The Audiobook Production and Narration Course from Udemy

* COURSE

This online Audiobook Production and Narration course teaches you how to make audiobooks using proven techniques and approaches.

This course is designed to teach you audiobook production and narration by showing you how to plan, record, perform, and produce them.

It is taught by a professional documentary filmmaker who has also personally narrated and produced 26 audiobooks - principally long-form fiction - on Audible.

Learn what makes excellent audiobooks.
Learn the Reaper software (see second Preview lecture for why) and resources to help make your audiobooks shine.
Learn how to use the principles and psychology of performance and acting to create outstanding audiobooks.
Make your audiobooks using proven techniques.
Discover tips on using a highly effective workflow when making audiobooks.
Make money using the audiobooks you make using the techniques and methods you will master in this course.

What makes me qualified to teach you?

I'm Paul, a professional documentary film director with 25 long-form film credits. Some of these films I narrated personally. I have also solo-produced and narrated 26 audiobooks on Audible. Plus, I'm the creator of popular courses on Udemy - with over 60,000 students and hundreds of 5-star reviews.

Learn techniques that I have used along the way (and avoid mistakes I made) drawn from my experience making audiobooks and from decades of professional media experience.

Is this coaching or instruction from an 'audiobook industry professional'?

No. Such coaching and programs are often highly priced and may be better suited to those from a professional acting background or those with enough experience to know that audiobooks are a path for them.

There are free resources on the Internet. This course aims to serve as a helpful start and resource for those engaging in audiobook production and narration. It is based on my own experience and the best of what I learned elsewhere.

The course indicates ways of saving time and energy along the way.

My Promise to You

If you have any questions about the course content or anything related to this topic, you can always post a question in the course.

The software we use, Reaper, is available for a $60 one-time fee - the full version is a free demo for 60 days.

Dive Right In

Learn how to prepare and interpret books.

Learn how established acting principles and techniques can be used to amplify the impact of your audiobooks.

Learn how to use freely available (free and paid) apps to improve your audiobook quality.

Learn how to use a workflow that saves time, money, and energy.

Learn how to use your audiobook production and narration skills online.

Start making audiobooks today.

With our 30-day 100% money-back guarantee, nothing is holding you back from jumping in and trying the course.

Click the enroll button, and I'll see you in lesson 1.

Cheers,

Paul

What's inside

Learning objectives

Make great audiobooks using proven techniques
Know the fundamentals of what makes audiobooks flow and work well
Understand how to create impactful and emotional audiobooks

Discover the psychology behind why certain narration techniques work
Develop a skill that can be applied to promote and enhance many areas of activity

Make great audiobooks using proven techniques
Know the fundamentals of what makes audiobooks flow and work well
Understand how to create impactful and emotional audiobooks
Discover the psychology behind why certain narration techniques work
Develop a skill that can be applied to promote and enhance many areas of activity

Syllabus

Introduction to Audiobook Production and Narration

Welcome to the Course

This Course Teaches Reaper as the Tool for Audiobook Production - This is Why

A Growing Market and Opportunity

How to Use This Course

The Main Audiobook Platform

Your Responsibilities as an Audiobook 'Producer'

Overall Technical Process for Audiobook Production

Recording Space & 'Treatment'

Room Treatment

Two Ways to Set Up Your Gear

Option 1: Home Made Acoustic Setup

Alternative (and Better) Microphone Positioning

Vocal booth setup

Exercise - Set up your recording space and Treatment

Hardware Setup

Essential Equipment for Audiobook Production

Where to Check Reviews on Audio Equipment

Recommended Gear

How the Hardware Connects

Set Up Your Hardware Step by Step

Detailed Set Up of a Condenser Microphone

Deep Dive: Gain and amplitude - Theory

Deep Dive: Gain setups for different types of microphone

Making Reaper a Dedicated Voiceover & Audiobook Machine

New Setup of Reaper

This lecture shows how to use the Config files linked in the Resources folder of this lecture to rapidly set up your copy of Reaper in a way that is dedicated to audiobook narration and voiceover.

FX and FX Chain Setup now in Mastering Section of the course

Recording Techniques

Setting Recording Options and then Recording

Exercise - Set Your Recording Options and Record Some Test Tracks

Reaper Appearance in the Next Lectures

Introduction to the 3 Methods Used for Recording Audiobooks

'Open Recording' method #1: The 'Dog Clicker'

Exercise - Practice the Dog Clicker method

'Open Recording' Method #2: the Marker Method

Exercise - Practice the Marker Method

Reaper Pre-Roll Settings for Punch and Roll

Punch and Roll Recording Walkthrough

Exercise - Set Reaper as per Pre-Roll Settings Lecture lecture and practice!

Editing and Track Preparation

Editing an open Recording - Removing the Bad Takes with Ripple Editing

Creating and Deploying a Room Tone Track

Proofing and Correcting Errors or Omissions

Ripple Editing and Time-Selection Auto Punch to Correct Errors

Setting Regions for Chapters

Setting Up the In and Out Key Shortcuts

Grouping and Marking Up Chapters, and Creating Chapter Regions

Rendering (Exporting) and Mastering the Easy Way

Rendering and Mastering the Easy Way Pt 1

Rendering and Mastering the Easy Way Pt 2

Rendering, Mastering, and File Conversion Manually

Normalize Peaks to Hear Issues

Mastering in Reaper Using Free Plugins

Rendering Out a Manual Master Mix from Reaper

Using 2nd Opinion to Check the Rendered MP3s are ACX Compliant

Adobe Audition for Audiobooks - Fundamental Techniques

Introduction to the Adobe Audition Module

Why You Might Use Adobe Audition

Setup Adobe Audition for Audiobook Recording

Doing Your First Multitrack Recording

Editing in Multitrack v2

Mastering Inside Adobe Audition

Advanced Mastering and Noise Control

Delivering Professional Audio Easily

Performance and Narration

The Art of Storytelling (and being a Storyteller) in Audiobooks

Framing and General Performance Preparation

Exercise - Listen to some Audible Samples

Pacing

Exercise - Pacing

Tone

Exercise - Tone

Emphasis

Find one fiction, and one non-fiction, text - needs only be about a paragraph or so - and underline where you feel the emphasis needs to be in that paragraph. Which word, or short phrase, do you wish to 'hit'?

Then try recording it in Reaper. Listen back.

Did it work?

Did you hit the right emphasis?

Mouth Placement and Posture

Exercise - Placement

A Crash Course in Performance

Self Care and Voice Care

Characters

You Can Do Characters

How to Prepare Character Voices

The Business Side of Audiobook Production

Which Books and Authors to Take on - and Which to Avoid

Reviews - How to Use Them

BONUS LECTURE: How to Get More of Paul

Get More From Paul

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops a strong foundation for beginners who seek to create their own audiobooks

Provides comprehensive coverage of recording techniques, editing, and mastering

Offers practical tips on building a workflow that saves time and energy

Teaches essential principles of storytelling and narration for impactful delivery

Provides insights on the business aspects of audiobook production

Utilizes free and paid software and resources for audiobook production

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Audiobook Production and Narration Course with these activities:

Practice reading aloud

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Improve your reading fluency and pronunciation.

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Find a passage of text that you enjoy.
Read the passage aloud, paying attention to your pronunciation and pacing.
Record yourself reading the passage.
Listen to your recording and identify any areas where you can improve.

Create narration script and practice basic techniques

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Practice basic narration techniques to improve delivery and fluency.

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Read "The Art of Narration"

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Learn from Pixar veteran Andrew Stanton about the art of storytelling.

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Acquire a copy of the book.
Read the book at a leisurely pace.
Reflect on how the book relates to audiobook narration.

Nine other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all 12 activities

Watch tutorials on audiobook narration techniques

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Learn from experienced audiobook narrators.

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Search for tutorials on audiobook narration on YouTube or other video platforms.
Watch the tutorials and take notes on the techniques that you learn.
Practice the techniques that you learn in your own recordings.

Learn about essential narration techniques

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Explore tutorials to enhance understanding of narration techniques.

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Start a practice audiobook project

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Build a small project in the DAW recommended in the course, Reaper.

Browse courses on Audio Engineering

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Choose a short piece of text you are interested in narrating.
Record yourself reading the text in Reaper.
Edit and master your recording.
Export your final product as an MP3.

Record a short audio narration for feedback

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Test and refine narration skills by recording a short audio narration.

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Create a collection of your best audiobook narration samples

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Showcase your best work to potential clients.

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Select your best audiobook narration samples.
Create a website or online portfolio to showcase your samples.
Share your website or portfolio with potential clients.

Create a marketing plan for your audiobook narration services

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Develop a strategy to promote your audiobook narration services to potential clients.

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Identify your target audience.
Research marketing channels that are likely to reach your target audience.
Create marketing materials, such as a website, social media profiles, and email templates.
Implement your marketing plan and track your results.

Attend an audiobook narration workshop

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Connect with other audiobook narrators and learn from industry professionals.

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Find an audiobook narration workshop that fits your schedule and interests.
Register for the workshop and pay the registration fee.
Attend the workshop and participate in the activities.
Network with other audiobook narrators and industry professionals.

Contribute to an open-source audiobook project

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Gain experience and give back to the community by contributing to an open-source audiobook project.

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Find an open-source audiobook project that you are interested in contributing to.
Contact the project maintainers and express your interest in contributing.
Follow the project's contribution guidelines and submit your contributions.
Review and respond to feedback from the project maintainers.

Create a demo reel

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Craft a short demo reel that showcases your audiobook narration skills.

Browse courses on Audio Engineering

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Select a variety of short excerpts from different genres of audiobooks.
Record yourself narrating these excerpts in your best voice.
Edit and master your recordings.
Assemble your demo reel and export it as a video file.

Career center

Learners who complete The Audiobook Production and Narration Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

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The Audiobook Production and Narration Course

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Activities

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