Tools Used by an Audiobook Editor

audiobook editor

Choosing a narrator to voice your book is the most important stage of the audiobook production process. The narrator becomes the voice of the story and must convey emotion, nuance and text oomph. A good narrator will be able to change vocal tone, pause for dramatic effect and leave a few tidbits in the recording to tell you what’s going on.

An audiobook editor may not be a narrator, but they can still make a difference in your finished product. Good editing is an art and requires close attention to detail. Using the right software, an audiobook editor can remove extraneous noises and pacing gimmicks from a recording.

Aside from listening to the book, an audiobook editor also uses audio processing techniques to enhance the sound. These can include compression, limiting, normalization and EQ. Using the right plugins and tools can help speed up the editing process and make it easier for the editor to do the job.

Another tool used by an audiobook editor is the room tone. Using a room tone can help fill in gaps in a recording. A room tone is a natural echo that’s created by the acoustics of a home studio. The room tone is an important tool for covering gaps in the recording, and making it easier for listeners to follow along with the story.

An audiobook editor may also use a pop filter to eliminate pops from the recording. Pops are typically caused by hard consonant sounds and can make for an unpleasant listening experience. If a pop appears during an audiobook, an editor may want to rerecord the segment to make sure the neighboring words aren’t distorted.

An audiobook editor may also use the crossfade to create a smooth transition between sentences. However, an audiobook editor is not the only one who can do this. A crossfade is also a good way to add texture to an audiobook.

Another tool used by an audiobook producer is a QC sheet. The QC sheet is a document that tracks errors and marks them accordingly. The QC sheet is used to flag spots where the narrator needs to rerecord audio pickups. Using the QC sheet is a great way to make sure your recording is error free.

An audiobook editor may also use an upward expansion to reduce the size of the audio. While this may sound bad, it can be helpful if the audiobook is too long. Using an upward expansion reduces the audio below a certain threshold. Using a room tone can also help reduce breaths in an audiobook, which are distracting and can make the listening experience less enjoyable.

A good audiobook editor will make their mark by showing their audience how a recording can be enhanced with the proper amplification, pacing and other techniques. A good audiobook editor is a valuable member of the audiobook production team. The audiobook industry is worth over 2.5 billion dollars. An audiobook editor’s job is to make your recording sound great.