Hi Steve,
I know your question has already been answered but I wanted to provide some additional comments about the m4b audio format in general. I highly recommend the website https://fileinfo.com/ forgetting information about various file formats. It seems that Apple developed the m4b format for use in Apple Books and iTunes so many audiobooks using that format might contain DRM protection which will render them unavailable in Voice Dream Reader. This is not always the case so books in that format can be played with various players. Following my signature, I’m including the article from the FileInfo.com website on m4b files which can be accessed at https://fileinfo.com/extension/m4b. This article contains headings so you should be able to easily jump among them using quick keys provided your email client retains the html format. Alan Lemly .M4B File Extension * File Information <https://fileinfo.com/extension/m4b#mpeg-4_audiobook_info> * How to Open <https://fileinfo.com/extension/m4b#mpeg-4_audiobook_open> * How to Convert <https://fileinfo.com/extension/m4b#mpeg-4_audiobook_convert> MPEG-4 Audiobook Developer Apple Popularity 3.6 | 38 Votes Category Audio Files <https://fileinfo.com/filetypes/audio> Format Binary <https://fileinfo.com/extension/m4b> What is an M4B file? An M4B file is an audiobook most often used by Apple iTunes and Apple Books. It contains audio that is stored in the MPEG-4 format and compressed using AAC encoding. M4B files are nearly identical to .M4A <https://fileinfo.com/extension/m4a> files except that they support book-related features, such as chapter breaks and bookmarking. More Information <https://fileinfo.com/img/ss/lg/m4b_1419-2.png> M4B file open in Apple Books Apple copy-protects the M4B files they provide using FairPlay DRM <https://techterms.com/definition/drm> . This means M4B files you download via iTunes or Apple Books can be played only on authorized computers and Apple devices, using iTunes or Apple Books. Therefore, if you are having trouble playing an M4B file, it might be because you are not playing it in iTunes or Apple Books, or because your device is not authorized to play it. How to open an M4B file On Windows, you can open an M4B file with Apple iTunes <https://fileinfo.com/software/apple/itunes> . On Macs and other Apple devices, you can open an M4B file with Apple Books <https://fileinfo.com/software/apple/books> . Some free audiobook libraries, such as LibriVox, also provide audiobooks in the M4B format. These files are not copy-protected, so you can play them using third-party media players such as VideoLAN VLC media player <https://fileinfo.com/software/videolan/vlc_media_player> . How to convert an M4B file You can use VideoLAN VLC media player <https://fileinfo.com/software/videolan/vlc_media_player> (multiplatform) to convert non-copy-protected M4B files to the following audio formats: * .MP3 <https://fileinfo.com/extension/mp3> - MP3 Audio * .OGG <https://fileinfo.com/extension/ogg> - Ogg Vorbis Audio * .FLAC <https://fileinfo.com/extension/flac> - Free Lossless Audio Codec TuneFab iTunes Audio Converter (Windows, Mac) and Viwizard Audio Converter (Windows, Mac) can remove copy-protection from protected M4B files and convert them to MP3 and other audio formats. Keep in mind that removing copy-protection for your own use is legal, but sharing previously copy-protected files is illegal. <https://fileinfo.com/software/windows_file_viewer?ref=1419> Open and view .M4B files with File Viewer Plus.Free Download Programs that open or reference M4B files Windows File Viewer Plus <https://fileinfo.com/software/windows_file_viewer?ref=1419> — Get it from Microsoft <https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/file-viewer-plus-4/9NMSDKXC9R3F> Free+ Apple iTunes <https://fileinfo.com/software/apple/itunes> — Discontinued <https://fileinfo.com/help/discontinued_software> Free Microsoft Windows Media Player <https://fileinfo.com/software/microsoft/windows_media_player> Included with OS VideoLAN VLC media player <https://fileinfo.com/software/videolan/vlc_media_player> Free Audacity with optional FFmpeg library installed <https://fileinfo.com/software/audacity/audacity> Free TuneFab iTunes Audio Converter <https://www.tunefab.com/am-converter/> Free Trial Viwizard Audio Converter <https://www.viwizard.com/audio-converter/> Free Trial Mac Apple Books <https://fileinfo.com/software/apple/books> Included with OS VideoLAN VLC media player <https://fileinfo.com/software/videolan/vlc_media_player> Free Audacity with optional FFmpeg library installed <https://fileinfo.com/software/audacity/audacity> Free TuneFab iTunes Audio Converter <https://www.tunefab.com/am-converter/> Free Trial Viwizard Audio Converter <https://www.viwizard.com/audio-converter/> Free Trial Linux VideoLAN VLC media player <https://fileinfo.com/software/videolan/vlc_media_player> Free Audacity with optional FFmpeg library installed <https://fileinfo.com/software/audacity/audacity> Free iOS Apple Books <https://fileinfo.com/software/apple/books> Included with OS Android Smart AudioBook Player <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ak.alizandro.smartaudiobookplayer> Free+ Updated April 19, 2022 Verified by FileInfo.com The FileInfo.com team <https://fileinfo.com/help/authors> has independently researched the MPEG-4 Audiobook file format and Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Steve Matzura Sent: Sunday, January 15, 2023 7:46 AM To: [email protected] Subject: M4B-format audiobooks What's the best player to use? Most of the reasoning behind the M4B format is that a proper player can read the section marks--chapter, etc.--that your normal average everyday run-of-the-mill media player does not and cannot. Someone recommended the VLC Media Player. I haven't tried that one yet because I already know its accessibility is, well, below par. Sure wish Voice Dream Reader could do this. It's the ideal solution, as it handles other formats so well. Recommendations welcome. -- The following information is important for all members of the V iPhone list. 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