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Is Audible DRMed?

2009-02-06 22:44:28.284786+00 by Dan Lyke 8 comments

I've been loving my little Sansa Clip MP3 player. I've been catching Coverville and Wait wait... Don't Tell Me! and the like. That last entry got me interested in the audio version of Barack Obama[Wiki]'s Dreams From My Father[Wiki], so I went out looking for it, and it seems like there are a gazillion people trying to make money from the affiliate codes at Audible.com.

However, I can't figure out what format they give the file to me in. I believe that there's some sort of funky-ass DRM in play. I could buy it on CD and rip it, though I really don't need the physical media, I'd really rather just buy one or more MP3 or Ogg files, but I'm not going to buy anything DRMed unless I know I can easily crack it.

Anyone know? And, Audible.com, here's a potential legitimate customer who's sitting on his hands because you're not forthcoming about such things. I don't know how many sales you'd lose if you dropped the silly file format stuff, but I know you'd gain one. Probably more than that, 'cause I think there are other things there I'd be interested in.

[ related topics: Music ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-07 16:35:20.841725+00 by: JT

I have no advice to offer about audible, however if you like wait wait, then you may enjoy The News from Lake Wobegon from A Prairie Home Companion. Of course, I'm a great fan of storytellers, so my opinion may be prejudiced.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-07 17:22:48.71026+00 by: TheSHAD0W

Google is your friend...

http://www.google.com/search?h...btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=&aqi=

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-07 17:37:52.860336+00 by: andylyke

My subscriptions add Bob Edwards weekend, Rachel Maddow, Bill Moyers' Journal, Speaking of Faith, This American Life and Car Talk.

I've become an addict - it's convenient to have shows on my schedule.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-07 21:57:28.147186+00 by: Dan Lyke

Shadow, from your search it looks like the answer is "buy the CD version, don't bother with Audible".

Dad, and JT, thanks for the suggestions.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-08 00:39:03.194578+00 by: ebradway

This is why BitTorrent is still popular - even among people perfectly willing to pay for content.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-08 02:14:56.749919+00 by: meuon

Agreed, I don't mind paying a reasonable fee for good content, but if the file format isn't portable, it is a poor value. I want to play it in one car on a CD, or the other via .mp3.. or on my iPhone..

Sad that buying a physical CD and ripping it yourself is often the best answer in this digital world.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-08 22:38:44.888489+00 by: DG

I think emusic.com has DRM-free audiobook downloads. The problem may be that it is subscription-based.

#Comment Re: made: 2009-02-09 20:30:53.830535+00 by: ghasty

I had audible for a while (maybe a month) and yes their DRM is a pain.