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Move over from Audiobookshelf

AudioSilo can read the same books folder as Audiobookshelf, so you can try it without moving a file. This page covers what comes across, what to do after the first scan, and where the two read a folder differently. You need an admin account.

Run both side by side​

The AudioSilo server never writes to your books folder. It can read the folder while Audiobookshelf keeps running, and you can mount the folder read-only. Nothing you do in AudioSilo changes Audiobookshelf.

Bring your book details across​

Audiobookshelf keeps each book's details, such as its matched ASIN, your edits and its series, in a metadata.json file. By default it keeps these files in its own metadata folder, not beside your books, so AudioSilo can't see them. Its Store metadata with item setting puts the file in each book's folder instead, and it is off by default.

Turning the setting on doesn't write files for the books already there. Audiobookshelf writes a book's file into its folder the next time it saves a change to that book. To bring a book's details across:

  1. In Audiobookshelf, open Settings and turn on Store metadata with item.
  2. In Audiobookshelf, change the book, for example edit its details or match it. Audiobookshelf writes its metadata.json beside it.
  3. In the AudioSilo admin console, rescan the library.

A book with a metadata.json file then shows its Audiobookshelf details in AudioSilo, and one with an ASIN or ISBN in it counts as matched. See Audiobookshelf's metadata.json files for what the file brings.

Bring listening history across​

Server > Settings > Import copies each person's listening sessions, progress and bookmarks from Audiobookshelf. It also brings Audiobookshelf's ASIN and ISBN for your books, as hints for matching. The setup flow's Coming from Audiobookshelf? step runs the same import.

Invite everyone first, so each person has an account to import into. Give the import Audiobookshelf's plain http:// address on your network if its https:// one has a self-signed certificate (see When a fetch fails). See Import your Audiobookshelf history.

Match your books​

A scan matches no book by itself, apart from books whose metadata.json names an ASIN or ISBN. An ASIN in a book's tags, or one the import brought, is only a hint for the next step. After an import, its Past imports list has a Match automatically button that opens the list in step 1. To match the rest:

  1. Open Health in the admin console and select Not matched to community metadata. This is the list of your unmatched books.
  2. On its Match automatically card, pick the library and select Find matches.
  3. Review what it found and apply it. See Matching every book at once.

Matching uses the free community database at AudioSilo Meta. It is not a live copy of any store, so a book can be on Audible in your country and still be missing from it. Matching with community metadata says what it holds.

The Audible marketplace setting picks which store's edition a match takes. It is in Server > Settings > Community metadata, and it uses the US store until you set yours.

When a book doesn't match​

The community database has gaps, so some books won't match. An unmatched book still plays as normal. It keeps the title, author, series and cover from its tags and folders. What it lacks is the community extras: the description, characters and recaps, and community chapters.

Where your folders read differently​

AudioSilo reads one folder that holds audio files as one book. Two layouts can come out differently from Audiobookshelf:

Health lists both: Folder may hold several books and One book split into disc folders.

Connect your phones​

Install the AudioSilo app, open it and tap Scan a QR code. Your pairing code is in the admin console under People, your name, then Pair a device. See Connect the app to your server.