Audiobook downloads with no DRM or watermarks from Naxos
Naxos produces fantastic, professionally read audiobooks of contemporary and classic lit -- and they distribute them on CD and as DRM-free, watermark-free MP3s. Basically, this is a company that assumes you're a valued customer, not a dirty thief. They're pioneers in the growing field of DRM-free audiobook providers, who, unlike market-leader Audible (a division of Amazon) allow publishers and writers to decide whether or not they want to their books crippled with DRM.
Back when Amazon bought Audible, they claimed that they would drop DRM if there was enough public outcry and now they claim that something may be in the works, but no one has seen any DRM-free audiobooks from Audible, and no one at Audible is available to do a deal for DRM-free books.
In the meantime, I was lucky enough to meet the Naxos folks at Book Expo America in LA last month and they were absolutely charming. I asked them if they'd be willing to post some MP3s of their stuff for the benefit of Boing Boing readers and they were only too happy to -- so now you can download a free Sherlock Holmes story (the gloriously titled "Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle") and the first chapter of Tom Sawyer (including Twain's inspiring introduction).
I love having the chance and the choice to support audiobook companies that respect readers' rights and the author's right to decide whether DRM should be larded onto his books. Naxos's MP3 store works great and is filled with wonderful titles for your delectation. Link
the latest
latest episodes
Audible will probably move to DRM free soon enough - Amazon's music store is DRM free. Many books on Audible are available elsewhere, DRM free.
Audible is a distributor, not a publishing house. it's always been up to the houses, and the production companies (like Blackstone Audiobooks) to sell DRM free MP3s. Some do, some don't. What's needed is a way to fairly conservative businesspeople that selling in a DRM free format is a way to increase profits on a continuing basis.
For public domain books there is also a great site called LibiVox (http://librivox.org/). They are volunteer based, so some of the voice actors are good, others not so much. Still the content is free to download and provided under a creative commons license.
JJasper -- no, it's NOT up to the publishers to choose DRM or no DRM, at least not with Audible. Audible's position is that EVEN IF A PUBLISHER REQUESTS NO DRM, they still insist on it. This is about Audible forcing publishers and writers to be locked into their DRM platform, and has nothing to do with publisher choice. My audiobook publisher, Random House (the largest publishing conglomerate in the world), asked Audible to sell my latest book without DRM, and they refused.
If it is anything like the rest of the Naxos line, they are second rate recordings that have been bought up from unknown orchestras and otherwise.
Sometimes ya get a killer performance, but it is a gamble. At the same time, you get a lot for your money...most boxed sets come from multiple sources with no cohesion...but again, if you want a library of a single composers work, it is a great way to go about it.
Looking through the line, it looks as though this is how the audiobooks are setup. Lot of older works (I didn't see anything 'contemporary' that wasn't at least 50 years). Probably bought the readings from others at a discount.
"Basically, this is a company that assumes you're a valued customer, not a dirty thief."
Given their history, it makes no sense for them to DRM anything. Nothing to do with valuing customers -- it is Quantity over Quality. I know several CDs I've picked up were public domain material to begin with...which I'm fine with. But if they were actually spending the money others do on these works, I'm certain they would.
Just doesn't make any sense with their business plans (much like Dollar Stores don't seem to worry that much about security guards). Nothing to do with the value of the customer.
(Again, I have several of their products...I think the 100 disc Bach Box came from them...most of it is only useful for pulling up passages when I need to send an example to a friend).
Well, Clif, rather than speculating on how poor the audiobooks must be, you could actually just, you know, *download the free samples* (which are excellent, and linked off this post) and discover that you're wrong about this.
Clif :
Your comments are grossly unfair (and just a touch elitist?). True, in the early days of the label the quality was spotty, however many, many of their releases have won accolades for both their technical quality & performances.
I suggest you listen to Vaughn Williams' Symphony #1 to see just how good a product this label turns out for $6.99! (http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.557059)
If the popular labels had followed Naxos' lead & released a broad catalog at competitive prices I believe they may have saved themselves from their current situation.
Try Podiobooks.com for all genres of free serialized audio books.
Or try Escapepod.org for short story scifi
You could always go to the library, check out the audiobook and rip it on your own.
It's true that many of NAXOS' recordings are made from texts in the public domain, but the readings are all performed by professional voice actors, digitally recorded, and encoded at a higher bitrate than Audible downloads (many of which are digitized from old analog sources).
NAXOS has also begun producing audiobooks by contemporary authors. Fans of Haruki Murakami will be pleased to know that several of his novels--including The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle--are available as unabridged, DRM-free .mp3's.
I listened to a sample of one of their Sherlock Holmes offerings, and thought the quality was excellent. No complaints on that score.
On the other hand, everything there seems to be a little on the pricey side ( at least in US dollars) -- certainly more expensive than member's prices from Audible.
And, while Naxos looks to be a good place to pick up some nice-quality recordings of the classics, I see no genre fiction at all. No SF, no mysteries or thrillers or horror (except for Jules Verne, Conan Doyle, Poe, and the other usual suspects).
Personally, I have no beef with with DRM "crippled" audio books. I am irritated with Amazon for refusing to carry non-DRM titles, and would love to find a good alternate supplier of the kind of things I enjoy. Sadly, it doesn't look like Naxos is going to be it.
anyone else think that tom sawyer cover looks like a young christian bale??
Cory - no, it's NOT up to the publishers to choose DRM or no DRM, at least not with Audible.
I never said with Audible, just that they were free to sell DRM free MP3s. I should have been more clear and said through *other* publishers. That was my intent.
Audible has nothing DRM free. That won't change. But there's more than just Audible out there. Little Brother is out on several platforms, and the more authors, publishers and agents who insist on DRM free formats, the better.
Personally, I'd suggest doing both -sell through Audible and through DRM free sources.
There's also the variable pricing issue. The audio download sales industry has not really addressed that as much as they could.
Cory --
"Well, Clif, rather than speculating on how poor the audiobooks must be, you could actually just, you know, *download the free samples*"
I have...and if it is like their other works that you can buy, the samples are ALWAYS superb. And then you find the rest of the product is a little on the weak side. I swear one of the discs I had different orchestras in vastly different micing and aural spaces for the same symphony. First movement great...second...WTF??? Where did the first go? (I'm not going to swear this was a Naxos release...but if I remember the cover, it was most likely).
Again, I still buy them occasionally and it is like trying to find a diamond in the rough.
As for Philipb...elitist? That I want my orchestras recorded professionally and consistently and not with student orchestras? Maybe you are right. Then again, I have said it was hit or miss...when they have something right, it ROCKS. I have two Ives recordings from them...one ended up going into the garbage because he is one composer I don't screw around with. The other sits as well as the Bernstein recordings.
As read by William Shatner?
Clif - "one ended up going into the garbage because he is one composer I don't screw around with. The other sits as well as the Bernstein recordings"
At least at their prices it's not so bad! Although I do hope you took them to the charity shop not the trash.
:-)
FYI, the DC public library, as lamentable as its facilities and services are, is apparently now the first in the nation to offer DRM-free, MP3 audiobooks via its website.
http://www.dclibrary.org/dcpl/cwp/view.asp?a=11&q=569607
Didn't really see anything worthwhile in the initial selection, but here's to hoping that changes!
I take that back, as there is good stuff, just have to look a little harder. Downloading World War Z tonight - already read it, but I'm intrigued by the recording.
This is completely off topic, but I just wanted to stop by and say:
Cory, I got to hear you speak @ ALA Saturday and you were awesome!
On topic:
Does anyone know if Brilliance Audio has DRM? Someone on another panel was talking as if it didn't. BUT! Amazon bought it out last year, so....
-Mickle