➜Self-Narration Guide

Review our 6-Step Guide on how to narrate your own audiobook. 

1. Prepare Your Manuscript

Before recording your audiobook, you’ll need to rework your book into a digitally marked-up script. 

• Review your document one line at a time and annotate places for natural pauses and breaths with a forward slash / and underline words or syllables that require emphasis.
• If you plan on using alternative voices for different characters, you may want to highlight or color-code all quoted speech.
• Convert charts, graphs, and visuals to audio or refer listeners to visit your website.

Audiobooks require an opening and a closing credits track - you’ll need to create a script for these. The opening track will at a minimum include the title, author, and narrator, which must all match the information listed on the cover art and in the metadata exactly.

• Opening Credits Script Template: “This is {Project Title}, Written by {Author Name}, Read for you by {Narrator Name}."

• Closing Credits Script Template: “You have been listening to {Project Title}. Written by {Author Name}, and read for you by {Narrator Name}. Published by {Publishing Company}. Cover art by {Artists Name}. Copyright {Year}."

2. Set Up a Sound-Treated Space

If you don't have access to a sound-proof space, you’ll need a quiet sound-treated space. Here are some tips for setting up one at home:

1. Record in a carpeted room with all curtains pulled shut to reduce the amount of hard reflective surfaces for sounds to bounce off of, allowing for a more direct signal to the microphone. Padding the walls with blankets, cushions, or foam can also help dampen the sound. 
2. Record at a time of day when there is the least background noise interference in your space (neighbors, kids, appliances, etc.)
3. Test out your hardware to see if you can meet audio requirements before recording your entire title.

3. Gather Recording Equipment

Electronics

• Laptop or computer
• Microphone
• Pop filter
• A microphone stand or boom arm
• Headphones

Audio Editing Software

We recommend Audacity, a free audio editing software, for those new to audio recording and editing. You can find a variety of audacity tutorials here, on their Forum, and on YouTube. 

There are several other software options:

• Ableton Live
• Adobe Audition
• Audacity
• Avid Pro Tools
• Cubase
• FL Studio
• GarageBand
• Logic Pro
• Magix Acid
• Magix Sound Forge
• Reaper
• Studio One
• TwistedWave
• WavePad

4. Record Your Audio Files

• Record at least 10 seconds of room tone before you begin to narrate (room tone is the ambient background noise of your space). Try to stay as silent as possible during this time - avoid rustling around or breathing heavily. 
• When you start reading your script, be sure to take your time and read slowly and distinctly to ensure clarity and ease of understanding.
• Keep in mind that making mistakes is an inevitable part of the process! If you stumble, cough, or mispronounce something, stop speaking and let the recording continue in silence for at least five seconds before returning to the previous sentence and starting over. These types of errors can be remedied in the post-production phase. You can also utilize the punch and roll method detailed here.
• If you want to take a quick break, you can click the ‘Pause’ button. When you’re finished recording a track, click the ‘Stop’ button and ensure your project file has been saved. 
• You’ll want to create separate tracks for each chapter, as well as opening and closing credits. 
  • How to create a new mono track in audacity. 
• At the end of each recording session, it’s wise to export a WAV file of the entire recording, or of each individual track, and save it on a different device. Technology fails, back up your work.
  • Export selected audio in audacity: Select the audio track you wish to export > File > Export > Export Selected Audio > File type > WAV > Save
• Keep the mic at a distance of approximately 6–8 inches from your face. Come in closer when you need to whisper, and make sure to pull back (and even turn your head away from the mic slightly) when you’re raising your voice to a scream or shout.
• Keep characters, voices, and accents consistent throughout your recording. Additionally, try to keep the energy of the performance consistent.
• Avoid the following to prevent background noise while you are recording:
  • Adjusting headphones
  • Turning pages
  • Typing
  • Mouse clicking
  • Headphone cords brushing against clothes
  • Wearing dangling jewelry or loud clothing
  • Adjusting microphone position / holding microphone in your hand

5. Edit Your Audio Files

This is the step where you’ll take care of editing, noise removal, and volume adjustments. Review our strict audio specifications and return to the beginning of your recording and start listening. 

Editing Tutorials

Note: This article assumes you’ll be using Audacity, but the key takeaways apply to any recording software.

• Deleting Errors
  • In Audacity: Once you arrive at an error, you can highlight the mistake, press ‘z’ on your keyboard to ensure a smooth cut, and press the ‘Delete’ key on your keyboard to erase this section. You may need to adjust the spacing to ensure the new sentence begins smoothly. For efficiency, review all audacity keyboard shortcuts before you get started.
• Noise Removal:
  • Unless you’ve been able to soundproof your studio, there will be ambient noise—which is why it’s helpful to record at least ten seconds of room tone at the beginning.
  • In Audacity: Using your mouse, highlight those ten seconds. Select Effect>Noise Reduction from the menu, then click ‘Get Noise Profile’. Next, press Ctrl-A to select the entire recording and navigate to Effect>Noise Reduction again. Click ‘OK’ to remove the ambient background noise from your recording. Watch a tutorial here, or follow along with our help center article here.
• Volume Adjustment
  • In Audacity:Press Ctrl-A to select the entire recording. From the menu, select Effect>Amplify and click ‘OK’. Watch a tutorial here. 
• Adding Music
  • If you want to include a brief music stinger in your opening credits, some services provide royalty-free music for commercial use (provided you give credit to the creator—typically voiced at the end of your production). One example is ccMixter, which features samples and remixes licensed under Creative Commons licenses. Free Music Archive is another great resource. Always make sure to read a track’s license to ensure it allows commercial use.
• Export Final MP3 Files 
  • In Audcacity: Select File>Export>Export as MP3. Ensure the bit rate mode is constant at 192 kbps or higher, and force export to mono.
  • Review our help center article on export settings.

6. Distribute Your Audiobook

Now it's time to distribute your audiobook to the Author's Republic global network of sales channels. Follow along with our step-by-step help center article to sell your audiobook.