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OverDrive Media Console™ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Download & Install OverDrive Media Console.

Download OverDrive Titles.

  • What OverDrive media formats can I use with OverDrive Media Console for Mac?

    OverDrive Media Console for Mac supports OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks.


    The Windows Media content (OverDrive WMA Audiobooks, WMA Music, and WMV Video) that OverDrive offers cannot be played on a Mac due to the DRM (Digital Rights Management) used to protect the files. While there is a version of Windows Media Player available for the Macintosh OS, it does not support the DRM which is required to use these titles.


  • How do I download an OverDrive title?
    1. After purchasing or checking out an OverDrive title, click on the 'Download' link for the title.
      OverDrive Media Console opens, and the 'Get Media' dialog box is displayed. The 'Get Media' dialog box allows you to specify the location to which the file(s) you download will be saved.

    2. Click 'OK' to save the files to the default location or click the 'Browse…' button to specify a different location on your computer, then click 'OK'.
      The 'Download' dialog box is displayed. At the 'Download' dialog box, you can specify the Part(s) of the titles you want to download. By default, all available Parts are selected for download.
      Download dialog box image

    3. Use the checkboxes to indicate the Part(s) you want to download, and click 'OK'.
      The 'Download' dialog box closes, and the download begins. The progress of the download of each Part is displayed in OverDrive Media Console. The download may take several minutes, depending on the number of Parts selected, the size of the Parts, and the speed of the Internet connection.


Play & Navigate OverDrive Titles.

  • How do I play an OverDrive title?

    In OverDrive Media Console, select the title you want to play, then click the 'Play' button. The OverDrive Media Explorer™ window is displayed, and the selected title begins to play.


  • How do I play a specific section of the title I downloaded?

    For ease of download and use, many OverDrive titles are divided into 'Parts', and Parts are then divided into logical sections (such as chapters for audiobooks). The beginning points of these logical sections are called 'MediaMarkers™'. Use Parts and MediaMarkers to skip directly to, and begin play at, a desired point in a title. Click on the desired Part to display associated MediaMarkers. Click the desired MediaMarker to start play at that point in the file.


Play & Navigate OverDrive Titles.

  • How do I play an OverDrive title?

    After downloading the title in OverDrive Media Console for Windows Mobile, select the desired title, then click the 'Play' button. The OverDrive Media Explorer™ window is displayed, and the selected title begins to play.


  • How do I play a specific section of the title I downloaded?

    For ease of download and use, many OverDrive titles are divided into 'Parts', and Parts are then divided into logical sections (such as chapters for audiobooks). The beginning points of these logical sections are called 'MediaMarkers™'. Use Parts and MediaMarkers to skip directly to, and begin play at, a desired point in a title.

    To display Parts and MediaMarkers in OverDrive Media Console for Windows Mobile…

    1. In OverDrive Media Console for Windows Mobile, select the title you want to play.
    2. Click the 'Play' button.
      The 'Media Explorer' window is displayed and the file begins playing.
    3. Select View > Navigation.
      Parts are displayed on the left-hand side of the window, and the MediaMarkers for the selected Part are displayed on the right-hand side of the window.

    Click on the desired Part to display associated MediaMarkers. Click the desired MediaMarker to start play at that point in the file.


Transfer OverDrive Media to Portable Devices.

  • To which devices can I transfer OverDrive titles?

    OverDrive Media Console for Mac supports transfer to Apple devices only.

    Note that if you want to use the OverDrive Media Console for Mac Transfer Wizard to transfer OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks to an Apple device, the iTunes setting 'Manually manage music…' must be enabled for the device before you can complete the transfer. For instructions on changing this setting, click here.

    1. Connect the device to your computer.

    2. If it does not launch automatically, open iTunes (v7.6.2.9 or newer).

    3. In iTunes, locate your device in the left vertical navigation panel (under heading 'DEVICES'), and click your device.
      The 'Summary' screen is displayed.

    4. If it is not already checked, place a checkmark next to option 'Manually manage music…'.

    5. Click the 'Apply' button.
      The iTunes 'Summary' screen refreshes, and the changes are saved.

    6. If desired, close iTunes.

    Note that iTunes v7.6.2.9 (or newer) is required for transfer to Apple devices. iTunes v8.1.0.52 (or newer) is recommended for use with the iPod shuffle. To determine the version of iTunes you have installed, click here.

      Open iTunes and select iTunes > About iTunes.
      The 'About iTunes' window is displayed.

      The first line of scrolling text in the 'About iTunes' window lists the version of iTunes that is installed on your computer. If v7.6.2.9 (or newer) is installed, you have the correct version of iTunes installed. If an earlier version of iTunes is installed, you must download and install the latest version of iTunes. To download iTunes, click here.


  • Which OverDrive media formats can I transfer to an Apple® device using OverDrive Media Console for Mac?

    OverDrive MP3 Audiobooks can be transferred to Apple devices using OverDrive Media Console for Mac. OverDrive Media Console for Mac does not support DRM-protected OverDrive WMA Audiobooks, OverDrive WMA Music, or OverDrive WMV Video.


  • How do I transfer OverDrive titles to an Apple device using OverDrive Media Console for Mac?
    1. Connect an Apple device to your computer.

    2. In OverDrive Media Console, highlight the title you wish to transfer and click the 'Transfer' button.
      The OverDrive Media Console Transfer Wizard is displayed.

    3. Verify that the correct title is displayed on the first screen of the Transfer Wizard and click 'Next'.
      The Transfer Wizard searches for a connected portable device.
      If the device is detected, the 'Confirm' screen is displayed. Confirm screen image


    4. In the 'Confirm' dialog box, select the Part(s) you want to transfer by checking the box(es) next to the Part name(s).


    5. Click 'Next' to begin transferring the file(s) to the device.
      When the file transfer is complete, the Transfer Wizard displays a 'success' message.

    6. Click 'Finish' to exit the Transfer Wizard.
      You can disconnect your portable device and enjoy the title on-the-go.


    Note: Device support varies by format. To read more about which devices support which formats, click here.


Burn OverDrive Media to CD.

  • How can I tell if an OverDrive MP3 Audiobook can be burned to CD?

    1. In OverDrive Media Console, highlight the desired title and click the 'Properties' button.

    2. The 'Properties' dialog box is displayed.

    3. Click the 'License' tab.

    4. 'License details' for the selected title are displayed, indicating whether or not the title may be burned to CD. license details image


  • How do I burn an OverDrive MP3 Audiobook to CD using OverDrive Media Console for Mac?

    1. Place a recordable CD into your recordable CD drive.

    2. In OverDrive Media Console, highlight the desired title you wish to burn and click the 'Burn' button.
      The OverDrive Media Console Burn Wizard is displayed.

    3. Verify that the correct title is displayed on the first screen of the Burn Wizard and click 'Next'.
      The 'Confirm' screen is displayed. confirm screen image

    4. In the 'Confirm' screen, select the Part(s) you want to burn by checking the box(es) next to the Part name(s).

    5. Click 'Next' to begin burning the first file to CD.
      The Progress screen is displayed. While you can click 'Cancel' while OverDrive Media Console 'prepares' the file, it is not possible to cancel the process once the file starts burning to CD.

    6. If you have selected more than one Part to burn to CD, the Burn Wizard will prompt you to enter a new CD for each Part. When all Part(s) have been successfully burned to CD, the Burn Wizard displays a 'Success' message.

    7. Click 'Finish' to exit the Burn Wizard.