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[mkj42]

I have revised my approach to
https://audiobookbay.lu/forum/guides/chapterizing-books-splitting-mp3s-by-chapter/
with CD sized files.  I would reply directly to it, but it's read only.
Please read first if you're unfamiliar.

First open all CD files at once; this will allow you to easily ctrl-arrow jump to each CD break and trim it til you're happy.  You can even simultaneously trim both files at once; this is a huge time saver.
I was able to make tight gaps for ordinary reading, and leave longer gaps for chapter breaks.
Then Save complete audio.
Then do pause detection, correct any mistakes, and File/Save Split.

This literally got my process down to five minutes for thirteen CDs. 

[Gweilo]

First open all CD files at once; this will allow you to easily ctrl-arrow jump to each CD break and trim it til you're happy.  You can even simultaneously trim both files at once; this is a huge time saver.
I was able to make tight gaps for ordinary reading, and leave longer gaps for chapter breaks.
Then Save complete audio.
Then do pause detection, correct any mistakes, and File/Save Split.

This literally got my process down to five minutes for thirteen CDs. 

I don't see how that is different to what I advised:

If the book is divided into arbitrary pieces (not chapters), eg. CD tracks or cassette tape sides, edit out any "This is Audible", "End of side 3", etc. Edit each individually, then "Save complete audio" using Control-W, to make a trimmed MP3.

Now join all these trimmed MP3s into one file, using File/Batch/Join to file

Open the combined file in the editor.
Special menu, "Pause detection"

I don't understand "You can even simultaneously trim both files at once; this is a huge time saver."
How fast it is to open depends on how you launch the program.
I have it set to use a single keystroke to open MP3s in MP3DirectCut.
Or in file Manager, you can do it with a right click. Within MP3DirectCut, open from its file menu.

[mkj42]

First open all CD files at once; this will allow you to easily ctrl-arrow jump to each CD break and trim it til you're happy.  You can even simultaneously trim both files at once; this is a huge time saver.
I was able to make tight gaps for ordinary reading, and leave longer gaps for chapter breaks.
Then Save complete audio.
Then do pause detection, correct any mistakes, and File/Save Split.

This literally got my process down to five minutes for thirteen CDs.  

I don't see how that is different to what I advised:

If the book is divided into arbitrary pieces (not chapters), eg. CD tracks or cassette tape sides, edit out any "This is Audible", "End of side 3", etc. Edit each individually, then "Save complete audio" using Control-W, to make a trimmed MP3.

Now join all these trimmed MP3s into one file, using File/Batch/Join to file

Open the combined file in the editor.
Special menu, "Pause detection"

I don't understand "You can even simultaneously trim both files at once; this is a huge time saver."
How fast it is to open depends on how you launch the program.
I have it set to use a single keystroke to open MP3s in MP3DirectCut.
Or in file Manager, you can do it with a right click. Within MP3DirectCut, open from its file menu.

Maybe I misunderstood you.
I assumed you suggested trimming the CD start and end announcements in the CD files one at a time.
This is how I did it on my first pass with unsatisfactory results.
I am suggesting opening all the CD files at once, simultaneously, including the 'end of CD 2' with 'this is CD3' in one trim.
This was a tremendous help as it allowed me to preview the complete gaps as they would sound.

EDIT:
For clarification
When you first open, when you see all your original CD files - open them all at once (shift select).
You will get a book-length file with cues at the CD file breaks.
Use ctrl-arrow to move back and forth.  You can trim 'end of CD 2' 'this is CD3' as if they are one passage.
I hope that is clearer; sorry for any misunderstanding.

[Gweilo]

I assumed you suggested trimming the CD start and end announcements in the CD files one at a time.
This is how I did it on my first pass with unsatisfactory results.
I am suggesting opening all the CD files at once, simultaneously, including the 'end of CD 2' with 'this is CD3' in one trim.
This was a tremendous help as it allowed me to preview the complete gaps as they would sound.

So you are merging the files before trimming anything.
That does let you preview the join, if you can skip to the joins quickly.
 
My usual method is to trim separate CD/tape track before joining. If a track starts with a new chapter, I leave a longer gap before that.

Anyway, if you merge first, the use silence detection to find the begin/end announcements, start from the end and go backwards, as when you delete the announcements any later cues will be displaced.

After making all cuts, "save complete audio" (control-W) then reopen that and do a new silence detect to find all the chaper breaks.

NOTE:
I will move this thread to another forum later, the How-To section is not for discussion.
I will modify my how-to to address these issues.

[mkj42]

So you are merging the files before trimming anything.

Absolutely no.
I am opening them all at once - without meging. This leaves a cue in between each one, making navigating and trimming them easier.
Once trimmed, then save them combined, and run pause detection on the combined file.

Anyway, if you merge first, the use silence detection to find the begin/end announcements, start from the end and go backwards, as when you delete the announcements any later cues will be displaced.

I thought of this. I think my way is much faster.
Please do not dismiss it without being sure you see the difference.
My biggest problem originally was leaving normal speaking gaps in the body while having healthy gaps at the chapters.  My way makes both super-easy.

NOTE:
I will move this thread to another forum later, the How-To section is not for discussion.
I will modify my how-to to address these issues.

OK, sorry, this seemed the place - very new to this forum.

[Gweilo]

Absolutely no.
I am opening them all at once - without meging. This leaves a cue in between each one, making navigating and trimming them easier.

So I am still confused.
You mean opening a separate window on each MP3 file?
I don't see the advantage to opening them sequentially.
You can only work on one at a time.
Are you trimming one, then copy pasting the entire next file at the end?

Sometimes I do that, but just open two at a time.
For several files I find it easier to use the File/Batch merge.
Less likely to miss a file or get them out of order.

[mkj42]

Absolutely no.
I am opening them all at once - without meging. This leaves a cue in between each one, making navigating and trimming them easier.

So I am still confused.
You mean opening a separate window on each MP3 file?
I don't see the advantage to opening them sequentially.
You can only work on one at a time.
Are you trimming one, then copy pasting the entire next file at the end?

Sometimes I do that, but just open two at a time.
For several files I find it easier to use the File/Batch merge.
Less likely to miss a file or get them out of order.

?
I can absolutely work on them in one window.

steps:
File\Open
Navigate to folder with files
Shift click or control click to pick several
Open

You get one timeline with each file loaded sequentially

[Gweilo]

Shift click or control click to pick several
Open
You get one timeline with each file loaded sequentially

Well, that's a feature I hadn't known.
That wasn't in the earlier versions. Now I look ... I see it was added in 2021.

I will see how it goes, but first attempts at bulk select put the files out of order, possibly they are in timestamp order, not filename order.

Shift-click one at a time, starting with the last, seems to work though.

[mkj42]

Not a clue what happened.
When I select the files in order, they are arranged in that same order.