Record an audiobook? I’m full of questions!

I received an email today from an author who would like to record an audiobook but flummoxed about where to start. Here are some of her questions.

1. I have no idea about what files need to be generated!

You don’t need to worry about that. All the technical aspects of the preparation of your materials is included in our service. We will take care of the preparation of the files and ensure that you get them, complete with necessary metadata, so you can upload them to your distribution channel of choice. All you need to do is let us know where you intend to distribute it (Audible, Nook etc) and we will make sure you get the correct files. We will also check for updates before your final files are prepared just in case.

2. Does the whole book need to be recorded in one go, or chapter by chapter?

We discuss and plan this on a case by case basis, but the short answer is – no. The whole book does not need to be recorded in one go. You can book sessions in the studio for 2hrs, 4hrs, 6hrs or 8hrs at a time. What is the best thing for each client will vary. Some people prefer to work in blocks and would rather do longer days to get it done, for other people this is too long, and a 4hr session is plenty. If you’re travelling from far away, we would take that into consideration. Some people travel a great distance to make audiobooks with us and stay in hotels locally. Obviously we take that into account.

3. Do you rent out the studio space with a sound engineer who would be able to help me negotiate this?

Yes, we book the studio out to you complete with an audiobook producer who will also act as your engineer. All of the tech and personnel you require will be provided. The only additional cost would be if you wanted another voice-over artist to record your introductions / About The Author or other sections. Both of our audiobook producers are also voice-over talent, and can provide that service for you if you wish, which you can purchase as an add-on.

4. Any advice you could offer would be gratefully received!

Questions we will ask you are:-

• How long is your book (word count)?
• Is it fiction or non-fiction? This has an impact on style and therefore appropriate speed of the narration.
• Are you planning on narrating the book yourself?
  • If so, do you need coaching support to ensure you can do this to a professional standard?

5. What about cost?

It ultimately all comes down to time. All of the above questions have an impact on how long it will take to create a quality product. We discuss this with each client on a case by case basis to ensure that a professional standard is achieved in the most time effective manner. We do not however cut corners to keep the cost down, thus allowing a poor quality product to be in circulation. This reflects poorly not only on your business, but ours too. Mistakes will be corrected, necessary editing tasks will be carried out. So the best thing for all parties is to have a clear plan of who, how and when recordings will take place, and we work closely with all our authors before any sessions are booked to ensure a professional product can be created as cost effectively as possible. Until we have the answers to all these questions, we cannot provide a meaningful quote I’m afraid.

Categorised in: Audiobook, Audiobook, Voice over