If you’re an author, then whether you have a non-fiction book, short story, or novel, audiobook recording will help you transform your story into an additional income stream. Audiobook production may seem complicated, but you can turn any free space like your living room or spare bedroom into a home studio with the correct recording equipment.
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There’s a large upcoming market for quality audiobooks, so this is a lucrative opportunity worth capitalizing on. While you can hire a voice actor to record the book, most authors find they prefer recording their own audiobooks.
10 Essential Pieces of Audiobook Recording Equipment
These tools are cheap and easy enough to use to incorporate into any reporting class. Students are already familiar with such basic technology and will pick up these intuitive apps quickly. The question is – do they have something worth saying?
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1. Computer Or iPad with 8GB Of RAM
Before you start working to create your studio, make sure you have a computer or iPad to record your work. Of course, your everyday desktop computer or laptop is enough, but consider these factors if you’re looking to buy a new computer.
- Your budget
- RAM
- Portability
RAM is an essential factor to consider when recording audiobooks. RAM stands for Random Access Memory and it is one of the most critical factors in determining your computer’s speed and performance. In short, look for a computer with 8GB of RAM – anything less, and it’ll freeze a lot, while 16GB or 32GBis not necessary.
Read More: A Beginner’s Guide to Audio Story Writing
2. Digital Audio Workstation
Next, you need to invest in a Digital Audio Workstation or DAW. A DAW allows you to edit and manage all your audio files using a simple interface. Use one in which you can:
- Create audio projects
- Manage and share audio files
- Reduce noise floor
- Record musical instruments
- Create audio samples and teasers
3. Microphone
A high-grade microphone is the most essential piece of equipment you’ll need while recording an audiobook. Most computers and tablets have built-in mics, but they don’t block background and ambient noise.
Consider buying a cardioid condenser microphone for recording audiobook narration. These microphones have amazing background-noise-blocking technology which can pick up your voice and not other sounds.
4. Pop Filter
After getting a reliable microphone, you’ll need to optimize your audio. One of the biggest difficulties when recording audio is controlling “plosives”. Plosives are nothing but P and B sounds resulting in a small puff of air that travels to the microphone. Unfortunately, this sounds like a big thump in the audio recording and is unpleasant for your listeners. These thumps are challenging to remove after a recording so it’s best to avoid them altogether. So, the best way to avoid these thumps in audio is by using a pop filter. A pop filter is a thin metal screen that will break up any puffs of air and stops them from hitting the microphone. These filters are pretty affordable as well.
5. Mic Boom Arm
The reason you’ll need a mic boom arm as a part of your asset is to allow you to adjust the microphone placement for optimal sound quality. So whenever you’re in the mood for recording audio, simply pull the boom arm towards you, and you’re good to go.
Mic boom arms don’t just free up your desk, they also make you feel more professional. They also help improve your posture because there’s no need to lean forward when trying to adjust your distance from the microphone.
6. Shock Mount
To record high-quality audio, you’ll need something called a shock mount because it absorbs any tapping or bumping sounds that your desk makes.
The more effective way to set up your microphone is to use a shock mount. With a shock mount, your microphone screws into a basket and is suspended inside a ring of elastic bands. This allows free movement of your microphone.
7. Audio Compressor Software
An audio compressor is used to even out the volume level of an audiobook. For example, you’re recording an audiobook, but during some sentences, you speak softer, while in others you’re louder. When you play it back, it’ll sound unprofessional and seem like a bad job because the volume of your voice is constantly changing.
An audio compressor will fix this by taking the loudest parts of your audiobook and lowering the volume to a threshold level. It doesn’t lower the entire audio file, the way decreasing the volume would, which is what makes it so great.
8. Headphones
With a quality pair of headphones, you can listen to your audio clearly and check if there are any background disturbances. As a voice actor, it’s important to get feedback on how you sound soon after you record. This way, you will be able to find mistakes immediately and edit them out.
Read More: 5 Tips For Writing Audio Stories
9. Quiet Recording Space
If you do not have a quiet room available, then you’ll need some soundproofing equipment. Ambient noise can spoil your recording, so make sure you have some foolproof way to block it. Sound travels through vibrations, so if you’re trying to soundproof your room, it’s important to remember to stop these vibrations.
You don’t need an expensive soundproofing setup though. You’ll only need a quiet room in your house and a few acoustic foam panels on the walls.
10. Audio Editing Software
Post-production of your audiobook is just as important as the recording part. Before releasing it on any medium, make sure it sounds polished and professional. This is where the DAW software and audio editing software will come into use.
Audio editing software will help you to effortlessly edit, manage, mix, and delete your audio files. Professional sound engineers also use these advanced tools to rearrange audio and manipulate MP3, WAVE, and MPEG-4 files to reach ideal sound quality. However, the good news is that you don’t have to be an engineer to use these tools because they are pretty straightforward to operate.
After recording and editing your audiobook, you are now ready to load it to the medium of your choice for interested listeners. Just like a regular book, you will then earn a percentage of the profits for every audiobook you narrate and upload.
Other Important Links
Join Unlu Audio Story Writing Fellowship and Become the next great Audio Story Writer
Join Unlu Community of Lyricists, Singers, Composers, and Producers
