This article covers the key details to narrate your first audiobook on ACX. If you want to learn about the basics of recording, check out our video tutorials. 

Note:

• Audio uploads must meet our audio submission requirements and Production Standard Terms.
• Before payment, the rights holder must approve the full audiobook and may request up to two sets of revisions to the completed audiobook. The audiobook will not be made available for sale until after you confirm that you have received payment. Visit Check producer payment status to learn how to confirm that you have been paid. 

In this article:

• How do I narrate an audiobook on ACX?
• How long does it take to produce an audiobook?
• Where do I find the manuscript?
• Should I narrate the table of contents?
• How do I build an audiobook recording studio in my home?
• How do I narrate my own ACX audiobook?
• How long will my narrated audiobook be?
• How do I publish my book and narrate audiobooks in the same account?

How do I narrate an audiobook on ACX?

Follow this guide if you want to start narrating audiobooks on ACX:

1. Create Your ACX Account. Select either Narrator or Studio.
2. Highlight your voice skills by uploading voice samples.
3. Find your first project by browsing available audiobook projects that match your voice style.
4. Use the provided script to record a short high-quality sample.
5. Submit your audition.

If selected as the narrator, set clear production deadlines, technical requirements, and agree with the author on payment (Read our royalties article for more information)

Pro Tips:

1. You'll need a quiet recording space.
2. Consider investing in quality microphone equipment.

Remember: You're responsible for delivering ready-to-sell audio. If you're new to audio production, you could partner with a sound engineer. Visit the ACX Blog for tips on how to edit your audio files.

How long does it take to produce an audiobook?

For new narrators it generally takes between 5 and 7 hours to record one hour of an audiobook. As they get more fluent with their tools that time should go down.

Here's how you get there:

• It takes about 2 hours to record 1 finished hour of narration.
• It takes an editor (who might be the same person as the narrator) about 3 hours to edit each finished hour of recording.
• Run a quality check. Listen to the entire recording and mark any words, sentences, or sections that need to be recorded again. It takes about 1.2 hours to review each hour of finished audio.

Total estimated time: 6.2 hours per finished hour of audiobook, with potential variations based on individual factors.

Tip: For detailed info on key steps, read the ACX audio submission requirements article.

Where do I find the manuscript?

After an offer has been made and accepted, the rights holder will upload the manuscript to the project. Please follow the steps below to access the manuscript:

1. Sign in to your ACX account and select In production.
2. Locate and select the name of the book.
3. Scroll down and select the Produce Audiobook tab.
4. This is where you will find the option to Download manuscript.

Should I narrate the table of contents?

We don't recommend including the table of contents in the audiobook.

How do I build an audiobook recording studio in my home?

We recommend using a professional recording studio; however, many narrators prefer the convenience of a home studio and set up a recording room to produce their audiobook projects.

Setup guidance:

• ACX created a series of helpful videos to give you ideas and guidance on setting up a home recording room.
• Check out our “ACX Studio Gear Series: Home Recording Studio Setup” and “ACX Studio Gear Series: Home Studio Setup – Part 2” for advice from other ACX producers and their home studio setups.

How do I narrate my own ACX audiobook?

Audiobook listeners love to hear an author's words in their own voice. However, producing a quality audiobook can require more work than it seems. Before deciding to narrate your own audiobook, make sure you're prepared:

• Make sure you have created a rights holder profile. Visit Rights holder checklist to learn how.
• Recording space: If you choose to narrate your own title, you will be responsible for providing the finished, fully-produced audiobook to ACX. You may set up a recording space in your house, learn how to edit and master your own audio files, outsource the post-production work to a professional, or find a local recording studio experienced in producing professional audiobooks to handle all the technical elements from recording to mastering.
• Submission requirements: As your audiobook’s producer, you’ll be responsible for making sure your finished audio files meet our submission requirements. Refer to these while editing and mastering your own audio, or hand them off to your chosen studio professional to ensure your finished audio checks all the boxes.
• Learn from professionals: Learn from audio professionals and other authors-turned-narrators. Visit our ACX blog for advice from other authors who decided to narrate their own work and professional pointers on gear and home studio setups. You can also check out our video tutorials specifically for production beginners and authors looking to narrate their own work, as well as videos on more nuanced production topics and narration techniques.

How long will my narrated audiobook be?

On average, most performers narrate about 9,300 words per hour. Divide the total number of words in your book by 9,300 to find out approximately how long your finished audiobook will be. When you create a title profile on ACX, the length is automatically calculated for you, based on the word count you provide.

How do I publish my book and narrate audiobooks in the same account?

Currently, there is no way to have both a narrator and an author profile under one account. ACX rights holder accounts (author, publisher, agent) and ACX producer accounts (narrator, studio pro) have different features and functions. The main differences are the ability to claim titles to an account and the ability to submit auditions for other titles.

ACX rights holder accounts are able to claim titles. ACX producer accounts aren't able to claim titles, but they are able to submit auditions for any of the titles currently seeking a narrator.

In order for you to act as a narrator for other rights holders, you'll first need to create your ACX producer account.

Note: We cannot support multiple account types under one email address. With this in mind, you will need to use an alternate email address to create your new account. You may use any other email address associated with Amazon, or create a completely new account using an email address that has never been used on any Amazon site in the past.