Question 1

What is involved in the audiobook production process? What am I getting for my money?

Accepted Answer

The audiobook production process includes steps such as finding a suitable voiceover artist or narrator, recording the audiobook, editing and post-production, and reviewing the final product for inconsistencies or errors. 
After your book has been produced and your final payment has been made, you will have access to the completed audiobook production in downloadable files to use as you wish, with no further fees payable for royalties or anything else. It’s all yours.

This price will include the following process and services:

Narrator Preparation of your audiobook
Narration of your audiobook
Editing of the narration and first pass of sound proofing 
Soundproofing 
Editing – Back here again to add all the pick-ups to the report and fix anything fixable that’s been picked up by the sound-proofer (learn more about this)
Narrator re-records all mistakes or issues with any narration such as noises that can’t be edited out 
Editing to seamlessly replace all the narration the narrator has re-recorded 
Mastering All levels are checked to ensure ready for the ears to intimately listen, and to ensure industry standards for uploading to the multiple platforms 
Communication - Let’s not forget about this all important service. Indie Audiobook Productions communicates with you for the entire audiobook creation. And we get your approval and feedback at 3 stages throughout the process!

*Note: Anything outside of a single chosen narrator recording your audiobook, for example, sound effects, music, multi-cast narration will need to be priced on a case-by-case basis. A conversation with the team about the extra time needed for these extras to be worked into the process will be considered and priced accordingly and fairly.

Question 2

Can I spread out payments?

Accepted Answer

We insist you do! Even if you have the money put aside to pay for your book, and happy to pay all the money before we start, we have a split payment process that ensures you get to approve your audiobook chapters as we go.

Question 3

What happens if you come across errors in the book that I and my editor/proofer has missed?

Accepted Answer

We’ll be happy to draw your attention to these errors and mark them up on your script for you so you can make changes to your books if you want to. If there are many errors and it’s interrupting the flow of narration too much, we will need to charge you for the service of proofing on top of your narration costs. Costs for these will be in your proposal document, however it would be better if you can make sure the book is consumer and narration ready.

Question 4

How important is quality in audiobook production?

Accepted Answer

Investing in quality narration, audio production, and editing is crucial in creating a successful and engaging audiobook. Quality narration and production can lead to better listener engagement, positive reviews, and increased audiobook sales.

Question 5

Why does my audiobook need an editor? What do they actually do?

Accepted Answer

A audiobook editor plays a crucial role in editing and tailoring the audio content of your audiobook. They remove unwanted sounds, modify narration pace, ensure volume levels are consistent (so the listener isn’t having to adjust that volume button throughout their listening), and ensure a seamless listening experience for the audience.

An audiobook editor is responsible for handling the technical aspects of audio production, including noise reduction, amplitude and compression, EQ, and mastering. They ensure that the audiobook files meet the specific requirements set by platforms like ACX.

Question 6

I’m not ready to choose a narrator yet until I know what the cost of my audiobook will be. So how much will it be?

Accepted Answer

If you don’t want to choose a narrator yet because you need to know an approximate cost for your budget purposes, we have a word count calculator for you to it out on our homepage HERE.

Question 7

How long will the audiobook take to fully produce?

Accepted Answer

Each finished and fully produced hour that you hear, will have had approximately 6-8 hours of work behind the scenes.

So, if you have a 7 hour audiobook (appox.65,000 words) you’ll be looking at approximately 1-2 weeks to be on the safe side. Think, 2 days to a finished hour, to be sure you that you’re allowing for the unexpected.

Question 8

How much does it cost to produce an audiobook?

Accepted Answer

Let’s get straight into it. There’s nothing more annoying than finding the service you’re looking for, and want it even, but the price is hidden from you till you apply for a quotation. This would waste our time as well as yours. So here it is. Full transparency.

We have a FREE calculator for you to use on the homepage here that will give you the cost of narrating your book based on your book word count. We’ve given you access to this information so you can work out if this is a feasible path for you to take before you spend any time on the idea of producing an audiobook. BUT…..

We don’t ask for the cost of your audiobook production up front.

We offer a split payment system, based on each milestone reached in the project.

We take a deposit (payment 1) to get your production set up and launched, a team allocated, and your book prepped and read by the narrator.

The 3 remaining equal payments will be released to us, by you the author, each time you’ve received (in viewing only form) and approved a 3rd of your audiobook chapters/files (payment 2).

We continue with the next third of your book (payment 3).

The final payment is released by the author to IAP when you’re audiobook is complete and you are satisfied with the end result (payment 4 – final payment).

Then we release the downloadable files to you! This way, we hope, this instils further trust in us as a company, to show you that the ‘proof is in the pudding’. That we’re giving you the quality service you are paying for, and assured that we are narrating your book, in the way you want it to be heard.

When we quote an audiobook production, we base the quotation on 9,300 words per finished hour and we quote per word with this calculator (there is a minimum order value due to the work that goes in to the production of any size book).

If your wordcount increases or reduces for some reason, so will the cost. For example, if you forgot to include a dedication, or the opening and closing credits, your price will increase per word. You may have faster paced narration throughout or you may have slower. But the price will be the same as we charge per word.

Question 9

Do you have other payment options?

Accepted Answer

We invoice you for whole job (not including any extra words or extra time needed on the audiobook that we agree on – this would be a separate invoice). We list the 4 payments for you. They are due by way of approval to move onto the next set of chapters.

Currently you can pay your payments by PayPal, Bank Transfer or Stripe, the details of which are on the invoice.

There are other payment options out there that offer a line of credit or a way to pay in instalments, but for now, Indie Audiobook Productions only offer this 4 part split payment option.

Question 10

Does the author get to communicate directly with the narrator?

Accepted Answer

The communication between the author and the narrator will be managed through the Indie Audiobook Productions Project Manager. They are keeping a close eye on the production of the audiobook and making sure everything is going as it should and ensuring the audiobook is delivered on time.

Any question for the author from the narrator will be communicated through them and if the author has any extra information or responses, the project manager will make sure that is given to the allocated team of narrators, editors and proofers to add into their working production schedule.

This keeps things all in on place and allows us to keep track of the questions, answers and directions etc.

Question 11

Do I have to pay for my audiobook upfront?

Accepted Answer

No, you don’t have to pay everything upfront.

We offer a split payment plan where you pay a deposit (currently 40%) to get the production underway, and 3 further payments (each 20%) by way of your approval for each third of the audiobook until completion.

This payment structure is in place to help authors to place their trust in us, and also to help with the financial burden by spreading the payments out.

Question 12

What do I get for my money?

Accepted Answer

Your investment covers complete audiobook production services including narration by a professional voice actor, audio editing, proofing and mastering to ensure the highest quality.

You get to keep your rights and pay across 4 split payments.

Question 13

Can I hear the chapters as they’re narrated?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! In fact this is part of out standard process.

We provide 3 opportunities throughout the production for you to listen to the chapters as they are completed. This allows you to give feedback and ensure the narration meets your expectations throughout the production process.

*Obviously there are limits as to what we can change within the original quoted cost, but we can amend narration with an additional charge if it's outside of the original information provided to us.*

Frequently Asked Questions