audiobook-producer

name	audiobook-producer
description	Complete audiobook production guide covering narration preparation, home studio setup, recording technique, editing and mastering to ACX standards, distribution through ACX, Findaway Voices, and Author's Republic, marketing strategies, and royalty structures for self-published and traditionally published authors. Use when the user asks about audiobook producer or needs help with related topics. Do NOT use for unrelated domains or when a more specialized skill exists.
license	Apache-2.0
metadata	{"author":"foundry-skills","version":"1.0.0","tags":"creative-writing writing guide","category":"writing","subcategory":"creative-writing","depends":"","disclaimer":"none","difficulty":"intermediate"}

Audiobook Producer

When to Use

Process

1. Gather requirements. Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.

2. Analyze the situation. Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to audiobook producer.

3. Develop the framework. Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.

4. Deliver actionable output. Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.

5. Address edge cases. Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.

Use this skill when:

• User needs guidance on audiobook producer
• User asks about audiobook producer best practices or techniques
• User wants a structured approach to audiobook producer

Do NOT use this skill when:

• A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
• The request is outside the scope of audiobook producer

You are an experienced audiobook producer and narrator who has produced dozens of titles across fiction and non-fiction. You understand the full pipeline from manuscript preparation through distribution and marketing. You help authors decide whether to self-narrate or hire talent, build a recording setup that meets professional standards, and navigate the business side of audiobook publishing.

Questions to Ask First

1. Are you the author, or are you producing for someone else?
2. What genre is the book? (Non-fiction, fiction, memoir, self-help, thriller, romance, etc.)
3. Is the book already published in print or ebook format?
4. What is the word count of the manuscript?
5. Are you planning to narrate yourself or hire a narrator?
6. Do you have any recording equipment or a quiet recording space?
7. What is your budget for production? (Or are you looking at royalty-share arrangements?)
8. Have you listened to audiobooks in your genre? What style do you prefer?
9. Where do you want to distribute? (Audible only, wide distribution, or direct sales?)
10. What is your timeline for completion?

Narration Preparation

Manuscript Preparation for Audio

STEP 1: CREATE THE NARRATION SCRIPT
  - Convert manuscript to a clean, double-spaced document
  - Mark pronunciation guides for unusual names, places, and terms
  - Note character voice distinctions (for fiction):
    Character: [Name] | Voice: [pitch, accent, pace, personality trait]
  - Flag sections that need special treatment:
    [QUOTE] for block quotes (change tone)
    [LIST] for bullet points (read as natural prose, not a list)
    [TABLE] for data tables (describe or summarize, do not read verbatim)
    [FOOTNOTE] decide: read inline, read at chapter end, or omit
  - Remove visual-only elements (page numbers, "see figure X")
  - Rewrite any text that says "as shown above" or "on the next page"

STEP 2: PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
  Create a reference sheet:
  | Word/Name      | Pronunciation (phonetic)  | Notes              |
  |----------------|---------------------------|--------------------|
  | [word]         | [phonetic spelling]       | [context if needed]|

  For fiction: Maintain consistency across the entire book.
  For non-fiction: Verify technical terms, foreign words, proper nouns.
  Resource: Forvo.com for real-world pronunciations.

STEP 3: READ-THROUGH
  Read the entire manuscript aloud before recording.
  Purpose: Identify tongue-twisters, awkward phrasing, pacing issues.
  Rewrite sentences that are hard to read aloud (author permission needed).
  Time estimate: 1 hour of finished audio per ~9,300 words.

Narration Techniques

NON-FICTION NARRATION:
  Tone: Conversational authority. Imagine explaining to a smart friend.
  Pace: 150-170 words per minute (slightly slower than conversation).
  Energy: Vary energy to match content. Data sections need more energy
  to prevent monotony. Story sections need emotional range.
  Lists: Read as connected thoughts, not a grocery list.
  Chapters: Brief pause between chapters. Slight energy reset.

FICTION NARRATION:
  Character differentiation:
    Vary pitch (higher/lower)
    Vary pace (fast talker vs. slow deliberator)
    Vary placement (chest voice vs. head voice)
    Subtlety wins: Slight changes are more believable than full accents
    RULE: Every character must be distinguishable with your eyes closed

  Dialogue tags:
    "He said angrily" -- let the performance convey the anger,
    do not perform the word "angrily" dramatically
    Read dialogue tags flatly. The dialogue itself carries the emotion.

  Scene transitions:
    Brief pause (1-2 seconds) between scenes
    Slight tone/pace shift to signal the new scene
    Chapter breaks: 2-3 seconds of silence

COMMON NARRATION MISTAKES:
  - Reading too fast (the listener cannot rewind easily)
  - Monotone energy on expository passages
  - Over-acting dialogue (subtle > dramatic)
  - Inconsistent character voices across chapters
  - Mouth noise (clicks, lip smacks, breathing)
  - Losing place and re-reading sentences

Recording Studio Setup

Home Studio Equipment

BUDGET SETUP ($200-500):
  Microphone: Audio-Technica AT2020 or Rode NT1 5th Gen
  Interface: Focusrite Scarlett Solo (3rd or 4th gen)
  Headphones: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x (closed-back, essential)
  Pop filter: Standard dual-mesh pop filter ($10-20)
  Mic stand: Boom arm (Rode PSA1 or equivalent)
  Acoustic treatment: Moving blankets or DIY panels (see below)
  Software: Audacity (free) or Reaper ($60 license)

PROFESSIONAL SETUP ($1,000-3,000):
  Microphone: Neumann TLM 102 or Rode NT1 Signature
  Interface: Universal Audio Volt 1 or Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
  Headphones: Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (80 ohm)
  Pop filter: Stedman Proscreen
  Mic stand: Professional studio boom arm
  Acoustic treatment: Professional panels (Auralex, GIK Acoustics)
  Software: Adobe Audition, Logic Pro, or Reaper
  Isolation: Whisper Room or vocal booth

ACOUSTIC TREATMENT (critical for quality):
  The room matters MORE than the microphone.

  Minimum treatment:
  - Hang heavy blankets/quilts on walls around the recording position
  - Place a rug under the recording area
  - Record in a closet full of clothes (excellent natural absorption)
  - Avoid rooms with hard floors, bare walls, or high ceilings

  Better treatment:
  - 2-inch acoustic foam panels on walls at reflection points
  - Bass traps in corners (thick absorption, 4+ inches)
  - Ceiling treatment above recording position
  - Reflection filter behind the microphone

  Test your room:
  Clap your hands. If you hear a ring or flutter echo, you need
  more treatment. The goal is a "dead" room with no audible reflections.

NOISE FLOOR TARGET:
  ACX requires noise floor below -60 dBFS.
  Aim for -65 dBFS or lower.
  Turn off HVAC, refrigerators, computers fans during recording.
  Record a 30-second silence test before each session.

Recording Technique

MICROPHONE TECHNIQUE:
  Distance: 6-8 inches from the microphone (fist width)
  Position: Slightly off-axis (speak past the mic, not directly into it)
  Pop filter: 2-3 inches from the mic, mouth behind the filter
  Consistency: Mark your position with tape. Same distance every session.

GAIN STAGING:
  Set input gain so peaks hit -6 to -3 dBFS during loud passages.
  Normal narration should sit around -12 to -6 dBFS.
  Never clip (hit 0 dBFS). Digital clipping is unfixable.
  Record at 44.1 kHz / 16-bit minimum (ACX requirement).
  Better: 96 kHz / 24-bit (downsample in post-production).

SESSION WORKFLOW:
  1. Turn off all noise sources (HVAC, fans, phones, notifications)
  2. Record 30 seconds of room tone (for noise profile and editing)
  3. Warm up voice (5 minutes: humming, tongue twisters, scales)
  4. Record in 20-30 minute sessions (voice fatigue degrades quality)
  5. Take 10-minute breaks between sessions
  6. Drink room-temperature water (not cold, not hot)
  7. Avoid dairy, caffeine, and carbonated beverages (increase mouth noise)
  8. If you make a mistake: pause 2 seconds, clap or snap, re-read
     the sentence from the beginning. This makes editing straightforward.
  9. Save frequently. Name files: [BookTitle]_Ch[XX]_Take[X].wav

PICKUP SESSIONS:
  When re-recording sections days or weeks later:
  - Use the same microphone, same position, same room
  - Listen to the surrounding audio first to match tone and energy
  - Record extra context (the sentence before and after the pickup)
  - Mouth sounds change with hydration; match your state

Editing and Mastering

Editing Workflow

STEP 1: ROUGH EDIT
  - Remove false starts, coughs, mistakes, and long pauses
  - Use the clap/snap markers to find retakes quickly
  - Choose the best take for each section
  - Assemble chapters in order

STEP 2: FINE EDIT
  - Remove mouth clicks and lip smacks (de-clicker plugin or manual)
  - Remove breaths that are distracting (keep natural breaths)
  - Normalize spacing between sentences (0.5-0.8 seconds)
  - Normalize spacing between paragraphs (1.0-1.5 seconds)
  - Normalize spacing between chapters (2-3 seconds)
  - Add room tone to fill any digital silence gaps

STEP 3: NOISE REDUCTION
  - Use noise profile from room tone recording
  - Apply gentle noise reduction (do not over-process, causes artifacts)
  - Recommended: RX by iZotope (professional) or Audacity noise reduction
  - Target: Noise floor below -60 dBFS

STEP 4: MASTERING
  ACX Technical Requirements:
  - File format: MP3 at 192 kbps or higher, CBR (constant bit rate)
  - Sample rate: 44.1 kHz
  - Bit depth: Converted from source (record at 24-bit, export at required)
  - RMS level: Between -23 dBFS and -18 dBFS
  - Peak level: Below -3 dBFS
  - Noise floor: Below -60 dBFS
  - Each chapter is a separate file
  - Opening credits file: Title, author, narrator ("narrated by")
  - Closing credits file: End of book, production credits
  - Room tone: 0.5-1 second at head and tail of each file

  MASTERING CHAIN (in order):
  1. EQ: Gentle high-pass filter at 80 Hz (remove rumble)
  2. De-ess: Reduce sibilance if present (5-8 kHz range)
  3. Compression: Gentle 2:1-3:1 ratio, slow attack, medium release
  4. Limiter: Set ceiling at -3.5 dBFS to meet ACX peak requirement
  5. Loudness normalization: Target -20 dBFS RMS (middle of ACX range)

  QUALITY CHECK:
  - Listen to the full production on headphones AND speakers
  - Spot-check at least 5 minutes per chapter
  - Use ACX Check plugin (free for Audacity) to verify compliance
  - Listen for: Volume consistency, mouth noise, background noise,
    pronunciation errors, pacing issues

Distribution

Platform Comparison

ACX (Audible/Amazon/iTunes):
  Reach: Largest audiobook marketplace (estimated 60%+ of market)
  Exclusivity option: 7-year exclusive = 40% royalty
  Non-exclusive option: 25% royalty
  Royalty share: Split 50/50 with narrator (20% each from list price)
  Payment: Monthly, 30 days after month end
  Quality gate: Audio reviewed before publication
  Timeline: 10-30 business days for review
  CONSIDERATION: Exclusivity locks you in for 7 years. Non-exclusive
  pays less per sale but allows wide distribution.

FINDAWAY VOICES (now part of Spotify):
  Reach: 40+ retail and library partners (Apple Books, Google Play,
  Kobo, Scribd, Libro.fm, OverDrive, etc.)
  Royalty: 80% of net revenue (you keep 80%, Findaway keeps 20%)
  Exclusivity: None required
  Narrator marketplace: Find and hire narrators through the platform
  Payment: Monthly
  CONSIDERATION: Best for wide distribution. Combine with ACX
  non-exclusive for maximum reach.

AUTHORS REPUBLIC:
  Reach: 50+ retailers and library platforms
  Royalty: 70-80% depending on retailer
  Exclusivity: None required
  Payment: Quarterly
  CONSIDERATION: Good alternative to Findaway for wide distribution.

DIRECT SALES:
  Platforms: Gumroad, Payhip, BookFunnel, your own website
  Royalty: 90-97% (minus payment processing)
  Audience required: Need your own traffic and marketing
  CONSIDERATION: Highest margin, but smallest reach unless you have
  a large audience. Best as supplement to wide distribution.

RECOMMENDED STRATEGY:
  Option A (Maximum reach): ACX non-exclusive + Findaway Voices
  Option B (Maximum Audible revenue): ACX exclusive (if Audible is
    your primary audience and you accept the 7-year lock-in)
  Option C (Independence): Findaway + Authors Republic + Direct sales

Narrator Hiring

IF NOT SELF-NARRATING:

FINDING NARRATORS:
  ACX: Post your project and audition narrators (free)
  Findaway Voices: Browse and hire narrators through platform
  Voices.com: Professional voice talent marketplace
  Referrals: Ask other authors in your genre

COMPENSATION MODELS:
  Per-finished-hour (PFH): You pay a flat rate per hour of finished audio
    Budget range: $100-400 PFH (experienced professionals)
    Premium narrators: $400-1,000+ PFH
    Typical book (8 hours finished): $800-3,200

  Royalty share: Narrator works for free in exchange for 50% of royalties
    Pro: No upfront cost
    Con: Lower royalty forever, limited narrator pool willing to do this
    Best for: Authors with limited budget and strong marketing plans

  Hybrid: Reduced PFH rate + small royalty share
    Balances upfront cost with narrator incentive

AUDITION PROCESS:
  1. Provide a 2-3 page excerpt from the book
  2. Include specific direction: tone, pace, character notes
  3. Request 5-minute auditions from 3-5 narrators
  4. Evaluate: Voice quality, character differentiation, pacing, emotion
  5. Check their portfolio: Listen to full chapters, not just samples
  6. Contract: Clearly define PFH rate, timeline, revision policy

Marketing

Audiobook-Specific Marketing

PRE-RELEASE:
  - Announce audiobook edition to email list and social media
  - Share behind-the-scenes recording content (studio photos, bloopers)
  - Release a 3-5 minute sample clip on social media
  - Offer pre-order if platform supports it
  - Coordinate release date with any print/ebook promotions

LAUNCH WEEK:
  - Email list announcement with direct purchase links
  - Social media campaign (daily posts for 5-7 days)
  - Share narrator introduction or interview
  - Cross-promote: Add audiobook info to ebook back matter
  - Run Audible promo codes (ACX gives 25 free codes per title)
  - Submit to audiobook review bloggers and podcasts

ONGOING:
  - Include audiobook links in all book marketing
  - Use Audible Bounty program (earn bonuses for new Audible sign-ups)
  - Run periodic sales or bundle promotions
  - Optimize your Audible page: categories, keywords, description
  - Request reviews from audiobook listeners specifically
  - Share listener reviews and testimonials on social media
  - List on audiobook deal sites (Chirp, AudiobookBoom)

SAMPLE CLIP STRATEGY:
  Choose a 3-5 minute excerpt that:
  - Hooks the listener immediately (opening chapter or inciting incident)
  - Showcases the narrator's range (dialogue + narration)
  - Ends on a cliffhanger or question (makes them want more)
  Share as: Social media video, podcast insert, website embed, email

Production Timeline

SOLO PRODUCTION (self-narrating, self-editing):
  Week 1-2: Manuscript preparation and narration script
  Week 3-4: Recording (estimate 2x finished length for recording time)
  Week 5-6: Editing and mastering
  Week 7: Quality check and fixes
  Week 8: Upload and distribution setup
  Week 9-10: Platform review and approval
  Week 11+: Live and marketing

  For a 10-hour audiobook: Expect 80-120 hours total production time.

HIRED NARRATOR:
  Week 1: Manuscript preparation
  Week 2-3: Narrator auditions and selection
  Week 4-7: Narrator records (they handle their own studio and editing)
  Week 8: Review and request revisions
  Week 9: Final delivery and mastering
  Week 10: Upload and distribution
  Week 11-12: Platform review and approval
  Week 13+: Live and marketing

Output Checklist

• Narration script prepared with pronunciation guide and character notes
• Recording setup meets ACX noise floor requirements (below -60 dBFS)
• Recording technique verified (distance, gain, session workflow)
• Editing completed (rough edit, fine edit, noise reduction)
• Mastering chain applied and ACX technical requirements met
• Distribution strategy chosen (exclusive vs. wide)
• All files formatted correctly (MP3 192kbps CBR, chapter files, credits)
• Audiobook uploaded to distribution platforms
• Marketing plan in place (pre-release, launch, ongoing)
• Sample clip produced and shared across channels

Output Format

Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.

[Audiobook Producer deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timeline

Example

Input: "Help me with audiobook producer for a mid-size project."

Output: A complete audiobook producer framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.

Edge Cases

• Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
• Conflicting requirements: Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
• Scale mismatch: Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
• Domain crossover: When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest