m4b-tool

Create an audiobook with the audio files in the input directory

$ m4b-tool merge [path/to/input_directory] --output-file=[path/to/merged.m4b]

$ m4b-tool merge [path/to/input_directory] --output-file=[path/to/merged.m4b] --use-filenames-as-chapters

m4b-tool [options]

--help
    Displays help information.

--version
    Displays the version number.

-v, --verbose
    Enable verbose output.

-d, --debug
    Enable debug output.

-c, --chapters
    Specify a chapter file.

-t, --title
    Set the audiobook title.

-a, --author
    Set the audiobook author.

-g, --genre
    Set the audiobook genre.

-y, --year
    Set the audiobook year.

-n, --album-artist
    Set the audiobook album artist.

-i, --artwork
    Set the audiobook artwork (cover image).

-o, --output
    Specify the output M4B file.

--audio-codec
    Set the audio codec. (e.g., aac, alac)

--audio-quality
    Set the audio quality (e.g., bitrate).

--split-chapters
    Split M4B file into individual chapter files.

The m4b-tool is a command-line utility designed for creating, joining, and managing audiobooks in the M4B format. It's particularly useful for converting audio files (like MP3, WAV, etc.) into a single M4B file with chapter markers and proper metadata for playback on devices like iPods, iPhones, and other M4B-compatible players. It automates the process of stitching audio files together, creating a table of contents (chapters), and embedding metadata such as the book title, author, and cover art. The tool simplifies audiobook creation, eliminating the need for manual encoding and metadata tagging. It offers advanced features like automatic chapter creation, custom metadata handling, and support for different encoding options, providing greater flexibility and control over the audiobook creation process. Furthermore, it integrates well with other command-line tools for audio manipulation, allowing users to preprocess audio files before conversion.
In addition to creating audiobooks, the m4b-tool can also be used to extract chapters from existing M4B files or to split large audio files into smaller segments.

The availability of certain features and codecs might depend on the installed dependencies and the system configuration. Carefully check your audio quality settings to ensure optimal playback and file size.

m4b-tool relies on external tools like FFmpeg, mp4v2, and AtomicParsley for audio encoding and metadata handling. Make sure these dependencies are installed and properly configured.

The chapter file should be a plain text file with chapter titles and timestamps in a specific format, typically HH:MM:SS Title per line.