| What to know before you voice an audiobook. I love voicing audiobooks. Yes…it takes work and endurance but it’s a really cool thing to be a part of – whether you’re making a character come to life or sharing a message that the author has spent sometimes years researching and compiling. It’s also an industry that continues to grow! Personally, diversifying what genres I can do has helped sustain me in many ways. So that’s why I’m thrilled to announce that Curt Bonnem will be teaching an Audiobook class beginning in July 2021! I asked Curt to share helpful insight and things to take into consideration before getting into audiobooks. Before you Book (an audiobook, that is): Particularly over the past year, I’ve seen a lot of on-camera actors and other voiceover folks look into audiobooks as a way to diversify their work options. Many times, they jump right in and start auditioning before they know anything about what it really takes to record and produce an audiobook. Next thing you know, they get hired and are suddenly asking, “What do I do now?” Some end up backing out of the project once they realize they aren’t ready to handle either the actual work it takes to record an audiobook performance or the technical aspects or producing retail ready audio. Producing an audiobook is a different animal than most other genres of voiceover work and it’s very important to research the industry and understand the requirements, both physically and technically, before you start booking work. Here are a couple questions to ask yourself… |
| IS LONG FORM NARRATION FOR ME? You may say, “Sure, I love to read!” or “I read out loud to my kids all the time.” Understand, recording an audiobook is not just reading out loud. A good test to see if audiobook narration is something you can handle and would enjoy can be found in Sean Allen Pratt’s YouTube video ‘So You Want to Be an Audiobook Narrator.’ Take 5 minutes to watch this video and then take the test he lays out…you’ll quickly discover if audiobooks are right for you or not. CAN I HANDLE THE TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS? Particularly with new narrators, you will likely be working with independent authors through places like ACX.com or Findawayvoices.com, rather than working with the big publishers. Even the most successful narrators work a lot with indie authors along with their work for publishers. In these situations, you are considered the ‘Producer’ and are required to provide retail ready audio. Do you know what RMS means? Do you know what your noise floor is and how to get it below -60dB? Audiobooks require very specific production specs that must be met, whether you do it yourself or have to pay to outsource your post production (which will cut into your profit margin.) Look at the ACX Submission Requirements here and see if you understand and can meet those requirements. If not, you’ll either have to learn or pay someone else to handle it for you. |
| These are just two important aspects of audiobook work that must be considered before you begin your journey. Thanks so much Curt! If you’re interested in Audiobooks, sign up for Curt’s virtual class here. p.s. We discounted the price to $299 as the introductory price! Price will increase after the first class. |
-Mike and Heidi |