Can I Upload an Audiobook to Audible?
If yous want to learn how to make an audiobook, our x step guide explains what equipment yous need and the nuts and bolts of audiobook production.
According to Deloitte, global audiobook sales reached over four billion dollars in 2020, that's a 2% twelvemonth-on-year increase.
Every bit a self-published author, audiobooks form an increasing proportion of my monthly revenue from volume sales. It's easier than ever for indie authors to create or self-publish their kickoff audiobook. Y'all demand the right equipment, some technical know-how and a budget for working with an audiobook narrator.
In this guide, I'll explain how to make an audiobook, based on my experiences narrating and self-publishing the Art of Writing a Not-Fiction Book and several other audiobooks
Should You Create an Audiobook?
Audiobooks are a peachy way ofearning more income from your writing. Many readers today have smartphones and lots of books to become through. Plus thanks to Apple CarPlay and Google Automobile, internet audio is available in cars.
So, why nongive readers the option of listening to your book on the go?
Indie authors in several countries can publish their audiobooks on Audible via ACX too. When ACX added Ireland to their list, I jumped at the chance to create an audiobook of The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Volume. Alternatively, authors tin apply pop audiobook production services like Findaway voices.
Narrating a book will help youdevelop an ear for writing that sounds skilful. Information technology'll also aid improve your book'south natural period. It's hard to narrate clunky and confusing language, which means revising for clarity… and that's a good thing for your readers and listeners.
Hiring an Audiobook Narrator
I hired a professional narrator for several of my books. A potential narrator will await an extract showtime. They'll record a sample chapter for yous to listen to. While reviewing this sample consider:
- Does their voice and emphasis match the tone of your work?
- How do they handle unusual words?
- Tin can yous hear whatever odd groundwork noises?
- Practice they narrate slowly or quickly?
I waited until I received ten samples earlier selecting a narrator. When I hired voice actors and professional narrators, I agreed on a set fee for the contract as I didn't want to hand over a cut of book royalties. I paid approximately $1500 for a 5-hour audiobook, edited and mixed for ACX. Some voice talent wanted to charge more, but this was across my budget at the time.
However, if coin is an outcome some audiobook narrators will take a reduced fee for a cut of the audio rights. Narrating a book yourself is cheaper again.
Narrating An Audiobook
First, consider if you're writing fiction or non-fiction.
Non-fiction, like self-aid or business, is easier to narrate than fiction, like thrillers or mysteries. You don't have to spend as much time worrying about characters' voices or putting on accents.
At that place'south also something reassuring about hearing the author of a non-fiction volume narrate his or her materials. That said, y'all tin narrate your fiction book, but it'south a little more work.
Next upwards:
Are you lot comfortable speaking in forepart of a microphone?
Narrating an audiobook is a performance. It's your job to entertain, inform or inspire your readers…. or in this case, listeners.
That could mean enunciating certain words, using dramatic pauses, and learning when to talk loudly or quietly. It's a different skill to writing.
Also, consider:
Can listeners understand your accent?
Every bit an Irish person, I sometimes speak every bit fast as a race-horse. When people from outside of Ireland hear me speaking for the outset time, they often wait at me with a confused expression.
While narrating, I forced myself to sloooowwww dowwwwnso listeners could empathize what I was saying. Finally:
Are y'all comfortable editing your audiobook… or practice you have the means to hire a professional audio engineer?
Nigh x years agone, I worked as a radio producer for a news station in Ireland. But, please don't let this put you off. You lot don't need technical skills to produce an audiobook.
Y'all see, I'd forgotten most of my radio production skills and to exist honest, I wasn't a very good producer.
While making an audiobook, I wanted to avoid any editing where possible. Instead, I relied on an audio engineer to accept care of my files.
How Long Does information technology Accept to Narrate an Audiobook?
It takes betwixt five and ten minutes to record 1,000 words, depending on how fast you speak. And look to spend at least an hour recording and/or editing for every fifteen minutes of audio.
I narrated a xl,000-word not-fiction book at a rate of ii chapters a day. It took me about three weeks to cease narrating my work. I also checked each chapter before narrating with Grammarly. An experienced audiobook narrator could probably narrate one faster. My advice?
Be realistic!
Narrating an audiobook isn't a small or quick fiddling project.
You have to read through each chapter aloud, narrate each chapter so work with an audio engineer or edit your files yourself.
Plus, yous will need to heed back to the final audio file and check information technology for errors.
Unless you have the freedom to spend all twenty-four hours narrating a book, I recommend setting aside at least iv weeks to narrate your audiobook. I'thou assuming you'll dedicate at to the lowest degree an 60 minutes a day to narrating your book.
I likewise recommend allowing for contingencies such as having to re-record a chapter.
Tip:TheVoiceRealm.com can help you calculate how long it will take to narrate your book.
Step 1. Complete Your Manuscript
In that location'south little point in narrating an audiobook if your book isn't finished. Narrating and writing at the aforementioned time is likewise much work. I fabricated my audiobook simply after preparing the volume for publication, getting my cover.
Ideally, narrate a manuscript that you've already sent to an editor, beta readers, and a proofreader. I become that a volume is never actually finished… only aim to narrate a manuscript that'southward as shut as possible to the finished version. Believe me, writing, editing, and narrating a book at one time is a recipe for overwhelm.
This way, you can reduce time spent re-recording sections of your book.
Tip: Keep a notepad and pen nearby in example you spot an errant typo while narrating.
Step 2. Buy The Correct Audio Equipment
I spent almost $300 on equipment and another $250 working with an sound engineer. Y'all don't need a fancy studio or large upkeep to narrate and edit an audiobook volume.
My set up or approach isn't definitive, only it should requite y'all an idea of what to spend on making an audiobook.
- Blue Yeti USB microphone (i) for narrating my volume. Cost: From USD128
- RODE PSA1 Swivel Mount Studio Microphone Boom Arm (2) to movement the microphone near my mouth. Toll: From USD99
- The Auphonix Aluminium Shockguard (three) for the to a higher place microphone to avoid picking up vibrations from my desk-bound. Cost: From USD29
- A popular filter (4) to prevent explosive popping sounds when speaking P or B sounds, e.g. "punch", "break" etc. Cost: From USD19
- Audiobook editing software – I used Reaper. Other options include Garage Ring and Brazenness (both free).
- A minor, quiet room – some narrators tape their books in walk-in wardrobes every bit their vocalisation sounds 'softer' and in that location'southward less echo.
- A minor budget for hiring an audio engineer. Cost: I spent about $300 to hire an engineer from Eastern Europe via UpWork.
- A modernistic reckoner. I used an iMac, simply I'll assume you accept one already.
- Headphones for monitoring yourself. If you don't own a set up, your phone's earphones volition exercise.
- Background music or a jingle for the introduction and conclusion to give your book a polished feel. I bought a track on Audiojungle. Price: From USD7
Step 3. Prepare Your Homestudio
No, you don't need to fix your equipment in a fancy studio… but the location of your recording space matters. You could record in a small room in your house or flat or even a cupboard. I opted for my home office. I closed the curtains and blinds and dropped towels over the wooden floor and desk to reduce echo. Whatever your pick, eliminate all background noise.
Plow off your phone.
Close down anything on your figurer that comes with noisy or distracting notifications. Allow friends and family know what you're doing… or wait until they're out for they're a few hours
Adjacent, become your positioning right.
- Face up your microphone caput-on, i.east. not to the correct or left
- Angle it at 45-degrees, titled abroad from your mouth
Tip: An ideal recording session is at least an hour-long, equally you need to set up, warm-up and get into a state of flow.
Step iv. Check the Dissonance Floor
Plow on your microphone and record a minute or two of dead air. Mind dorsum to this recording with headphones, and check if y'all can hear any unintentional noises like traffic outside or creaking pipes.
This is calledchecking the noise floor.
For our purposes, the noise floor is the sum of all noise sources and signals in a room other than what yous're saying or actively recording.
Each fourth dimension yous tape a chapter, turn on your mic and record the audio of your room for at least thirty seconds and listen back to this recording.
For example, turning down the proceeds will reduce a hissing audio. Or the fan on your figurer may be too loud. Your habitation studio could sound ok today, but that may change.
Repeat the same exercise, this time narrating a page of your book. While narrating, plug in your headphones or earphones then you can monitor for or hear odd sounds.
Listen back to your recording and adjust until you lot (or your sound engineer) are happy with the levels, quality, and then on. If you're still unsure, record a affiliate and send it to an editor to check before proceeding.
Tip:Place a towel over your desk beneath your microphone. This will help you soften the noise floor effectually your microphone and reduce echoes.
Step five. Print Out The Chapter
Impress out the affiliate you lot intend to narrate using a large double-spaced font. Prop the pages up on a document holder so you can transition from i page to the next without making much racket.
Alternatively, open your Kindle book on an iPad or tablet and prop it on a stand.
Tip: Proceed your manuscript at eye level. If you narrate while looking down, information technology will shrink your animate and affect vocalization delivery.
Step 6. Warm Up Your Voice
An athlete stretches before a large race so they can run faster or lift harder. If y'all're narrating a volume, you should warm up also.
So before you record a version for editing, read the chapter in question aloud. You lot can record yourself and listen back if you want, merely this first read-through isn't the alive version.
This practice will help your voice warm up so it doesn't sound dry and croaky. It'll besides aid you figure out where and when to pause and how to inject some color into your narration. You're less likely to stumble over your words while narrating considering you'll be familiar with what y'all're reading aloud.
While narrating, you'll sometimes need to cough or clear your throat. So, keep a bottle of water nearby that y'all can sip from.
If you want more assist, check out this guide to making your vocals sound professional person.
Tip: Avoid sipping sparkling water while narrating. I drank from a bottle of sparkling water and ended upwards belching into the mic… not good.
Pace 7. Characterize
Your goal is to narrate several pages without intermission. If you haven't narrated much before, don't worry if you only manage a page or two. Getting into the flow of narration is why you demand at to the lowest degree an hour of time.
I sat on a quiet chair, took care not to article of clothing whatever clothes that make a lot of racket (eastward.grand. wool), and kept my hands off the desk. I also took off all my Mr.T jewelry.
Then, I opened up a PDF version and turned on my microphone.
I let the microphone run for 30-seconds without speaking so my editor or engineer had some clean audio to work with.
Then, I began narrating.
Using a trackpad, I silently navigated down through the chapter.
Y'all tin can read from a printout, but this arroyo meant I didn't have to worry about the microphone picking up the shuffle of papers.
When I made a mistake, I re-read the sentence and kept on narrating the affiliate in question.
Occasionally, I found an error in my manuscript or a judgement that didn't sound right. I took note of what these were in a notepad and go on going until the end of the chapter.
This way, I avoided editing and narrating at the same fourth dimension. On a few occasions, I re-recorded the troublesome sentences at the finish of the audio file. I then asked the sound engineer to fix these issues.
I also monitored myself while narrating using my headphones, so I could hear whatever odd sounds that the mic picked upwards.
Tip: Identify mistakes for editing by clapping. This will help you (or the audio engineer ) find these sections faster, equally the clapping sound is hands identifiable.
Stride 8. Send Your Files to Professional Audio Editor
Unless you lot have solid audio editing skills, I recommend sending your files to an editor. They will find and ready audio errors y'all may miss and assist main the files for publication. This frees you up to narrate faster.
I hired an editor to prepare my audio files for ACX on UpWork. This cost me effectually $200. He too exported each chapter as a separately labeled audio file.
Years agone, I worked as a radio producer. I could accept self-edited these audio files, but information technology takes a novice or inexperienced audio engineer upwards to four times longer to edit an audio file.
For example, a xv-minute sound file can take an hour to edit. And then on.
So, it would have taken me 24 hours to edit a half dozen-hr audiobook. This is fourth dimension I'd rather spend writing, blogging, or even watching Netflix.
If you're commissioning an sound editor or engineer:
- Find an editor or audio engineer that speaks English and has experience preparing books for ACX
- Concur on an hourly rate or a project rate within your upkeep
- Send them a sample chapter to review before starting work
- Agree on what they'll exercise for you. For example, I asked my editor to export the finished audio files for me too.
- Ask them to check a sample audio file for quality, groundwork noise, and other issues before you narrate a big part of your book
Tip: Purchase a short jingle on Audiojungle and ask your editor to use this as function of the introduction and conclusion.
Step 9. Proof Your Audiobook
Much like with self-publishing a digital or paperback, you need to proof the audio version.
I listened to each of the audiobook chapters with a set of headphones. I as well asked another person to help.
When I institute an issue, like a popping sound, a mangled sentence, or a clumsy edit, I noted the time and recorded the issue in a spreadsheet.
In some cases, I re-recorded certain sentences. Then, I gave all this to my audiobook editor to gear up.
Tip: This spreadsheet saved my audiobook producer and me a lot of fourth dimension.
Get my Audiobook Narration Spreadsheet
Step 10. Publish Your Audiobook
One time I was happy with the audio recordings, I uploaded each m4b file to ACX and submitted them for approval. I besides contacted my book comprehend designer and asked her to create an audiobook cover for ACX.
I besides uploaded a three-infinitesimal sample of an interesting chapter to capture the attention of would-be customers.
If you tin upload photos to Facebook, you'll have no problems uploading a finished audiobook to ACX. Call up to proper noun each sound file to correspond to the affiliate number or ask your sound engineer to do this.
It took virtually 10 business days to become blessing from ACX and for my audiobook to go on sale. In that location were a few issues with my title's description, which I resolved by contacting ACX support directly.
Tip: Use free copies of your newly published audiobook to attract reviews.
How To Make An Audiobook: The Final Word
It took me a lot of time to characterize The Fine art of Writing a Not-Fiction Book, proof the recordings, and re-record troublesome parts of this championship.
I enjoyed doing it, but the process was more involved and tiring than I showtime realized.
With respect to professional audiobook narrators everywhere!
That said…
Narrating and publishing an audiobook is a peachy mode to serve readers in different means and even earn more than money from writing.
It'll help you meliorate your book's quality , and it's easier than always.
All y'all need is a modest budget for the correct equipment, a willingness to practice, and some fourth dimension to become your audiobook right. Get this right, and you'll earn your first audiobook sale in no fourth dimension!
The Art of Writing a Non-Fiction Book is on auction on Kindle, impress, and audio at present.
Resources:
- Joanna Penn from the Creative Penn explains how to use sound for book sales and marketing in her podcast.
- ACX take video lessons and more that will help you make an audiobook faster
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How To Brand An Audiobook: FAQs
What are the benefits of turning your book into an audiobook?
You'll earn more than money from book sales and more and more readers, especially those of not-fiction like to consume audiobooks over Kindle or print. Information technology'southward also a good way of finding and serving a unlike audience who don't buy traditional books. Audiobook listeners aren't always readers!
What are different ways to create an audiobook?
You can record an audiobook yourself and work with an editor before self-publishing it. Alternatively, yous tin utilise a service similar ACX of Findaway voices to notice a narrator who will record and edit the book for yous. The old is cheaper and slower. The latter costs more merely is easier.
How much does information technology toll to plow your volume into an audiobook?
If you decide to record and narrate an audiobook yourself, upkeep for up to $500 on equipment and on working with an audio engineer. Hiring a narrator and editor volition cost you over $1000. That'due south an approximation based on an audiobook forty,000 words in length. Professional person narrators with additional experience will cost more than depending on the contract.
What tips and tricks do you recommend for publishing an audiobook?
If you lot're happy to narrate your audiobook, suspension it down into milestones that you'll tackle each day. For example, aim to record one to 2 capacity every day rather than the unabridged book at one time. That, style you can ship files to an audiobook engineer and go feedback on issues and mistakes. It'll also feel less tiring.
If you want to avoid narrating the volume, consider using a service like Findaway voices. They will aid you notice a narrator and distribute your book to popular stories similar Aural, Google, Kobo, Apple Books and many more.
Resource
How To Go An Audiobook Narrator
The Best Audiobook Service
Best Audiobook Recording Equipment
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Would y'all like my audiobook narration spreadsheet?
Success! Now cheque your electronic mail to download your spreadsheet.
Source: https://becomeawritertoday.com/how-to-make-an-audiobook/
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