and they're already rented for eternity.
Time to learn how to sail?
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What I really want is a a similar project for epub files. I’ve not been able to find a web based library that allows easy download and auth based management.
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Thanks for the tip, unfortunately I don't use Plex I'm on the Jellyfin side but someone pointed out there's another app connected to Audiobookshelf so I will use that next time.
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For those on iOS looking for a companion app, check out plappa for a great app to access your Audiobookshelf/jellyfin instance. It works flawlessly for me, no data collection, and it allows downloading books in advance for on the go if you choose not to have external access to your server.
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I've been liking the app 'Lissen' - works great https://github.com/GrakovNe/lissen-android (also on GrapheneOS btw)
Yip that's the other mentioned app. I'll try to remember to use it next time I am listening to something.
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Oooooo, but there be dragons.
Documentation? Yer lookin' at it
This is a single-developer personal passion project. Support, response, updates, enhancements, bug fixes etc are as my free time allows
I have a full-time job, a life, and a finite attention span. Therefore a lot of time can potentially go by with no improvements of any kindIt's good they put it up front though. There can be a lot of entitlement with oss users sometimes and setting expectations can help alleviate that.
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Artwork
Yes they can, via images embedded in their ID3 tags. This is supported by a huge array of players in terms of both physical hardware and software.
Keep your place
Yes they can, via many players (including both VLC which is what I use, and also my car stereo).
Sync across devices
This much is true, at least in the players I use. There's probably a solution with some specific player somewhere.
But specifically for audiobooks, I don't... need... to play across multiple devices. I listen via only two methods: My headphones (which are driven by my phone) and in my car (which works with my phone). I only actually use one player. It goes with me everywhere. Ours go with most of us everywhere; we're naked without 'em.
If your use case requires a networked solution, you do you. I'm just saying, don't automatically get blinded by how the Streaming Era has kind of fucked up everyone's brain.
Edit: Downvoting me doesn't change the fact that what you said was false.
I'd rather not have my library files available to everyone in the house. My NAS only has secured access via these apps.
As mentioned they keep position, copy files over as you access them, tailscale allows access everywhere.
I transition from mobile phone to PC more than twice a day. Just because you don't want an app to do it doesn't mean others don't have the requirements.
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My wife likes murders and romance, any suggestions for eBook?
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Oooooo, but there be dragons.
Documentation? Yer lookin' at it
This is a single-developer personal passion project. Support, response, updates, enhancements, bug fixes etc are as my free time allows
I have a full-time job, a life, and a finite attention span. Therefore a lot of time can potentially go by with no improvements of any kindIt works now, even if later he gets tired of it and walks away it still works now.
