Before you go all-out a drop a few thousand on soundproofing foam, headphones, a microphone, and an audio interface, you better make sure you actually like recording audiobooks! So to get started, START SMALL with these 5 steps.
1. Make an account on ACX.com
This is such an AMAZING place to start. I’m actually still only recording for authors on ACX (though hopefully in a year or so I can start working with publishers!). They have a very thorough help section too with articles and videos to help new narrators. Read up on that learning material. And then, while you’re logged in, browse some of the books that authors need narrators for!
2. Purchase a microphone.
After my ACX account, this was the only step I did. I knew nothing about different types of microphones, but I found a USB (meaning it plugged into the USB port on my laptop) Condenser mic for $50 on Amazon and ordered it. I’m honestly still not sure what the “condenser” part means. I would encourage you to do more research on microphones than I did, but for transparency to my readers, this is the microphone I started with.
3. Get Audacity.
Audacity is an editing software made by some generous geniuses who made it free. It’s pretty widely used so it has an in-depth wiki site with tips, instructions, and help. Download it HERE. And once you start making some money, please throw a few dollars their way so they can continue improving it while keeping it free. You can donate to them on their webpage.
THAT’S IT!
That is literally all you absolutely NEED to get started! I recorded my very first book (a recipe book for canning) with only those three things.
4. Audition for books!
The reason I started with a canning book, is because there was absolutely nothing glamorous about it. I figured not many other narrators would WANT to narrate the book so the author’s standards might be lower and a noob like myself would have a chance.
I was 100% right. Auditioned for and landed that book! This segues into step 5 because you can’t just submit raw audio as your audition. First you need to ….
5. Edit!
Read Audacity’s help manuals to learn to use the software and, for the love of God, edit out those disgusting mouth noises you never realized you make. Also get rid of obnoxious breaths (natural-sounding ones, especially around dialogue, are ok). We’ll get into the details of editing in another post.
And Boom! Done-zo! Voila! Your first audition!
Now submit 5 or so more to other authors to hedge your bets and expect to hear back from someone in 1-7 days!
When you decide you really have a knack for this and want to improve your editing skills before going further, check out Editing Audiobook Audio 101!
