🎧📚 How to Convert Any eBook into an Audiobook

How to Convert Any eBook into an Audiobook: A Guide to ebook2audiobook

Audiobooks have become incredibly popular, allowing people to enjoy literature while commuting, exercising, or multitasking. However, not every book is available in audio format!

Enter ebook2audiobook, a powerful open-source tool that transforms any eBook into a high-quality audiobook using advanced text-to-speech technology.

1. Introduction to ebook2audiobook

ebook2audiobook is a cutting-edge open-source project that bridges the gap between written and spoken content. Developed by Drew Thomasson, this tool leverages state-of-the-art text-to-speech engines to convert eBooks into professional-quality audiobooks.

Key Features:

• Advanced Technology: Uses multiple TTS engines including Coqui XTTSv2, Bark, VITS, and more
• Massive Language Support: Supports over 1,100 languages and dialects
• Voice Cloning: Optional voice cloning feature for personalized narration
• Chapter Intelligence: Automatically splits eBooks into organized chapters
• Flexible Interface: Both user-friendly web GUI and command-line options
• Cross-Platform: Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows
• Hardware Efficient: Runs on systems with as little as 4GB RAM

2. Getting Started: Installation and Setup

System Requirements:

• RAM: 4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
• CPU: Intel, AMD, or ARM processors
• GPU: NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel (recommended for faster processing)
• OS: Linux, macOS, or Windows

Installation Steps:

Step 1: Clone the Repository

git clone <https://github.com/DrewThomasson/ebook2audiobook.git>
cd ebook2audiobook

Step 2: Run the Application

For Linux/MacOS:

./ebook2audiobook.sh

For Windows:

ebook2audiobook.cmd

Step 3: Access the Web Interface

After running the script, open http://localhost:7860/ in your web browser.

3. Using the Web Interface

The web interface provides a simple way to convert eBooks without command-line complexity.

Step 1: Upload Your eBook

• Click the "Upload" button and select your eBook file

Step 2: Configure Settings

• Language: Choose from over 1,100 supported languages (default: English)
• TTS Engine: Select your preferred engine (XTTSv2 recommended for quality)
• Voice Cloning: Optional - upload a voice sample for custom narration
• Output Format: Choose your desired audio format

Step 3: Start Conversion

• Click "Convert" and monitor the progress
• Download your audiobook when complete

4. Command-Line Usage

For advanced users or automation, ebook2audiobook offers powerful command-line options.

Basic Command:

# Linux/MacOS
./ebook2audiobook.sh --headless --ebook <path_to_ebook> --language <language_code>

# Windows
ebook2audiobook.cmd --headless --ebook <path_to_ebook> --language <language_code>

With Voice Cloning:

# Linux/MacOS
./ebook2audiobook.sh --headless --ebook <path_to_ebook> --voice <path_to_voice> --language eng

# Windows
ebook2audiobook.cmd --headless --ebook <path_to_ebook> --voice <path_to_voice> --language eng

Common Parameters:

• -headless: Run without web interface
• -ebook: Path to eBook file
• -language: Language code (e.g., 'eng' for English)
• -voice: Path to voice sample (optional)
• -tts_engine: TTS engine selection
• -output_format: Audio output format

5. Supported Languages and TTS Engines

Major Supported Languages:

• English, Spanish, French, German, Italian
• Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi
• Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Dutch
• Plus 1,070+ additional languages

Available TTS Engines:

Recommendation: Start with XTTSv2 for best overall quality and naturalness.

6. Voice Cloning and Customization

Voice cloning allows you to create audiobooks with custom voices, including your own.

Preparing Your Voice Sample:

• Record 30-60 seconds of clear speech
• Use a good microphone in a quiet environment
• Save as WAV format for best quality
• Remove background noise

Using Voice Cloning:

Web Interface

Command-Line

./ebook2audiobook.sh --headless --ebook "book.epub" --voice "voice.wav" --language eng

Best Practices:

• Use clear, consistent voice samples
• Start with shorter samples (30 seconds minimum)
• Test with different TTS engines for best results

7. Tips for Best Results

Source Material:

• Use clean, DRM-free eBooks
• Remove page numbers, headers, and unwanted text
• Fix spelling and grammar errors before conversion

Quality Settings:

# Recommended XTTSv2 settings
--temperature 0.7
--length_penalty 1.0
--num_beams 5
--repetition_penalty 1.2
--speed 1.0

Common Issues:

• Robotic Sound: Lower temperature, increase num_beams
• Too Fast/Slow: Adjust speed parameter
• Repetitive: Increase repetition_penalty
• Processing Errors: Check system resources, try smaller files

Hardware Tips:

• Use GPU acceleration if available
• Close background applications during conversion
• Ensure adequate cooling for long processing sessions

8. Legal and Ethical Considerations

⛔ Important: This tool is for non-DRM, legally acquired eBooks only. Use responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws.

Legal Use:

• Convert books you legally own for personal use
• Create accessibility materials for personal use
• Convert public domain works
• Use for educational purposes (within fair use limits)

Illegal Use:

• Distributing converted audiobooks
• Selling converted content
• Converting DRM-protected books
• Large-scale copyright infringement

Safe Sources:

• Public Domain: Project Gutenberg, Internet Archive
• Legal Free: Author websites, library resources
• Purchased: DRM-free books from legitimate stores

Remember: Always respect copyright laws and support authors by purchasing official audiobooks when available.

Conclusion

ebook2audiobook is a tool that makes audiobook creation accessible to everyone. With support for over 1,100 languages, multiple TTS engines, and voice cloning capabilities, it offers professional-quality results that rival commercial services.

This tool opens up new possibilities for experiencing literature. The power to convert any eBook into an audiobook is now at your fingertips, so use it wisely and enjoy the world of literature in audio format.

Happy listening 🎧📚, and Crepi il lupo! 🐺