Libro.fm will oftentimes provide two downloads for an audiobook, an M4B file and a zip archive of mp3 files. The MP3 files correlate to the chapters embedded in the M4B.
I’d like to be able to use AcoustID for the M4B file but also be able to use the tracks for the MP3s as a source of chapter information. Should I create a separate release for the MP3s and the M4B or use separate mediums for the MP3s and M4B on the same release? Or something else?
Personally I’d argue two unique releases; one for the M4B variant and one for the MP3 variant.
Although we don’t really care about formats (Digital Media is Digital Media regardless of the encoding/container used) if the actual content is presented in such a way that it differs then it would normally equate to a seperate release.
Audiobooks are a pain like this, as there can even be differences between providers for the same recording that would warrant a new release (usually down to how the chapters are laid out, Audible for example may present 13 tracks vs. Spotify who present 15).
At least with this method if the general concensous changes, it’s easy to merge the two releases into one, with seperate mediums under one release.
Thanks! This gives me a way to move forward. I need to compare the files and chapters between an Audible release and a release from Libro.fm to see how similar they are. I’ve started adding the distributor relationship for each release to keep track of where the release came from. It sounds like that’ll be helpful to keep up.
One thing about that multiple releases that comes up is the relationship between an audiobook in BookBrainz and MusicBrainz. I can only relate an audiobook edition in BookBrainz to a single release in MusicBrainz.