USB Audiobook Issues

[311Hokie]

Hi All,

Looking for help with playing my audiobooks via USB. I've searched the manual and other forums, but haven't been able to figure this one out.

My USB stick is properly formatted (FAT32) with two audiobooks loaded onto it in separate folders. The audiobook files are M4B (preferred by iTunes/iPhone). The car recognizes each file and even the audiobook cover, but I get a "file load error" when I try to play them.

Any thoughts on why this isn't working? Not the end of the world as I can play through phone bluetooth, but this is really bugging me. Is there perhaps an issue with the USB stick being too large, or does the Model3 not like M4B?

Thanks in advance.

-311

 

[wbhokie]

Well I can't play M4A files from my USB in my Model S, so I would guess it isn't a supported format.

 

[ai4px]

M4b is really mp4 audio with a file extension to trick iTunes into thinking it’s an audio book. You need to convert to mp3. Ffmpeg will do it for you.

 

[cella]

Are these purchased files or did you make them yourselves? Purchased audiobooks from iTunes have DRM and cannot be played using the Tesla player. If they do not have DRM, they are just standard AAC files in an MP4 container and should theoretically work (and the fact that you can see the covers shows that the Tesla recognizes the container file format correctly). I didn't try audiobooks, but I did play some AAC music files without issues. One possibility is that the audiobooks are simply too long for the Tesla player to handle.

 

[ai4px]

Are these purchased files or did you make them yourselves? Purchased audiobooks from iTunes have DRM and cannot be played using the Tesla player. If they do not have DRM, they are just standard AAC files in an MP4 container and should theoretically work (and the fact that you can see the covers shows that the Tesla recognizes the container file format correctly). I didn't try audiobooks, but I did play some AAC music files without issues. One possibility is that the audiobooks are simply too long for the Tesla player to handle.

In this case, you might simply need to rename the files from m4b to mp4?????

 

[Need]

Even if you could make it play, you may be another problem with USB stick with audiobook. I listen to audiobooks all the time in my car and I know that in my Lexus, I can't do it with USB stick. The reason is that every time I restart the car, it will re-play the track like it would with music. It is fine with music as it just start the 3 min song over. With audiobook the file could be 60+ min long....

I don't know if Telsa would do the same...

 

[MP3Mike]

I didn't try audiobooks, but I did play some AAC music files without issues.

Did you do that on a Model 3? I haven't heard of anyone getting AAC files to play on a Model 3.

 

[cella]

Did you do that on a Model 3? I haven't heard of anyone getting AAC files to play on a Model 3.

No, that's on a Model S. Sorry, I should have mentioned that. I just assumed that the 3 uses the same player software.

 

[311Hokie]

Thx all. I think m4b is the issue. These don't have DRM so no problem there.

I'm happy using my phone for audiobooks, since I know for sure it will save my place. Will keep in mind if issues arise when I try to play music from USB in the future.

 

[Darscot]

Tried an audiobook in mp3 format, you can scrub to the right spot so finding your place is not an issue. Not being able to play back at faster speeds is a killer. Once your accustomed to faster, regular speed is painfully slow. Hope they can add that as it would be great to free up space on my phone.

 

[ai4px]

Do you have trouble with it starting playback on the book before you get seated / situated in the car? I've never tried, just asking. On a song, no problem... in a book with a cliff hanger, you might want to scrub backwards a bit.

 

[Darscot]

I never actually used it for a real listening session. Just put books on a USB and and tested that they worked and what features were available. I’ll stick to my phone until faster playback is supported.