How to Choose and Produce Audiobook Narration

Introduction

Are you producing an audiobook? If so, you might want to find the perfect audiobook narration to bring your story to life. Audiobook narration is crucial for the success of an audiobook because it plays a vital role in stimulating the listener’s imagination. Therefore, finding the right narrator is essential for producing a high-quality audiobook.

In this article, you will find the best ways to find audiobook narration for your project, whether you choose to use a voice service or directly hire a professional narrator.

How to Choose the Right Audiobook Narration

The choice of audiobook narration can determine the success or failure of your audiobook. Here are some things to consider when choosing the perfect audiobook narration:

Experience

Experienced narrators can provide high-quality readings without background noise, interference, or errors. They also have a good understanding of the audiobook industry and know how to deliver excellent work.

Check the narrator’s social media presence and online portfolio to see if they are active in the industry and have experience in voice work.

Voice

The narrator’s voice is crucial. You need to ensure that the voice matches the tone and style of the book. The narrator must be able to create different characters and convey emotions and atmosphere.

Consider the narrator’s age, gender, accent, and the type of audiobook narration you need (e.g., non-fiction, children’s books, sci-fi, etc.).

Sample Recordings

Before hiring a narrator, be sure to listen to their sample recordings. This will give you an idea of their tone, style, and professionalism.

Home Recording Studio

Many professional audiobook narrators have home studios, which means they can record audiobooks at any time without needing to rent a studio.

Per Finished Hour (PFH) or Royalty Share

Decide whether to pay a per finished hour rate or share royalties with the narrator after the audiobook is published. Paying per finished hour is a common practice in the industry and may attract more experienced narrators.

Recording Software

Ensure that the narrator has the appropriate recording software to ensure high-quality recordings.

Where to Find Excellent Audiobook Narrators

Here are some platforms where you can find experienced narrators, beginners, and professional voice actors:

• ACX: ACX is a platform owned by Amazon that offers audiobook production and distribution services. You can search for narrators, producers, and studios based on project needs (e.g., genre, language, voice type). ACX offers both per finished hour (PFH) and royalty share payment options.
• Voices.com: Voices.com is a leading online marketplace for voice work, including audiobook narration. You can browse thousands of professional audiobook narrators and filter by age, accent, language, and experience. Voices.com offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee to ensure you find the right narrator for your project.
• Fiverr: Fiverr is a popular freelance marketplace where you can find cost-effective voice talent for audiobook narration. You can search for narrators based on budget, deadlines, and style. Fiverr offers a range of voice actors, from first-time narrators to full-time professionals and award-winning experts.
• Findaway Voices: Findaway Voices is an audiobook production and distribution platform that offers a carefully curated network of professional narrators. You can choose from various genres, including children’s books, sci-fi, and non-fiction. Findaway Voices offers both PFH and royalty share payment options.
• AudioFile: AudioFile magazine is a leading source for audiobook reviews and recommendations. They offer a database of audiobook narrators, producers, and publishers. You can search for narrators by name, genre, and awards. AudioFile magazine also provides a daily audiobook recommendation newsletter.

Using Yomer for Narration

Have you ever thought about turning written content into an audiobook but worried about the cost of hiring a professional narrator? Try Yomer, a leading AI voice generator that can transform your books, non-fiction works, or other content into high-quality audiobooks.

Yomer uses advanced artificial intelligence to generate natural-sounding voices, supporting multiple languages and accents. You can customize settings such as voice, speed, and pronunciation to match your content and audience. The platform also offers a variety of text-to-speech voices that mimic natural human voices, making it ideal for producing podcasts or audiobooks.

Some key features of Yomer include:

• Quick and easy text-to-speech conversion, allowing you to create audiobooks or podcasts immediately.
• High-quality voice generation that sounds natural and engaging.
• Customizable voice settings, including voice, speed, and pronunciation.
• Multilingual and multi-accent support, enabling you to reach a global audience.
• Privacy protection: Yomer ensures that your content remains private during the audiobook generation process and is not shared with third parties.
• Version support: In addition to basic audiobook functionality, Yomer supports different versions of audiobooks, such as children’s audiobooks and other special scenarios.
• Cost-effective: Compared to hiring a professional narrator, using Yomer to generate audiobooks is much cheaper, which is a significant advantage for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets.

If you want to produce an audiobook or podcast but don’t have the budget to hire a professional narrator, Yomer is an excellent choice.

Try it now and transform your content into high-quality audio that your audience will love.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should the author narrate their own audiobook? It might be a good idea for the author to narrate their own audiobook, but if their diction is poor or their voice is not loud enough, listeners may have difficulty understanding.
• Should the audiobook narrator sound like the original author? “Most authors should focus on writing and leave the audiobook narration to others,” says Basil Sands, a self-published author and actor.
• How can I ensure the confidentiality of my manuscript when sharing it with a narrator? This is not a major issue, but as a precaution, you can ask the narrator to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) to prevent them from discussing or sharing it with others.
• Do I need one narrator or multiple narrators? Using multiple narrators might be a good choice when different characters’ stories are important to the main plot and the protagonist cannot gather all the necessary information to understand the story on their own.
• Should I release the print version or audiobook first? In traditional publishing, it is usually more profitable for publishers to release the print book first.
• How long does it take to record an audiobook? On average, it takes a narrator about 20 hours in the studio to record a 10-hour audiobook.
• How much does it cost to hire an audiobook narrator? Prices start from $30 and can go up to several thousand dollars.
• Who are the most popular Audible narrators? One of the most popular narrators in the Audible library is Stephen Fry.
• How can I find audiobook narrators? You can find them on Upwork, ACX.com, Fiverr, and other online services.