Found- sure method to import Kindle & Audible books

Open Forum
21

I convert it to epub and then open it with an epub reader and copy and paste one chapter at a time. With PDF, you can end up with paragraph markers at the end of every line.

22

Not sure if you knew already, but you can import the whole book (although I’m pretty sure you would have to convert the azw to mobi or epub or other) by clicking the plus sign on the right upper side of the browser window and “import ebook”. It will break it up into chapters of about 2200 words. Of course this breaks up the book’s actual chapter structure–not ideal, but quicker/easier if it doesn’t bother you.

If you are wanting a true chapter breakdown follow mycroft’s recent post…copy and paste one chapter at a time. I’m not sure if there’s a limitation on length of the chapter and whether something greater than 2200 words might need to be broken into parts.

23

I am using TunesKit Audible AA/AAX Converter ([OFFICIAL] ViWizard AA/AAX Audiobook Converter for Windows - Fastest AA/AAX Audiobooks to MP3 Converter). The output qualitiy of this one is pretty cool. And its price is also reasonable.

24

I just used cloudconvert[dot]com and it was easy and free (awz3 to epub).

25

Very interesting tool, thanks. Definitely bookmarked it.

26

Hi, Tommy / Davide!

There are many e-book converters out there (see, for example,
Top 10 eBook Converters).

However, the problem with protected e-books such as Kindle books is neither the format nor the format conversion process per se, but the DRM protection mechanism - esp. if learners want to import their Kindle e-books into LingQ.

“cloudconvert[dot]com” may be a comfortable solution for converting free e-book formats, but it doesn´t remove the DRM protection mechanism.
Instead it creates an error message like this one, for example:
“calibre.ebooks.DRMError: Versionsverwaltung mit Git (mitp Professional) (German Edition)” [Note: It seems that “cloudconvert” uses the Calibre software (!) in the background].

So for the use case “the import of Kindle e-books into LingQ” it makes more sense to use the combo “calibre + DeDRM plugin” because the “conversion + DRM removal” process is straightforward and free, which isn´t the case for other solutions such as “EPubor Ultimate”.

BTW, cloudconvert[dot]com isn´t completely “free” either. See:

Just my 2 cents

Peter

27

I have had a very good experience with open audible.

I use another program to decrypt the books once they are downloaded, but if it’s too complicated for you openaudible has a paid version I think.

I generally agree that there isn’t a huge advantage to listening through lingq. I just do it because I like my listening hours being automatically tracked.

1 Like
28

Hi Peter,

When do you get the error message? Because I just downloaded the book from Amazon, converted to epub and was able to import it into LingQ - no error message.

Are you getting the error message when you try to import into LingQ?

29

Hi, Tommy!

Here are the steps I followed:

  1. Go to the directory with the Kindle e-books (on my Win 10 system) that I downloaded from Amazon

  2. Select a Kindle book with DRM (in this case: an IT book in German)

  3. Upload the DRM protected Kindle book to “cloudconvert[dot]com”

  4. Convert the Kindle book to the epub format

“cloudconvert” immediately displayed this error message:
“calibre.ebooks.DRMError: Versionsverwaltung mit Git (mitp Professional) (German Edition)”

My thesis is:
They use the Calibre software in the background for the conversion process- without Calibre´s DeDRM plugin. That´s why the DRM-related exception is thrown.

This makes sense because the company seems to be based in Munich, Germany. And since the EU has the strictest data / privacy protection laws in the world, a German company can´t offer to remove Amazon’s DRM protection mechanism by default.

Of course it´s possible for Amazon customers to use “Calibre” in combination with the DeDRM plugin to remove Amazon’s DRM protection mechanism. But legally this is a gray area, i.e. a kind of trivial offense - at least as long as Amazon customers don´t share their private Kindle books with others.

In short, LingQ users shouldn´t rely on online conversion services based in Western countries to remove Amazon’s DRM protection mechanism, because once Amazon finds out, it´ll go after them and shut the service down.

That´s different for Chinese companies (-> “EPubor”) because China doesn´t care much about data / privacy protection…

Have a nice day
Peter

30

I wouldn’t use it either, anyway, for the main reason you have mentioned. Although, it’s nice to know that they convert many different formats that could be quickly used for different other reasons. It could be useful.

31

Hi Tommy,
What was the book? I’m with Peter…I’m surprised unless this particular book is not DRM protected.

32

No, your computer model isn´t responsible for removing Amazon´s DRM protection mechanism by default :slight_smile:

It´s a Kindle ebook without DRM.
This option is responsible for it (see the product info of the e-book you mentioned): “Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited”

For some background info, see also:

In short, “cloudconvert[dot]com” doesn´t automatically remove Amazon´s DRM protection mechanism for you, which would be legal suicide.

33

I looked at EPubor last week but my MacBook would not allow it to be installed, saying that it could not verify the certificate.