Audiobooks are a wonderful tool for conveying knowledge and stories. While the pleasure of reading is one thing, it’s a different comfort, when someone (or something) reads to us, uninterruptedly. That’s why audiobooks hold great potential for a wider reach including those who don’t have the learning or scope to read, or those who are visually impaired. Apparently, authors can also benefit a lot from audiobooks, especially self-publishing authors. There is a common belief that it takes a big deal of technical resources and relative costing, to produce quality content. But that’s certainly not the whole story. This article is intended to enlighten authors and DIYers on how they can easily create an audiobook on their own.
How Does It Work?
The basic concept of an audiobook is to have a reader or narrator read the text as if reading a book to someone and recording it. And then finally publish the audio track as a file in MP3, MP4, or AMW format.
Note: If you were thinking about the “text-to-speech” technology, then that’s not exactly an audiobook, text-to-speech is an application, while audiobook is a format and way of representation.
Process Of Audiobook Narration And Recording
The process of audiobook production might take several days or weeks, based on the size of your project. Before starting, the prep work would include determining the layout of your project and choice of equipment. Here are the essential things you.
1. DIY at Home vs. Hiring an Audiobook Publisher vs. Recording Studio
Recording your audiobook, at your home would be the most convenient thing to do, and the whole project will be well under your control, whereas, if your home lacks the subsequent ambiance, such as a dormitory room or shared spaces. Make sure the place is silent and ambient for sound recording. Even if your room is silent, environmental sounds can make your sound file noisy. You can take the help of a professional audiobook producer or even go to a recording studio. You can easily find them within your budget, from online platforms like Upwork.
2. Choice of Equipment
The basic equipment you’d need to make your audiobook a premier sensation, is a decent-quality USB mic, a portable pop shield to filtrate the sound, and a “multi-track recording” software. While there is a multitude of software systems available, if you don’t have an avid understanding of your needs, you can rely on online resources like Audacity, which is a decent cross-platform multi-track recording application you can download on your Windows or Mac computer. Once you are equipped with the right equipment and other essentials, here’s the step-by-step guide to publishing your audiobook.
3. Prepare Your Manuscript
If you are reading from an eBook, the first thing you need is to prepare the manuscript by freeing it from all kinds of “obstacles” in the text, such as images, and hyperlinks (in case of eBook). Just the readable text should be there.
4. Recording
This is the fun part. Before the final day of your recording, it’s better to trial your narration several times, to cut to the chase at the right moment. Keep your manuscript in a comfortable view, to concentrate on the right tone of your narration. Keep your mount at a consistent distance from the microphone.
5. Sound Editing
If you are recording in the multi-track recorder Audacity, you can expect to get pretty good sound quality. It also editing features, so that you can customize your audio, add background score, and multiple sound effects.
6. Publishing and Distribution
Once you are on good terms with your audiobook, you can podcast it, share it on YouTube, or upload it at Audio Creation Exchange, a digitally operating market, that’s dedicated to the audiobook industry, and once your content gets selected here, ACX will make your content available for sales via Amazon, iTunes and Audible. Once your audiobook is sold, you will get a royalty fee.
If you have a printed PDF storybook, you can create a rich media eBook with Flip PDF Plus flipbook software too. Just convert PDF into an interactive eBook, and you are able to add audio and video to make a lively and engaging publication.
Convert Your PDF to A Flipbook Easily