If you’re looking to make money from your writing, then you might be considering the option to learn how to make audio books. There are many benefits to creating an audiobook, including the fact that it can be sold on iTunes or Audible for both revenue and exposure. However, there are also some things that new authors should know before diving into this exciting opportunity!
What Is An Audiobook?
Before learning how to make audio books, what is an audiobook? An audiobook, quite simply, is a book that is read out loud. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a book when you’re too busy to read it yourself, or when you want to multi-task and get some other things done while you listen.
But making an audiobook is no easy feat. It requires time, dedication, and a lot of hard work. If you’re thinking of making an audiobook, but you’re not quite sure where to start, then this guide is for you.
Steps On How To Create An Audio Book
Here’s everything you need to know about audiobook creation:
Step 1. Choose the right equipment
To record your audiobook, you will need the following equipment:
- A microphone (or more than one) for recording. You can use a USB microphone or an XLR microphone, which is more professional and expensive than the other options.
- Recording software to help you edit and create your audiobook. In this guide, we’ll be using Audacity because it’s free and easy to use! If you’re worried about whether or not this will work for you, check out our guide on how to make an audiobook with GarageBand here!
Step 2. Get your space ready
The second step to creating an audiobook is to make sure you have the right equipment.
Here are some things you’ll need:
- A quiet space with good acoustics, like a recording studio or a room with carpeting.
- A noise cancelling microphone (not necessary if your computer already has one).
- A good computer that can handle large files and multiple tracks at once (you can also use GarageBand, Audacity or other free software).
- An audio interface built specifically for podcasting or broadcasting—these will allow you to plug in many microphones at once so they don’t get out of sync when recording multiple people speaking at once!
- A pop filter–this will help reduce plosives (clicks), which are loud noises produced by certain consonants such as “p” and “t.”
Step 3. Choose your cover art for iTunes & Audible
Now that you have a basic structure for your book, it’s time to choose a cover art for iTunes and Audible.
If you are using CreateSpace as the publishing platform for your audiobook then choose an image that is eye catching and fits in with the rest of their design guidelines. The same applies if you are using IngramSpark or Smashwords as your platform.
It’s also important to make sure that this image file is of high resolution so it can be used on multiple platforms such as Apple Books & Kindle Unlimited etc.. If possible try finding images with similar dimensions so they all look good together (iTunes has strict sizing requirements).
Step 4. Write your audiobook description
Now that you have your manuscript, it’s time to write the description. A good audiobook description should be brief and include the genre and word count of your book. You also want to include a compelling reason for why people should buy it from you instead of someone else.
If you’re not sure how long this should be, keep in mind that most people listen while they drive or commute somewhere so they’ll want something short enough to fit in their car or train ride without being too long-winded.
Step 5. Record your book
Now that you have a good recording environment, it’s time to record your narration. You’ll need to use a microphone and headphones or earbuds for this step. A good microphone will help with clarity and distance between sound waves, which makes it easier for listeners to understand what they’re hearing.
It’s also important that you don’t record in an echo chamber—the space where all the sound comes from being bounced around every wall and flooring until it reaches the listener’s ears (and not just one). This can cause some distortion when playing back your work later on!
The ideal place for recording is somewhere quiet where there isn’t much air movement; otherwise, try using something like a garage or basement as long as it doesn’t have any windows or doors leading out into fresh air (this could cause unwanted background noise).
If possible, use headphones so that others won’t be able hear anything when listening back through their headphones while they’re doing other things around them.
Step 6. Edit and master your audiobook
You can’t call yourself an audiobook producer if you don’t have a professionally edited and mastered audio. If your audio is not edited and mastered, it will be rejected by iTunes or Audible.
Editing is the process of fixing errors in your recording software before sharing it with others. Mastering is the final step where you prepare your audio for distribution on various platforms such as iTunes, Spotify and other services like that.
There are many editors available online who offer free services but beware of scams! Look for someone who has good reviews from their previous clients (this means they’ve done this before). Also make sure that they have experience editing similar projects such as yours so they know what works best for different genres/audios/lengths etcetera…
Step 7. Submit your audiobook to ACX and get approved
If you have a good story and want it published, ACX is the place to go.
ACX is a platform for independent authors and publishers to distribute their audiobooks to the world’s largest retailers and streaming services. They offer an easy-to-use publishing process that allows you to upload your book in just minutes, then get approved within 24 hours!
This means that if you submit your audiobook through ACX, it could be available on Audible soon after—and without any royalty fees!
How To Make Audio Books – which format should you use?
To get the best out of your learn of how to make audio books, you need good formatting. When it comes to audiobook formats, there are two main types: text-to-speech and human narration.
Text-to-speech is where the text of the book is read out by a computer or machine. This type of audiobook is great for people who want to listen to books while they’re doing other things, like cooking or cleaning. The downside is that the voices can sometimes sound robotic or flat, and they don’t always pronounce words correctly.
Human narration, on the other hand, is where a human reads the book aloud. This type of audiobook is great for people who want to enjoy the story and characters without being distracted by background noise. The downside is that human narration can be more expensive than text-to-speech, and it can take longer to produce. If you have a visual impairment, then audiobooks will be a great option for you. Learn more about how blind people read books on our blog.
How To Get Your Audiobook On Sale At Audible, iTunes, and Google Play
Now that your audiobook is ready, it’s time to put it up for sale. Here’s how you can get it on Audible, iTunes, and Google Play.
Audible:
Audible is the world’s largest audiobookstore, and they make it easy to publish your audiobook. Simply create an account, and then follow their easy steps to submit your audiobook for distribution. After learning how to make audio books, selling them on audible will be great!
iTunes:
To distribute your audiobook on iTunes, you’ll need an Apple ID. Once you have that, follow their simple steps to submit your audiobook for distribution.
Google Play:
To get your audiobook on Google Play, you’ll need a Google account and to set up a Google Wallet Merchant Account. Once you’ve done that, follow their instructions to submit your audiobook for distribution.
How To Get A Professional Narrator
Now that you know how to record and edit your own audiobook, you might be wondering if you should just do it yourself. And while you totally could, I would recommend hiring a professional narrator for a few reasons.
For one, professional narrators have access to high-quality recording equipment that you might not have at home. And while you could probably buy or rent the same equipment, it would be much more expensive than just paying someone who already has it.
Not to mention, professional narrators have been trained in how to use that equipment to get the best sound quality possible. They also know how to edit their recordings so they sound polished and professional.
Finally, hiring a professional narrator frees you up to focus on other things, like promoting your book or working on your next project. And since most narrators work on a per-finished-hour basis, you don’t have to pay them until the project is done. So if money is tight, you can wait to pay them until your audiobook starts making money. With a professional, you won’t have problems on how to make audio books.
How Much Does It Cost To Make An Audiobook?
The cost of making an audiobook can vary greatly. If you’re thinking of doing it yourself, it will obviously cost less than if you hired someone to do it for you.
That being said, there are still some costs associated with making an audiobook, even if you do it yourself. For example, you’ll need to pay for the rights to the book if you don’t already own them. You’ll also need to pay for any music or sound effects that you want to use in the book.
And then there are the actual costs of recording the book. If you’re doing it yourself, you’ll need to buy a good quality microphone and recording software. If you’re hiring someone to do it for you, they will obviously charge a fee for their services.
So, how much does it cost to make an audiobook? It really depends on a lot of factors. But if you’re thinking of doing it yourself, you can probably do it for fairly cheap.
What Are The Best Tools For Making An Audiobook?
Now that you know the different steps on how to make audio books, you might be wondering what the best tools are for getting the job done.
Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to make a high-quality audiobook. All you really need is a good microphone and a quiet place to record.
If you’re on a budget, a simple USB microphone like the Blue Yeti will do the trick. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, I’d recommend investing in a shotgun microphone, which will give you better sound quality.
As for where to record, any quiet room in your house will work fine. Just make sure to choose a room with good acoustics and minimal echo. A closet or small bathroom can actually be ideal, since these rooms tend to have less reverberation.
Conclusion
You’ve done all the hard work, now it’s time to launch your audiobook. ACX is a great place to start, but you can also reach out to other publishers for more options. If you have any questions about how to do this, feel free to leave them in the comments below! Now you know how to make audio books!