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[Bug]: Playback of some audiobooks do not match their source file playback #3034

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opened 2026-04-25 00:13:09 +02:00 by adam · 3 comments
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:13:09 +02:00
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Originally created by @katha757 on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025).

What happened?

When importing an MP3 audiobook the playback of the audiobook does not match the playback of the original source file. The original file had a length of 11:03:47, importing the file into audiobookshelf shows it is supposed to be 11:03:47 in the chapter editor, however when adding the chapters and testing them in the editor I find all chapters to be off. I add the chapters (despite them being misaligned) and check the full length of the audiobook in audiobookshelf and it shows the file actually is only 11:02:04. I listen to the end of the file and it does in fact finish at 11:02:04, despite having Audacity and VLC confirming it completes at 11:03:47 outside of audiobookshelf. The file Playback speed has never been changed and I have scrubbed all metadata tags from the file. I have redownloaded the file from audiobookshelf and compared to the original file and they are identical.

What did you expect to happen?

I expected the file to be identical after it is uploaded.

Steps to reproduce the issue

  1. Upload Mp3 to folder and import into Audiobookshelf
  2. Scan folders
  3. Edit new audiobook chapters

(Mp3 file can be made available if required)

Audiobookshelf version

v2.29.0

How are you running audiobookshelf?

Debian/PPA

What OS is your Audiobookshelf server hosted from?

Linux

If the issue is being seen in the UI, what browsers are you seeing the problem on?

Edge

Logs

Additional Notes

I will attempt exporting the audio file on its own and see if that fixes it.

Originally created by @katha757 on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025). ### What happened? When importing an MP3 audiobook the playback of the audiobook does not match the playback of the original source file. The original file had a length of 11:03:47, importing the file into audiobookshelf shows it is supposed to be 11:03:47 in the chapter editor, however when adding the chapters and testing them in the editor I find all chapters to be off. I add the chapters (despite them being misaligned) and check the full length of the audiobook in audiobookshelf and it shows the file actually is only 11:02:04. I listen to the end of the file and it does in fact finish at 11:02:04, despite having Audacity and VLC confirming it completes at 11:03:47 outside of audiobookshelf. The file Playback speed has never been changed and I have scrubbed all metadata tags from the file. I have redownloaded the file from audiobookshelf and compared to the original file and they are identical. ### What did you expect to happen? I expected the file to be identical after it is uploaded. ### Steps to reproduce the issue 1. Upload Mp3 to folder and import into Audiobookshelf 2. Scan folders 3. Edit new audiobook chapters (Mp3 file can be made available if required) ### Audiobookshelf version v2.29.0 ### How are you running audiobookshelf? Debian/PPA ### What OS is your Audiobookshelf server hosted from? Linux ### If the issue is being seen in the UI, what browsers are you seeing the problem on? Edge ### Logs ```shell ``` ### Additional Notes I will attempt exporting the audio file on its own and see if that fixes it.
adam added the bug label 2026-04-25 00:13:09 +02:00
adam closed this issue 2026-04-25 00:13:09 +02:00
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:13:10 +02:00
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@Vito0912 commented on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025):

Are this all MP3s you have the issue with?

If so they probably are the cause because they are VBR.

If you encode then to a different container please check again. If the issue persists please report back again.

If the problem goes away, the only thing you could do (if you want to have an MP3 container) is to encode them to CBR.
This is a well known issue with MP3 and is not really solvable

In the Android app for example you can enable MP3 index seeking which also should resolve this, with the downside of way slower scrubbing and higher usage

@Vito0912 commented on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025): Are this all MP3s you have the issue with? If so they probably are the cause because they are VBR. If you encode then to a different container please check again. If the issue persists please report back again. If the problem goes away, the only thing you could do (if you want to have an MP3 container) is to encode them to CBR. This is a well known issue with MP3 and is not really solvable In the Android app for example you can enable MP3 index seeking which also should resolve this, with the downside of way slower scrubbing and higher usage
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:13:10 +02:00
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@katha757 commented on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025):

It does appear this is just MP3's with this issue (i've only noticed on one). I don't know whether the current is VBR or CBR, but I am reencoding with via CBR as we speak.

@katha757 commented on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025): It does appear this is just MP3's with this issue (i've only noticed on one). I don't know whether the current is VBR or CBR, but I am reencoding with via CBR as we speak.
adam commented 2026-04-25 00:13:10 +02:00
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@katha757 commented on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025):

That was it! All of the chapters line up perfectly after setting a constant bit rate. Thank you!

@katha757 commented on GitHub (Oct 11, 2025): That was it! All of the chapters line up perfectly after setting a constant bit rate. Thank you!
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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf#3034
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