How
does the writer create an affordable recording studio for narrating audio
books? The following tips will ensure the audio book recording will pass ACX
quality test without the expense. This will ensure your book will be sold on to
Amazon, Audible and Itunes.
Studio
Quality Sound for Audio Recording
 |
| Recording your own Audiobooks |
A
large recording studio with complex sound equipment is not necessary for
recording great audio books. In fact, a small room is often preferable to a
large room.
The
first thing to look out for is sound reflections and echoes, even if they are
slight. Sound reflections are caused by reverberations from walls and ceilings.
Stand in an empty room with hard surfaces, and the voice will echo harshly.
Reverberations are not desirable for recording audio books. Absorbent material
will absorb sound echoes. Professional sound artists will often use concertina
foam material or similar. Products such as studiofoam wedges or dampening foam can
be found easily in online stores. These convoluted sound dampeners are often concave in shape to create an enclosed recording space.
Low
Noise Floor in Recording Studio
But
a cheaper alternative can be found in the form of soft material, which might be
duvet covers, pillows or fleece fabrics. Echoes can be completely eradicated by
recording in a small room, which might be a large cupboard, shed or box room.
It doesn’t matter so long as all sound reflections are eradicated by using sound-absorbent
material to create what is known as a dead room.
Studio
Quality Recording For Narrating Books
Recording
equipment has been explained in detail in another article, but to summarize,
essential sound kit for recording audio books should comprise:
A
reasonably fast computer which could be Mac or Windows (no older than version
7). This will bring all the recording equipment together. Also needed are:
A
good quality large condenser microphone.
Microphone
accessories include: XLR cable, phantom power, Shockmount, stand and pop filter
for the mic.
Earphones.
The sort that rests over the ears is more comfortable.
Audio
interface. M-Audio MBox or Scarlett provides robust sound cards to support the
computer.
External
drive for backing up sound files.
Recording
software such as Audacity, Cubecase or Garageband are popular choices for sound
editing.
Sound
Recording Dos and Don’ts in Voice Overs
But
even the best recording equipment will not guarantee great recording for audio
books. Make sure the studio is in the quietest location of the house. Avoid
rooms where outside noises can be heard, which might be passing traffic,
airplanes, birds, neighbors, or any background noise that is likely to be picked
up by a very sensitive mic. More about the recording studio is explained in another
article.
Watch
out for the fan kicking in on your computer during recording, as the humming
will be picked up by the mic. Keep the computer in a sufficiently ventilated or
cool location that will prevent the cooling fan from cutting in.
Place
the mic on a stable surface, preventing unwanted vibrations that the shockmount
might not handle. Noise floor is also something to be aware of. Noise floor is the
sound level when no narration is taking place. This is the room tone or ‘resting
sound.’ The lower this is, the better.
Equipment
for a Home Recording Studio
A
good light source is essential for reading from a script. Avoid harsh artificial
lights that are harsh on the eyes if reading for a long time. A reading light or
night light will come in handy in a dim room.
Ideal
Recording Studio Space for Recording Audio Books
A
suitable recording space for narrating audio books is as important as the recording
equipment. A room free of echoes or harsh resounds is best. Some recording artists
will kill echoes by using absorbent foam material, but any absorbent fabric can
be used such as fleece blankets. Avoid rooms with boilers or outside noises such
as passing traffic. A small room will often be better than a grand room. The recording
equipment should be placed on a stable surface and of course, comfort is paramount.
More Articles about Narrating Books for Audible Books
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