Create audio books for free....

Following are the few pain areas of most of the people who love to read:

• I love reading, but I don't get time to read
• How am I supposed to carry such a big book with me?
• The books are expensive and require space to store
• I have many pdf's / e-books but I hate reading on computer
• Is there anyone who can read out loud for me?

I faced similar questions and was always wondering how can I make use of few softwares to resolve / eliminate or at least reduce these pain areas. And few weeks back I had that 'Eureka' moment...

This blog elaborates a way through which one can read as many books as possible with no expense and within limited time while multitasking as well. This idea can be used if you have soft-copy of the book and you can copy the text from the file (.pdf, .doc etc.)

The idea is to convert e-books into audio (.mp3) and storing them on one's mobile / i-pod / mp3 player and then listening to them whenever you are free, driving, cleaning the house, watering the plants, waiting for someone, while sleeping or anytime you prefer.

Following is the elaborated idea.

Prerequisite: you need to have soft-copy of the book you want to read and you should be able to copy the text from that file i.e. it is not password protected

Step 1: Download this software - Spesoft Text To MP3 Speaker. This programme is freeware and is for personal entertainment use only

Step 2: Either copy and paste the text from e-book or load text from file

Step 3: To convert the text to mp3, you might require to install another software named 'Lame-3.99.3'. This is also a freeware

Step 4: Save the audio at desired location of your computer

Step 5: Once the text is converted to MP3, you get your audio book for FREE... 

For the free version of Spesoft Text To MP3 Speaker, only one voice is available - Microsoft Anna - English (United States)

You can control Output Format, Output Quality, Sample Rate, Speed, Pitch and Volume of conversion as well.

One you convert the book into audio, you can transfer it to your mobile or ipod or mp3 player and listen to it at your own convenience.

I am not saying that my solution is unique or best or I am the first person to use this but for me the above idea has worked brilliantly and I have read / listened to many e-books in very short duration of time.

Keep reading...