Award-winning author, Niamh McAnally, with the second part of her article for writers looking to narrate their own audiobook.
Read Part 1 of this article here.
5. RECORDING SESSIONS
Each chapter must be a separate audio file, including opening credits, acknowledgements, and closing credits.
If you have the luxury of time you can spread out your recording sessions. I schedule no more than 5-hour blocks at a time to keep my brain fresh and not tire out my voice.
Studio mics can be very sensitive. To prevent your stomach rumbles caught on audio watch what you eat and allow plenty of time for digestion before arriving at the studio.
If connecting an external monitor to your laptop, set it up at eye level and keep the laptop as far away from the mic as possible to avoid picking up any hum from the internal fan, but close enough to still be able to scroll through the script. Wear clothes that don’t create noise or static. I usually wear black sweats and tie my hair back.
I recommend using Aquaphor or something similar on the lips to keep them from making ‘smacking’ sounds. I also lubricate my vocal cords with a teaspoon of coconut oil and use it between takes to keep my mouth and throat from getting dry. Also, have water available and keep hydrated.
In addition to the sound engineer, have a someone direct the production. Their job is to follow the script as you are speaking and make sure your narration is accurate. They will also be watching your pace and energy levels and can pick up on any mistakes you might not notice.
To cut down on editing time after a recording session, operate on the ‘punch and roll’ system. This involves going back a sentence or two before a mistake and continuing from there. Make sure that the engineer gives you enough ‘runway’. This means they will play back the sentence or two before the point you need to start again. You will hear your own voice in your headset until it stops. Since the engineer will only record from the new entry point, I find it is helpful to read the earlier sentences aloud so I can match my pace and tone more easily. This is especially true if you are coming back on a different day to re-record elements. (See step 6).
6. REVIEW
After an in-session edit has been made, listen back to make sure it sounds seamless, that the pause between sentences is the correct length. Quicker to stretch or tighten a pause right then.
When the session is complete, the engineer will render the files and export them to you. Use headphones or EarPods to listen back to each one. Identify any parts that need to be re-recorded, whether to eliminate any noises like heavy intake of breath or movements, or if you want to improve the performance. Make a note of the timecode where each of these issues are, and the sentence before to make it easier for the engineer to find the exact spot. Schedule a ‘pick up’ session and complete the recordings.
7. MASTERING
The next step is to ‘master’ the files. This can be done by the recording engineer or someone else. I use a different engineer for this process, one who specializes in audiobooks and working with ACX, primarily on account of his excellent noise correction software. This can be so helpful in eliminating lip smacks or even a chair creak without having to edit out each individual extraneous noise.
8. ACX STUDIO LAB
Once the files are mastered the next step is to upload them, one at a time, to the ACX audio lab. www.acx.com/audiolab. Each file will be analyzed and if there are any issues an error report will be generated. Once any corrections are made, re-upload until all files pass the ACX standard.
9. PROOF-LISTEN
When all the technical aspects have been completed, listen back to the entire book, preferably in as large chunks as possible to get an overall feeling for it. Does it flow? Are you hearing the story not the narration?
10. SUBMIT & PROMOTE
Final step is to submit the audio files. Either forward them to your publisher or, if you hold the publishing rights, upload directly to the ACX platform. Make sure you have a square image for your front cover.
There will be a ten-day waiting period while the files go through quality control. If there are any issues of concern ACX will reach out to you. Once cleared, and providing the eBook version is also available, your audiobook will be uploaded to Amazon and Audible and iTunes. Next step is to start promoting!
From start to finish, the time it takes will depend on the experience of the narrator and the sound engineer. For a finished ten-hour audiobook expect the preparation, recording, review and uploading to take from 70 -100 hours of work.
Good luck and Enjoy!
(c) Niamh McAnally
Read Part 1 of this article here.
To contact Niamh visit www.thewriteronthewater.com
About Following Sunshine byNiamh McAnally:
“A truly brave, enriching memoir that will take you on a global adventure.” –Liam Neeson
In her honest and heart-warming memoir, writer and adventurer Niamh McAnally shares the story of her liberating journey from being unemployed, homeless, and divorced in her fifties, to embarking on a global quest to find purpose through volunteering and ultimately finding a profound love that changed her life.
From volunteering for marine conservation projects on remote islands in Belize, Vanuatu, and Tonga, to exploring exotic destinations like Bora Bora, Palau, Fiji, and St Barths, Niamh takes readers on a captivating journey where each destination unveils a layer of her self-discovery. An encouraging read for the dreamer in each of us, you’ll learn about unique cultures, dolphin research, turtle conservation, and coral reef protection. And be prepared for the most unexpected love story when she is selected as crew for a solo sailor in the Bahamas—a project that was only supposed to last a month but will now last a lifetime.
While telling the story of one woman’s quest for meaning, Following Sunshine also serves as a roadmap for the rest of us, inspiring us to awaken to the potential that lies within and choose a path truest to our being. Perfect for fans of adventure travel, romance, and anyone seeking meaning and fulfillment through giving back.
Order your copy of Following Sunshine byNiamh McAnally online here.
