It's been a long time coming, but I have finally made the transition from primarily using CDs to using an iPod MP3 player. There are a number of MP3 players in the market, and I imagine that they are useful, but I have found that the iPod works best for me. l. Here's how I use my iPod Photo (40 GB size). If you have another MP3 player, you may be able to adapt some of these ideas to using your player:
1. I have converted and loaded almost all of my audio CD programs to AAC files (of course, these are programs that I have purchased or my self-produced Power Affirmation CDs). Even after loading all of the affirmation files, all of Tony Robbins' Personal Power (20 CDs), and several other audio books, lots of music files, I still have 30 gigs of space left on the iPod. The most time consuming part was converting the CDs. Loading the iPod with all this information only took minutes.
The AAC file format is compressed similar to MP3 files; however, you can manually change the extension of the file from m4a to m4b, the iPod will recognize the file as a spoken word file. When you listen to these files in this format, they will be bookmarked. This way you can stop a file, switch to another file, but your place will be marked when you return to the original file. Without the bookmark, the file will restart from the beginning. This is a huge advantage when listening to large spoken word files.
One other very important feature of the AAC/m4b file format: you can go to the settings of your iPod and slightly increase the speed of the audio file. The increase speed is only slightly noticeable; however, you can get through files faster. For example, you can listen to an hour's worth of audio content in about 45 minutes. Or 5 hours of audio in about 4 hours. If you listen to a lot of spoken word content, this difference is significant. I think it also increases your retention and sharpens your mental skills over time.
2. For listening to the material at home, I use the iPod audio cord from my docking station to my stereo. Great CD quality sound.
3. For listening in the car, I dock my iPod in a DLO TransPod FM connector. This plugs into my cigarette lighter and acts as a docking station for my iPod. I can listen to the iPod through my car stereo using either the FM transmitter built into the transpod or using my Sony car cassette adapter. This sounds great as well. And using the docking station keeps it accessible and out of the way.
4. For remote listening, headphones.
5. In addition to converting audio books from CDs I have purchased, I also download some books from Audible.com. What I like about Audible is that the files are already compressed and they tend to be less expensive than buying the actual CD. The variety is not as much as I would like, but they have some excellent titles that you can learn from.
What is great about this is that I can have virtually my entire library of audio books and affirmations on a single device that I can listen to in multiple locations. Since I have purchased my iPod, I have very, very rarely listened to any audio from CD player or the radio.
I’ve also listened to more audio than ever before. I can now get through at least 1-2 books a week. And sometimes multiple listenings of the same book. And it’s easy to rewind the iPod a little ways to listen to an important point over again.
No more carrying around batches of CDs from the house to the car or back again. Now I just put my iPod in my coat pocket and away I go.
I don't normally endorse non-audio products; however, I have been so impressed with the benefits I have receive from my iPod, I felt it was important to make the suggestion. Can you tell I’m a raving fan of the iPod?
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