How to Get Started in Audiobook Narration - Speaker Notes APR. 28, 2021

 

Speaker Notes – getting started in audiobook narration

Intro- business is good.

·      2020 - US Sales up 16% to $1.2 Billion revenue

·      2018- $940 Billion, up 25% from 2017.

·      2020 - Ebooks only made $983 million, for the first time ever, US audiobook sales have eclipsed ebook sales.

·      Most popular genre – Mysteries/Thrillers/Suspense

·      60% of listeners under 45

·      Massive upsurge in Alexa listening. Reminds me of radio in 1930s-50s.

·      Audiobooks are NOT commercials. You are a storyteller, not a pitchman on an infomercial. Be conversational.

 

OVERVIEW.

1)    Master the software

2)    Learn to speak into the mic

3)    Hardware

4)    ACX

 

SOFTWARE. Practice a lot. Get into program, read the manual, read the ACX producer tips, and learn your settings and how the different effects can help you produce.

1)     Graphic EQ

2)     Noise reduction

3)     Click removal

4)     Remove clipping points

5)     Compressor

6)     Remove breaths, plosives, random clicks and pops

7)     Normalization

 

SPEAK. You are an actor. Your voice is your instrument.  

1)     Speak with clarity -pops, plosives, wavering volume (hold still)

2)     Excellent literacy – pre-read if necessary.

3)     Volume, tone, tempo = motivation and emotion

4)     Phrasing (natural breathing)

5)     KEY – speak so that people listen, understand, respond

HARDWARE.           Buy quality but not the most expensive. (pawn shops)

1)     Sound booth. Build vs. buy.

2)     Closed back, even response curve headphones.

3)     Audio interface

4)     Microphone. $200 is plenty. Buy mic designed for spoken word.

 

ACX.   The Amazon Creator Exchange.

1)     Register and set up profile. (producer)

2)     How It Works tab

3)     PRODUCTION RESOURCES – requirements and tips

4)     Search Tab -Titles Accepting Auditions.

a.     Search qualifiers

b.     Audition process

5)     Pay scales. Split the $$$.

 

THE PROCESS. 

1)     Find a book that suits you.

a.     Check author’s history on book’s Amazon page.

b.     Check sales.

2)     Audition.

a.     Pre-read.

b.     Production values.

3)     Accept the offer.

4)     Finish & upload 1^st 15 minutes.  Audiolab.

5)     Finish book.

a.     Chapter by chapter. (chapters must be under 120 minutes.)

b.     Use of Dropbox to share each chapter for approval

c.      Opening/closing credits/foreword, retail sample, etc – chapter titles

d.     Final approval by client

e.     Free d/l codes for promotion.  Influencers!

 

FIVE TIPS – 1) Choose your lighting

                        2) Choose books that you would read anyway.

                        3) Beverage

                        4) Figure out your value-added.

                        5) Chapstick