AUDIO BOOKS
The Mobile Library
Alongside e-readers the audio format has become a hugely popular alternative to the traditional medium of printed books. There are the obvious benefits for the reader regarding storage space and portability. It is not unusual now for a person to carry their entire library with them at all times.
The increase in people’s 24 hour access to their reading material, especially with audio, means that they are no longer limited to relying on finding a quiet well-lit area where they can catch up with their reading. An otherwise drawn out commute to work every day on public transport can be made significantly more enjoyable by reclaiming some of that time for your own recreation and escaping into a different world.
Jacket Pocket Media Narrator
Gaye Almond
For today’s upcoming writers the process of self-publication is relatively straightforward if they wish to market their books via an e-reader medium while the ubiquity of Amazon and Kindle make a potentially worldwide audience instantly available. However for those wishing to add an extra dimension by also publishing in an audio format the process is less straightforward.
While there are certainly distribution sites online which will guarantee the commercial availability of your recording for a price there are certain benefits which comes from selling your book through a reputable agency. One of the best known and most popular marketplaces for audiobooks is Audible.com. This is a company which is owned by Amazon and takes the standards of the products is distributes seriously. What this means for the author is that their recording has to be submitted to and then approved by Audible.com’s strict quality control department.
Audio Book Produced By Jacket Pocket Media. Available on Amazon at:
The submission criteria for Audible.com distribution is as follows:
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Consistent in overall sound and formatting
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Include opening and closing credits
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Comprised of all mono or all stereo files
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Include a retail audio sample that is between one and five minutes long
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Each uploaded audio file must:
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Contain only one chapter/section per file, with the section header read aloud
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Have a running time no longer than 120 minutes
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Have room tone at the beginning and end and be free of extraneous sounds
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Measure between -23dB and -18dB RMS and have -3dB peak values and a maximum -60dB noise floor
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Be a 192kbps or higher MP3, Constant Bit Rate (CBR) at 44.1 kHz
As a professional editor I have successfully produced for Audible.com and can offer recording, editing and mastering for audio book publication. I can also, if required, provide a narrator for your book from a selection of trained professionals.