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[Enhancement]: Convert from M4B to MP3 #1860

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opened 2026-04-25 00:00:31 +02:00 by adam · 9 comments
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:31 +02:00
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Originally created by @damomato on GitHub (Apr 3, 2024).

Describe the feature/enhancement

Thanks for your work on this, great software.

Currently you can convert from MP3 to M4B but not the other way around. I need files in MP3 format to load onto a swimming headset which doesn't support M4B files, but sometimes I can only find M4B files. I currently use VLC player on a PC to convert it but would like to streamline the process a bit.

Originally created by @damomato on GitHub (Apr 3, 2024). ### Describe the feature/enhancement Thanks for your work on this, great software. Currently you can convert from MP3 to M4B but not the other way around. I need files in MP3 format to load onto a swimming headset which doesn't support M4B files, but sometimes I can only find M4B files. I currently use VLC player on a PC to convert it but would like to streamline the process a bit.
adam added the enhancement label 2026-04-25 00:00:31 +02:00
adam closed this issue 2026-04-25 00:00:32 +02:00
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:32 +02:00
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@ZLoth commented on GitHub (Apr 3, 2024):

Check for either OpenAudible or Libration.

@ZLoth commented on GitHub (Apr 3, 2024): Check for either [OpenAudible](https://markholtz.info/openaudible) or [Libration](https://markholtz.info/libation).
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:32 +02:00
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@damomato commented on GitHub (Apr 3, 2024):

Thanks for the suggestions, Libation looks interesting, however using VLC works fine for now until it could potentially be done in Audiobookshelf.

@damomato commented on GitHub (Apr 3, 2024): Thanks for the suggestions, Libation looks interesting, however using VLC works fine for now until it could potentially be done in Audiobookshelf.
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:33 +02:00
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@damomato commented on GitHub (Sep 3, 2024):

Has there been any further thoughts on this?

@damomato commented on GitHub (Sep 3, 2024): Has there been any further thoughts on this?
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:34 +02:00
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@damomato commented on GitHub (Jan 2, 2025):

Hi was there any further thought on this? I had an issue yesterday where I wanted to join a heap of MP3 files for an audiobook (device only plays MP3), so I first converted to m4b in audiobookshelf to join it together and then converted back to MP3 in VLC. It would be great if it could all be done in audiobookshelf.

@damomato commented on GitHub (Jan 2, 2025): Hi was there any further thought on this? I had an issue yesterday where I wanted to join a heap of MP3 files for an audiobook (device only plays MP3), so I first converted to m4b in audiobookshelf to join it together and then converted back to MP3 in VLC. It would be great if it could all be done in audiobookshelf.
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:34 +02:00
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@fonix232 commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2025):

@ZLoth sadly Libration doesn't seem to want to open already downloaded M4B files, and OpenAudible, contrary to the name, hides these features behind a paywall.

I want to second this feature request, it would be super useful to have even a limited M4B editor. My specific usecase is a number of malformatted audiobooks already in M4B format, that have some duplicate chapters which messes up the listening experience and the chapter name resolution as well. With a simple M4B split, followed by the deletion of the offending duplicate chapters, and an M4B repack, this could be sorted.

I've actually managed to re-do my library using m4b-tool but it isn't ideal to fire up a separate Docker container and manage files by hand. A built-in solution would be awesome - and it could also be extended to the current M4B creation flow so that the user can edit the input (order, pause between files, etc.)!

@fonix232 commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2025): @ZLoth sadly Libration doesn't seem to want to open already downloaded M4B files, and OpenAudible, contrary to the name, hides these features behind a paywall. I want to second this feature request, it would be super useful to have even a limited M4B editor. My specific usecase is a number of malformatted audiobooks already in M4B format, that have some duplicate chapters which messes up the listening experience and the chapter name resolution as well. With a simple M4B split, followed by the deletion of the offending duplicate chapters, and an M4B repack, this could be sorted. I've actually managed to re-do my library using [m4b-tool](https://github.com/sandreas/m4b-tool) but it isn't ideal to fire up a separate Docker container and manage files by hand. A built-in solution would be awesome - and it could also be extended to the current M4B creation flow so that the user can edit the input (order, pause between files, etc.)!
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:34 +02:00
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@ZLoth commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2025):

@fonix232 Have you given Audacity a try? Based upon what I have installed in Windows, it does import M4B files and allows you to export to MP3 files, and also allows you to edit the audio. For that rare audiobook that doesn't have proper chapters, you can use Analyze → Label Sounds to label gaps to try and find the timestamp for chapters.

@ZLoth commented on GitHub (Jul 22, 2025): @fonix232 Have you given Audacity a try? Based upon what I have installed in Windows, it does import M4B files and allows you to export to MP3 files, and also allows you to edit the audio. For that rare audiobook that doesn't have proper chapters, you can use Analyze → Label Sounds to label gaps to try and find the timestamp for chapters.
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:34 +02:00
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@fonix232 commented on GitHub (Jul 23, 2025):

@ZLoth since my audiobooks are on my NAS, Audacity was having some trouble working over SMB properly (might just be macOS 26 Beta having issues with SMB, can't know for sure).

Running m4b-tool on my NAS directly solved the issue though! I really recommend looking into that for anyone toying with M4B files. It can do chapter detection by breaks, too (most audiobooks I've listened to had a 3-4s long pause between last word of the chapter, and the title of the next chapter).

@fonix232 commented on GitHub (Jul 23, 2025): @ZLoth since my audiobooks are on my NAS, Audacity was having some trouble working over SMB properly (might just be macOS 26 Beta having issues with SMB, can't know for sure). Running m4b-tool on my NAS directly solved the issue though! I really recommend looking into that for anyone toying with M4B files. It can do chapter detection by breaks, too (most audiobooks I've listened to had a 3-4s long pause between last word of the chapter, and the title of the next chapter).
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:35 +02:00
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@ZLoth commented on GitHub (Jul 23, 2025):

@fonix232 Whatever works. Since my NAS using HDDs, I just copy the audiobook file to my computer (which is all NVMes) and perform the work there.

@ZLoth commented on GitHub (Jul 23, 2025): @fonix232 Whatever works. Since my NAS using HDDs, I just copy the audiobook file to my computer (which is all NVMes) and perform the work there.
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:00:35 +02:00
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@damomato commented on GitHub (Oct 28, 2025):

I've installed Vert which allows you to convert files locally, including m4b to mp3, so I guess I have a server specific solution now.

I would still prefer audiobookshelf to have the feature, but using Vert works well

@damomato commented on GitHub (Oct 28, 2025): I've installed Vert which allows you to convert files locally, including m4b to mp3, so I guess I have a server specific solution now. I would still prefer audiobookshelf to have the feature, but using Vert works well
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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf#1860
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