Can I Record Myself Reading the Bible

When I finished writing and publishing Where the Hell is Tesla?, I looked at the Amazon.com book page, noticed the absence of an audiobook/CD, and said to myself "Hmmm. I wonder if I could do that myself?"

I constitute out I could. And guess what? Y'all can too. You, an independent author, can narrate and publish your ain audiobook — for free! (Or shut.)

I won't say it'due south one-click piece of cake, though. In that location are many small things to do correct, and many small things that tin make a recording awful. In fact, here's a really smart article outlining numerous reasons why y'all SHOULDN'T narrate your ain book. But if you're still into it subsequently reading that, whatever author that's a fleck technical can do it, without breaking the bank, using tools yous already accept (or that won't toll you an arm and a leg to purchase).

Before we get started:

• You should already have your volume done and published. If not, have intendance of that start and return to this post later. It'll however be here!
• You should take access to a figurer or an iPad.
• For my demonstration, I'm using certain gear and software yous may not have, and I'm talking exclusively most Amazon, merely the general principles will still utilise.
• This is meant to be an overview, not a tutorial. But I'm happy to answer any specific questions yous have, and then caput on over to the Contact page and fire off a question at any time.

Okay, fix?

1. Create an account with ACX. ACX is part of Audible.com, an Amazon.com subsidiary. They help build and manage audio content that gets sold on Aural, Amazon, and iTunes. When yous start your account, all y'all'll need is your banking company data (then they can pay you royalties — that's a adept thing), and to find your title in the Amazon database. Once you lot have your account created, have a look at the Sound Submission Requirements. Basically, know this:

• You lot have to include separate opening credits, affiliate files, closing credits, and a ane-5 minute sample.
• Leave silence at the beginning and terminate of each affiliate, and read the chapter headings aloud
• Reduce noise on the low end, and brand sure it'southward not louder than -3dB (Don't worry, I evidence you how in the video)
• Export at 192kbps MP3 at 44.1kHz (again, it sounds hard but it'south easy)

two. Go your studio set up. Of course, by studio I mean anywhere you can set up. You'll need:

• A computer or an iPad. I utilise a Mac (my business is copywriting/design/advertizing, so Macs are the standard), and as a recording writer, this has a great do good — because every Mac comes with…
• Recording software. Garageband is the name of the app that comes complimentary with a Mac. For more than complicated projects at our studio, nosotros use ProTools, only for a single voice, Garageband is perfect. Easy to use, fifty-fifty for beginners. And it comes free with iPads, too. If you're working on a PC, yous'll need an alternative. I've heard from several people later this post was published that Brazenness is freeware and information technology's great. That's not an endorsement, but to let you know that recording options aren't limited to mac folk.
• A microphone. You could effort to get abroad with the internal mic on your calculator or iPad, but for a cleaner, less noisy sound… yous'll desire to have a better mic.  I use an AKG C3000 (nearly $200, in that location are a lot of good mics in this toll range). Simply I also have a USB interface called a DUET2 that the mic plugs into (some other $600). If you don't experience similar plunking down $800 before you've even started, hither's the good news: there are plenty of USB mics that are good enough for this work, and tin plug directly into your computer or iPad. I plant a great article comparing several, but here's the quick — for a basic, good audio, endeavor The Blue Microphones Snowball ($55). For a great mic that plugs directly into an iPad likewise as a PC, try the Apogee MiC 96k ($229)
• Headphones. If y'all want to monitor yourself (not a requirement, but a proficient idea), you'll need a pair of headphones. From my experience, bones headphones should be fine.
• A tranquility space. This ane'due south mutual sense, and critical. Any actress room racket tin can ruin a recording, and then choose a infinite with very lilliputian ambience noise. Also, open spaces with nothing on the walls can bounce the audio all over. Apply blankets, foam, whatsoever you can to dampen the sound. (Nosotros employ foam baffling circled pretty tightly around the microphone. You can see it in the video.)

3. Start recording! Fire upward Garageband, create a new voice track, and go. Alternatively, I've created a Garageband file with the settings I apply practical to the principal track and first rails. You can download it here. (40MB)

This isn't meant to be a detailed tutorial on Garageband, so I won't get into terminology, or every setting, but basically here'due south what to set in everyday language:

• Make certain your master volume just hits the "yellow" during loud moments, stays in the mid-to-high green area, and never hits the red.
• Under Controls (the piffling dial-looking-button height left) make sure your "dissonance gate" is checked, and set to around -65dB (Y'all can play with this setting to make sure y'all don't get weird-sounding clipping, only make sure when you're not talking, you don't hear anything at all).
• Too nether controls, click on the compressor, the EQ, and requite yourself a wee bit of reverb. (I show the dials and such in the video, but again, play with this to get the sound you similar.)

Okay, when you're set to hit the record button and kickoff speaking, keep these tips in mind:

• Go along the mic about 6″ – 8″ from your face. You lot can play around with this. When yous have to whisper, y'all can come in a trivial closer, and when you have to scream or shout, DEFINITELY pull dorsum, and turn your head abroad from the mic a bit.
• Brand sure you're speaking clearly, and make as few mistakes equally possible. When you make a mistake, if it's a small 1, just leave a breath, say a quick "boop!" and echo. This keeps your flow going, and gives you a visual cue when y'all go back to edit — the "boop!" shows upwards as a footling fasten in the waveform. For a larger fault, stop recording, delete that range, and go again. If you exercise these ii, y'all'll thank yourself when you take to get through and edit all this!
• Make sure your footstep is not also fast and not likewise slow. Try it a few different ways, play it back. Let someone else listen to them and compare.
• Minimize loud breath sounds, lip smacks, tongue clicks, pops and other noises. Again, y'all'll thank yourself afterwards when you don't have to edit out all this. You lot tin also buy a cheap pop filter (it's in the video) that helps with some of this, mostly the "p" sound.
• Proceed characters, voices, and accents consequent, without making them besides over-the-meridian or cartoony. (Although for my volume, a comedy, I purposely went a flake over-the-tiptop.). And keep the energy of performance consequent

Once you've recorded your opening credits, create a new track. Then for each chapter, do the aforementioned. Then in the end, yous'll have a separate rail for each chapter. This makes it easier to organize and export.

Note: If you want a quick music stinger for your opening credits, or a sound effect here and in that location, you can find tons of royalty costless music beds and sfx on iTunes. There are lots of sites out there as well, LOTS, so if yous feel like earthworks, become for it. Too for gratis sounds, my usual go-to site is SoundBible.com. Maybe non the biggest catalog, simply it'due south FREE, and it's piece of cake to employ/download.

4. Edit and consign your recordings. This is fun, simply tiresome, work. You'll be taking out extra breath sounds, playing with volume and dissonance, a LOT. When y'all're done (whew!) solo each track and export 192kbps MP3s at 44.1kHz (sounds complicated but it's a couple of buttons).

5. Upload your files to ACX. Also might sound confusing, simply it's easy. You tin can meet in the video, 1-two-3!

Then, in one case y'all're done, you're done. ACX takes over and packages upward your files, and — assuming you don't have any problems they come back to you with — they distribute it for yous through Amazon, Aural, and Apple iBooks. And you lot earn a per centum of each sale — in my DIY case, forty%. Amazing!

If yous take any questions at all about the procedure, I'd be happy to respond (or investigate if I don't have an respond). Just head on over to the Contact page.

Virtually the Volume:

SCI-FI ODYSSEY. Comedy. Beloved STORY. AND OF COURSE… NIKOLA TESLA. I'll permit Chip, the main grapheme tell you lot more: "I institute the journal at work. Well, I don't know if you'd phone call it piece of work, but that'due south where I found it. It'south the lost periodical of Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest inventors and visionaries ever. Before he died in 1943, he kept a notebook filled with spectacular claims and outrageous plans. Ane of these plans was for an "Interdimensional Transfer Apparatus" – that allowed someone (in this case me and my friend Pete) to travel to other versions of the infinite possibilities effectually united states of america. Crazy, right? But that'southward just where the crazy starts."

Scrap'Due south OFFICIAL DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction: the events depicted in the collection of emails did not happen. I accept never been in contact with a covert government group attempting to suppress noesis of the lost journal of Nikola Tesla. I have not been threatened with death if I divulge the secrets contained inside. They did not buy me this handsome jacket (oh crap, you're reading this – trust me, it looks great on me). They did not come to my place, and liquor me up, and offer to publish this book equally a sci-fi one-act novel to throw the public off the trail of the real truth.

Or did they?

I'm kidding. Of course they didn't.

Or did they?

God, I can't keep my large mouth close.

Praise for Where the Hell is Tesla?…

Where theHell is Tesla? has been compared to Terry Pratchett (the Discworld Series), Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and even Kurt Vonnegut (I know, that last one is probably a stretch.)

"If Bill and Ted were approaching middle age (and gotten simplythis much more than globe weary along the fashion), so went on an Even More Excellent Science Fact Adventure, you might get something like Rob Dircks' debut novel,Where the Hell is Telsa? Smart, funny, and merely similar its titular scientist, impressively inventive, this is a must-read for anyone who aced science and, even more so, for those of united states of america who didn't. Which means, quite simply, it's a volume for everyone."

– Michael Zam, Screenwriting Professor, NYU

"Reminds me of Vonnegut. Yes, I said that."

– Ruth Sinanian, Connoisseur of Fine Literature

Amazon.com Reviews…

"An extraordinarily unexpected delight… volition appeal to fans of Pratchett and Adams."

"A wild, witty wonderful ride through a historically accurate backdrop. Y'all volition express mirth, it'southward not impaired sense of humor merely very smart."

"Very entertaining and a corking homage to a swell scientist. If y'all're looking to express mirth out loud while reading, and then this is the book for you."

"I was laughing at times and on the edge of my seat other times. The grapheme of Chip is wonderful."

About Rob Dircks

Hullo. I'grand the possessor of Goldfinch Publishing. Afterwards independently publishing my first ii books, I barbarous in love with not only writing, but the new process of publishing. As a copywriter, designer, and developer for over xx years, I realized I had some skills that might be able to assistance other authors. So in addition to hawking my ain books (feel costless to buy them here), I'll be editing, producing, and promoting the works of other talented authors as well hither on this site.

My past? I've been many things – writer, advertisement agency owner, aspiring screenwriter, stock video producer, iPhone app developer, photographer, and more. I was even a Sears baby photographer way back in college. (If I never see another blood-red velvet infant Christmas dress, that'll exist just fine.) Experience free to reach out to me on the general Contact U.s.a. page, through the Goldfinch SELECT submission process, or with a request for information on paid services over at Goldfinch A LA CARTE.

pattersonfacera.blogspot.com

Source: https://robdircks.com/yes-you-can-record-your-own-audiobook-heres-how/

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