Here is a quick video on how to set preferences and sample rate in Garageband for audio book or ACX narration. Stay tuned and subscribe for more videos about voice over, home studios, Audacity, Garageband, Twisted Wave and more!
Thank you very much! you are a lifesaver. I produced my first and not my last audiobook today at 11.11 pm! I feel so accomplished and happy. Much love and respect.
I was stuck trying to load a Garageband file into ACX for OVER AN HOUR and NOTHING worked. I followed this video, raised the volume a bit, and VOILA. Thank you so so much.
This was SO incredibly helpful! I just got my first audiobook narration through ACX and the difference between my edited audio auditions before I watched this video is laughable.
Hi there! Sound newb here! I'm a bit confused as to the gain level you set on the track around 3:22. You say -12dB to -6B. Should the slider be set there or should the levels read around there when speaking? I find my voice pretty inconsistent on the volume I produce while I work so sometimes I feel like either my overall level is too low, or I hit the red too much.
Thanks for this video. When you pulled up the compressor window I saw the settings were already preset, however does this align with what the ACX standards request? Doesn't the compressor (dB) need to be adjusteD?.. and what about the ratio, attack, etc.?
Hi, I've followed this but ACX has come back and said my RMS is too low and to raise the level to above 7.6db. ( it says its currently at -30.6) Any help gratefully received.
Paula your average level should be between -18 and -23 db with your peaks (loudest point) no higher than -3. Either raise the gain on your track (slider on the left side next to the meter) or add gain in your compressor or limiter. Hope that helps. Gonna try to do a video on this soon.
Hi, this is a great video! thanks! i had a question? i want to do narration for ACX but i looked at the submission requirements and it was talking about the sound being between 2 different numbers and i don't even understand the rest. Do you have more videos explaining how to learn all the audio submission requirements? thank you!
how to I import a file? I was trying to input a voice recording (2min long, mp3 file), but garage band reduces the file to 17 seconds and speeds it up like crazy. Any fix to this?
Thank you for the video! I am having trouble with getting the DB just right to ACX standards. "Each file must measure between -23dB and -18dB RMS." When I hit "A" on Garageband and lower my DB to -20dB it becomes way too quiet even with the volume on the loudest setting on my Mac. Any suggestions?
Edward that is referring to the average level. The peaks can be no higher than -3db. When you hit A on your keyboard you are putting the track into automation. You are lowering everything by 20 db and then the average will be much too soft.
@@homestudio1018 Thank you very much for your response! Your videos are the foundation of my knowledge in this new field of audiobook recording. Where exactly in Garageband can I verify the db levels of my recordings?
I am having trouble finding the right software to ensure my volume and sounds meet ACX standards, is there any chance you could provide me with a link?
thanks so much for this. Question: I tried to follow your steps but hit a problem with plugins. I don't have any. Can you please advise? Thanks in advance
@@Promthanius Well you should make sure your volume peaks at about -10 to -12 when you start recording. Then when you boost or compress you can make the peaks max out at -3.
Hi Sir thank you for the video , Im trying to learn ACX recording, I have a little problem, I can't adjust the HZ ON my Mac mini garage band , I only have 48,00Hz or 96,000Hz and 192,000Hz , I have usb micro phone brand name = maono Model : AU-A04T/AU-AO4TC . will my recording be rejected if it is 48,000Hz.? thank you if you see this. Respect Stephan
Thank this worked perfectly. I had submitted my file to Audio lab and it said my RMS level was too low. I followed your step-by-step and I passed the test! Thanks so much🙏
Thank you, very good tutorial. I need to send a room tone, but although the recording does not sound loud, when I share it, it is noisy and loud. How do I know I am recording mono. And if you have any advice for recording the room tone I will appreciate it.
Alan one way is to go chapter by chapter. I would record one and then create a duplicate session and then delete the audio and start a new chapter. That way when you need to go back to do changes the files aren't as long. To do it on. your session, just highlight the chapter you want (or click and shift click on multiple regions) and then in the dialog when you export song to disk click the box below that says export cycle area.
I need to adjustthe RMS settings in GarageBand to meet the requirements of ACX AudioBooks. I just uploaded all my Mp3 sound files for my AudioBook to ACX and it came back with issues that my RMS was too low. UGH. How do I bring up the RMS levels of my sound tracks in GarageBand to meet the ACX requirent??
This did not work for me. Followed exactly and now ACX says "RMS (dB RMS) -28.3 RMS is too low. Raise the level of this file 5.3 dB. Visit Guidance Section 1 - Adjusting Low RMS Files on our Audiobook Production RMS Guide for further guidance." Took me a week to record the whole book. Sheesh!
This has not helped me. I successfully recorded several books for ACX last year, but now I am trying to get back into it and I can't successfully meet their audio lab test. I keep getting results like "Issue type - RMS ... Value -15.2 ...RMS is too high. Lower the level of this file by 7.8 dB," or similar numbers. I can't seem to get it to where it was when it was just right. How do I do this? How to lower the RMS? Thank you so much for any help you can offer. -Lorraine
Thanks so much'! My Adobe Audition subscription has ended, and I realized that I had Garageband all this time...and it looks a lot more user friendly. I think I may be a convert. Question, can you use popular third party plugins with Garageband like Waves etc?
Hi Rachel! You don't need a noise gate if there isn't much noise. I use a high quality microphone and preamp and am recording in a (relatively) quiet space in my house. If there is a noise or bump, just edit it out and do another take or insert room tone if it is between sentences.
I’m having trouble narrating when people yell because you have to stay within a certain frame of loudness. Can you go over the actual recording your voice in these tense yelling moments?
Its a shame you can only be on ACX if you are a US or UK resident. I'm doing my own and my books will be serialised on RU-vid for free. It will save me $4k.
Also, and audio newbie here. Thank you so much for this video. It is very help. It didn't stand out to me where you are talking about peak values and noise floor when you are working on the settings. Can you point me to the right spot in the video? Thank you!
Narration vocal only applys to the playback. It doesn't add anything to the recording. I would just record it well one chapter per file and send off to the editor the highest quality mp3 or wav file!
My Garage Band Audio Midi setup is notgiving me any option other that 4800. Yours shows a drop-down menu, mine does not . Any suggestions? If i deselect my Rode mic and select ‘Built-in Microphone it changes to 44.1
Thanks for this video. I used your settings to submit my first narration for ACX (15 minute checkpoint). I'll let you know how it went and what feedback I get.
Oh my gosh!! Thank you so much for this tutorial! I just switched my digital work station over to GarageBand for ACX for my auditions! Thank you for going over the formatting steps in depth! ❤️❤️
@@homestudio1018 absolutely! I know some folks have already mentioned this but I would appreciate if you could do a video on how to do the correct sound leveling for files ( between -18db and - 23 db) thank you 😁😁
Thank you so much! I have a question. Do you export all of the chapters in a single mp3 file or do you export each chapter as its own mp3? Currently working on my first contract through ACX. Thanks again!
I followed along and set up the way you show to do it, but when I start to record, now, I get a loud feedback squeal and a warning block that has me turn off the monitor. Is there a way to record while hearing your recording while you are narrating?
Tammy check your preferences and make sure you output isn't the computer speakers. You should be listening through headphones either through your microphone (if it has a headphone jack) or your input device. You are getting feedback because it is playing back through your speakers and recording that resulting in a feedback loop.
