m4b.py

This is a simple python script to convert and split m4b audio books into mp3 files.

Requirements

• Python (tested with v2.7)
• ffmpeg
• mp4v2 (v1.9.1)

Installation

Windows

1. Install python 2.7.
2. Download ffmpeg and place ffmpeg.exe in this directory or your PATH.
3. Download libmp4v2.dll or compile your own dll, then place it in this directory.

Ubuntu 10.10

1. Install packages: sudo apt-get install python2.7 ffmpeg libavcodec-extra-52
2. Download mp4v2 then compile and install.

Usage

There are two ways to use this script:

1. Drag your .m4b file(s) onto m4b.py.
2. Using the command line which also offers more advanced options.

Command Line Help

usage: m4b.py [-h] [-o DIR] [--custom-name "STR"] [--ffmpeg BIN]
              [--encoder BIN] [--encode-opts "STR"] [--ext EXT] [--pipe-wav]
              [--skip-encoding] [--no-mp4v2] [--debug]
              filename [filename ...]

Split m4b audio book by chapters.

positional arguments:
  filename              m4b file(s) to be converted

optional arguments:
  -h, --help            show this help message and exit
  -o DIR, --output-dir DIR
                        directory to store encoded files
  --custom-name "STR"   customize chapter filenames (see README)
  --ffmpeg BIN          path to ffmpeg binary
  --encoder BIN         path to encoder binary (default: ffmpeg)
  --encode-opts "STR"   custom encoding string (see README)
  --ext EXT             extension of encoded files
  --pipe-wav            pipe wav to encoder
  --skip-encoding       do not encode audio (keep as .mp4)
  --no-mp4v2            use ffmpeg to retrieve chapters (not recommended)
  --debug               output debug messages and save to log file

Chapter filenames

You can customize the chapter filenames with --custom-name "STR" where STR is a valid python format string.

Default ("My Title.mp3"):

--custom-name "%(title)s"

Chapter number ("3 - My Title.mp3"):

--custom-name "%(num)d - %(title)s"

Chapter number with leading zero ("03 - My Title.mp3"):

--custom-name "%(num)02d - %(title)s"

Encoding

By default the audio will be encoded with the lame mp3 codec using ffmpeg. The bit rate and sampling freq will be the same as the source file. If you wish to use other settings you can specify your own encoding options with --encode-opts "STR". STR will be passed to the encoder (--encoder or skip to use ffmpeg). Variables available:

%(outfile)s - output filename (required)
%(infile)s - .m4b file
%(bit_rate)d - bit rate of .m4b file
%(sample_rate)d - sampling rate of .m4b file

Examples

Convert multiple audio books (you can also drag multiple m4b files onto m4b.py):

python m4b.py myfile.m4b otherfile.m4b

Include chapter number in the generated filenames: (example: "Chapter 10 - Some Title.mp3")

python m4b.py --custom-name "Chapter %(num)d - %(title)s" myfile.m4b

If you rather want .mp4 files you can skip encoding to speed up the conversion process:

python m4b.py --skip-encoding myfile.m4b

Force sampling freq to 22050 Hz and bit rate to 128 kbit/s:

python m4b.py --encode-opts "-y -i %(infile)s -acodec libmp3lame -ar 22050 -ab 128k %(outfile)s" myfile.m4b

Encode with lame.exe:

python m4b.py --encoder lame.exe --pipe-wav --encode-opts "-V 3 -h - %(outfile)s" myfile.m4b