Teach on Udemy

Turn what you know into an opportunity and reach millions around the world.

Learn More

Your cart is empty.

Keep shopping

The Audiobook Production and Narration Course

Whether you be an Author, Actor or Enthusiast - Learn How to Produce and Narrate Audiobooks

Bestseller

Created byPaul Jenkins, Paul Jenkins' Course Partners

Last updated 2/2024

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

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

Course content

16 sections • 71 lectures • 5h 5m total length

Welcome to the Course8:56
Develop personal and professional growth through audiobook production and narration, mastering storytelling, tonality, and production skills from concept to final result while learning about microphones, pacing, and the marketplace.
This Course Teaches Reaper as the Tool for Audiobook Production - This is Why7:09
Learn why Reaper is the preferred digital audio workstation for audiobook production and voiceover, with a one-click setup and non-destructive editing. Benefit from plugin support, stability, and affordable licensing.
A Growing Market and Opportunity2:29
Analyze the growing audiobook market, which remains a small share of publishing (about 4% of Kindle books), fueled by busy lives and cross-device listening, signaling new narration opportunities.
How to Use This Course3:15
Master audiobook production, post-production, performance, and the business side to deliver retail-ready sound. Learn production processes, sound recording, editing, mastering, platform delivery, and narration techniques.
The Main Audiobook Platform1:54
Explore the main audiobook platform Ask.com, where 1600 titles await narration and 53,000 producers collaborate, and learn to deliver finished books with platform-specific delivery specs.
Your Responsibilities as an Audiobook 'Producer'2:58
Deliver a retail-ready audiobook by editing, mastering, and meeting technical specs to ensure listener enjoyment and platform compliance. Uphold ethical responsibility by faithfully serving the author’s voice, tone, and storytelling.
Overall Technical Process for Audiobook Production5:30

Room Treatment8:04
Learn to treat your recording space to minimize reverberation and echoes for a dry, noise-free audiobook production. Use moving blankets and behind-the-mic baffles, and consider professional booths if needed.
Two Ways to Set Up Your Gear0:19
Option 1: Home Made Acoustic Setup4:32
Learn a home made acoustic setup to reduce reflections and achieve a clean, low reverberation audiobook recording, using a duvet behind the mic, a v-shaped drape, and cardioid pickup.
Alternative (and Better) Microphone Positioning1:57
Vocal booth setup3:28
Exercise - Set up your recording space and Treatment4:23
Choose a quiet, consistent space with basic treatment to reduce reverberations for audiobook recording. Place the microphone at the desk corner and use a blanket behind you.

Essential Equipment for Audiobook Production14:06
Where to Check Reviews on Audio Equipment0:08
Recommended Gear0:49
How the Hardware Connects6:28
Set Up Your Hardware Step by Step10:04
Set up your home studio for voiceover with a quiet, treatable space and a semi-professional microphone and interface; adjust gains and direct monitoring, then install Reaper.
Detailed Set Up of a Condenser Microphone4:22
Deep Dive: Gain and amplitude - Theory8:16
Explore how sound behaves and how to set gain for voice over recordings, covering decibels, inverse square law, clipping, noise floor, and practical mic levels.
Deep Dive: Gain setups for different types of microphone9:33
Discover usb, lavalier, and condenser microphone setups, adjust gain for vocal tracks, maintain headroom to avoid distortion, and use recommended levels like -6 to -12 dB or -30 for dynamics.

Setting Recording Options and then Recording6:29
Set up your Reaper recording workflow by selecting normal record mode, disabling metronome and pre-roll, arming the track, and choosing the correct input for a simple, punch‑and‑roll capable audiobook session.
Exercise - Set Your Recording Options and Record Some Test Tracks0:16
Reaper Appearance in the Next Lectures0:13
Introduction to the 3 Methods Used for Recording Audiobooks3:04
Master three audiobook recording techniques—the clicker method (dog clicker method), the Marka method, and punch and roll—to minimize edits and save time in Reaper.
'Open Recording' method #1: The 'Dog Clicker'7:30
Learn the open recording dog clicker method to mark mistakes with a visible waveform signature, then split, delete, and crossfade to seamlessly rejoin corrected audio while monitoring levels.
Exercise - Practice the Dog Clicker method0:18
'Open Recording' Method #2: the Marker Method3:13
Exercise - Practice the Marker Method0:22
Reaper Pre-Roll Settings for Punch and Roll1:02
Punch and Roll Recording Walkthrough7:13
Master the punch and roll technique for audiobook narration, with practical setup, direct monitoring tips, and rapid re-takes to match pacing, intonation, and tone.
Exercise - Set Reaper as per Pre-Roll Settings Lecture lecture and practice!0:25

Rendering and Mastering the Easy Way Pt 17:16
Master audiobook delivery specs with reaper and auphonic by automating mastering, region renders, and master mixes to meet aca requirements, rms targets, peak limits, noise floor, and proper formats.
Rendering and Mastering the Easy Way Pt 29:09
Export all project regions as wav with master mix, then master in Auphonic for mp3 delivery at 192 kbps mono, using ace -20 LUFS presets and second opinion verification.

Normalize Peaks to Hear Issues1:24
Mastering in Reaper Using Free Plugins13:03
Master audio in Reaper with free plugins, create a track-wide chain (expander, eq, compressor, limiter) at -3 dB peaks, and monitor loudness with the Youlean meter.
Rendering Out a Manual Master Mix from Reaper2:06
Using 2nd Opinion to Check the Rendered MP3s are ACX Compliant1:39
Render your mixed and mastered audiobook files, place them in a test folder, batch-test MP3s with the second opinion tool to verify ACX compliance, including head and tail silence.

Requirements

Students should know that they want to make quality audiobooks
Students do not need a fancy microphones or editing software to follow along with this course
The software we will use (Reaper) is available for $60 - the full version is a free demo for 60 days; however you will benefit from this course if already using another DAW

Description

* COURSE FULLY UPDATED JANUARY 2024 *

Want to produce audiobooks that catch attention and praise?

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

Who this course is for:

Anyone wanting to make better audiobooks
Anyone wanting to make some money with their audiobooks
Anyone wanting to know more about key concepts in the audiobook industry
This course is NOT for people who aren't interested in making better audiobooks

The Audiobook Production and Narration Course

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction to Audiobook Production and Narration7 lectures • 32min

Recording Space & 'Treatment'6 lectures • 23min

Hardware Setup8 lectures • 54min

Making Reaper a Dedicated Voiceover & Audiobook Machine3 lectures • 8min

Recording Techniques11 lectures • 30min

Editing and Track Preparation2 lectures • 17min

Proofing and Correcting Errors or Omissions1 lecture • 7min

Setting Regions for Chapters2 lectures • 10min

Rendering (Exporting) and Mastering the Easy Way2 lectures • 16min

Rendering, Mastering, and File Conversion Manually4 lectures • 18min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: