I've been figuring I'd start out with shorter books, ones that are under 10 finished hours until I get my "chops" so to speak, under 3 hours sounds even better. I was definitely planning to start with books like self help ones that don't require character voices/accents. I know I have a huge learning curve ahead of me. However, I don't think I'd have asked for that much time to do a 3 hour book so thank you, now I know not to be afraid to ask for a longer time. I do know it's better to underpromise and overdeliver than to go the other way. Thank you for always delivering such solid advice for those of us starting out. 🙏🧡💜
Thank you Angela!!! Im definitely considering doing audio narrating in the coming months. I just stumbled upon ACX today and the more I'm learning about the platform, the more I want to get into it. Your video definitely helped in more detail about how this all works!!! Thank you!! ❤
Hello Angela. I’m a voice over artist pursuing the sub genre of audiobook narration, and I would love to hear your professional teachings on how to record audiobooks before starting out on ACX. 🎧🎙📖
I'm really enjoying your channel.I have all the equipment, and I'm getting ready to set everything up. I'll focus more on your channel because you're for beginners, and you really make it practical.Thank you so much
Angela you are such an angel 🙂. I so needed this information and push to get myself started. I was so overwhelmed but thanks to you, I'm no longer that! :-) Happy Holidays to you and your family! 🙂
It seems to me that you are an amazing narrator. You speak very understandable English, very clear accent. Im a spanish latin speaking person and I must admit that to understand your English the only thing that requires is to know the English language cause you speak very well and in a very calm way. Good for you, thumbs up. Amazing and very good video.
Hi there I’m from Indiana and a small town at that. I’ve loved reading since high school and writing but recently been interested in narrating books as a full time job and you definitely describe how it’s done thanks for the vid ❤👍
I came across your channel after watching many voice over videos, I mean many, and I can only thank you for sharing so much content, answering those specific questions we come up with when in this business. 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Hi Angela! This was perfect for me. I had forgotten to ask you during consult how much time should i ask for with 1st book. 1 Month sounds like a great amount of time. Thank you again for the great tips! Rebecca/Becky
Thank you for all these tips! I had so many questions a little over a year and there wasnt many people like you on youtube and I was too scared to mess up and do this on my own so with your tips on choosing the right book is really helping me feel more confident in starting on acx
This might be an interesting route for me to take. I like reading. I already have an audio setup since I do music production, and its not(I think) an over saturated field. AI might replace it 3 years from now though.
AI is a hot topic for sure right now. But narrators and authors alike, agree that AI should not be involved in audiobook production period. AI cannot understand or replicate with an algorithm, the complexities and depth of human emotion. But, time will tell....
Thank you Angela for this very informative video. I would like to try this niche as my work-from-home job. I'll watch more of your videos as my learning tool. Cheers!
I got a client who sent me a pdf of their book the pages out of order. Took me an afternoon to straighten it out. I made it clear to the client that I signed on as a reader/recorder, and doing this reorganizing was an addition, unwelcome duty, but the money was very good, so I would let it ride. But I am willing to read and edit the audio I generate, and NOTHING more.
Hey Angela, it's Johanna So glad i found your channel. Your advice about starting out with short projects makes sense. Smallwr word count (18,000-22,000 words) is a very good idea. Heres my question as someone who wants to try this out. I wonderig if there's a place to do even shorter like 30-60 sec commercials, introducing a new product or manual how to book on technical support.
I enjoyed your video. I have never done any narration...but I like the idea, and would like to wade into it. I think what I need to do is find a step by step type of video.
The down side for me is that self- help/ DIY books don’t interest me at all, really nearly any nonfiction book, unless it’s medical or true crime. So I’m worried I wouldn’t see any books I’d be interested in…
Thank you for this! I work from home and have most of the equipment needed. I am just anxious about the amount of editing. Keep in mind I’ve done radio work from home using Adobe Audio and then import to the station. I can edit in Adobe Audition. But I watched one of your videos that even edited out mouth clicks and I think: oh shoot. There could be a lot to edit. I am in a life transition professionally. And personally! My kids are leaving the nest! One by one! Another radio friend told me about ACX and I’m intrigued and wonder if I have what it takes. 😬❤️ I am learning so much from your helpful and honest and kind videos.
Thank you for watching! As with most things that are new to us, there is much to learn. But, it can can be learned, with time. You already have familiarity with Adobe Audition, so you have more experience than most of us at the start. You got this!
Always civil and respectful. Quick question for you Angela = Realistically, would it TRULY take 3+ months to get a FIRST gig on ACX & require hundreds of follow up emails and phone calls to potential clients OR just keeping SAMPLE AUDIO files on the site, updated & posted for review?
Thank you! I had my first job on ACX within the first 3 months, and that's fairly typical. Some get a job faster, some take longer.... It really depends on how often you audition and post samples.
Wow! Thank you so much for this video Angela oh, it was very very helpful, especially the part about lead length in terms of doing an audio book! I was actually wondering about this myself as I'm just starting out!!!
Can a book be narrated more than once if the current narrated version sucks? For instance: A book of African American History, but narrated by a voice which is no where close to tolerable like a deep British/ colonial... Well... Hopefully you get my point... Can the book be re-narrated?
Thanks for this. Awesome vids. I am not sure royalties make sense because the rights holder can remove the book from sale at Amazon anytime. Then what are your royalties? Better to get paid upfront and move on I think. Also, if they revise the book down the road, the audiobook no longer matches. Will Amazon allow that audiobook version to remain? Not sure. Anyway, thanks again. Just found you recently. Going to get started doing my own books first and get some experience and then do others. That's the plan. Cheers!
I have recently started thinking about ACX. I’ve been on VDC for a few months and that’s yielded nothing other than a few shortlists. Was thinking ACX might be a good way to get more involved in VO work.
Hey Angela Thanks for making all the informative guiding videos 😊 I am new to this field and would like to know how does one keep the consistency in our voice and accent while audio recording a whole book ?
Hi! Thanks for watching! If this is a character voice, keeping a snippet of the voice for reference helps to keep you consistent. Be sure it's a voice you can maintain before you select a character voice. If it's you normal speaking voice, warming up before you narrate will help in that respect.
Thank you Angela, you have a beautiful voice. I am so interested in this line of work. Question about the ACX Eligibility question: US tax ID that can be provided to ACX. Can you tell me if that is a SSN or would I have to get a different type of tax ID? Thank you for your time. Matt
I have quote a few in which I talk about treating your space. It's difficult to sound proof, but covering any hard, smooth surfaces around your space will help to reduce reflection/ echo. If you search for videos about "your recording space" that will help. :)
Hello Angela, I was wondering if you could share how to do simple narrations with kids. I am a First Grade teacher and we have recently become interested in reading transcripts for non-fiction videos with 5 and 6 year olds. I am using Screencastify to record the kids reading captions as they watch short videos. The timing of course, is difficult. Any suggestions for other ways to record them? They love hearing and watching themselves and our recent reading unit is Non-Fiction texts so this has become a BIG motivating activity. Thank you - gc
Hey Angela… I’m new to your channel and I love watching your videos ! My question is did your student go thru with his 4 book proposal ? Because I too was approached to do the for 4 books averaging 32,000 a piece. Just curious…
Thank you! Please tell me do you know if there would be any narrator possibilities for a South African accent? Or do they mostly look for American accents? Thanks so much!
@geneparmesan8827 first, practice, training and joining audiobook communities. You'll learn what to look for, what the terms mean, and build your foundations. Work will come, until then, practice and volunteer at librivox.org.
Do you find you still have time/will to read the books you would otherwise read for yourself, or are they replaced largely by what you read for work? And of the books you read for work, do you still manage to find enjoyable ones or one that surprise you and how often are you stuck reading something tedious in some way, but have to persist because you're contracted? Thanks.
Yes, I am still an avid reader and make time to read books that I enjoy, I also listen to a lot of audiobooks. If I don't think I'm a fit for the book I am producing, or if I don't agree with the content, I will tell the RH that I will not be able to produce their audiobook. I've only done this a couple times.
Thanks for these Videos you post- I’ve been set up to do VO work for sometime however life got in the way by Caregiving for my parents 24/7 This is perfect for my experience to get back into a flow in studio. I do have a question regarding another of your videos. What is this CLICKER you use as an audio marker for editing? Is it an actual SFX or item????
Very helpful, as always! Thanks Angela. Random question - do you keep your mic out or do you put it away every day? I have read opposing views on the topic. I don't want my 416 to be damaged from dust but if it's in my booth I think it might be safe. Thoughts? Thanks again!
Angela thank you for the great videos. I need to purchase a laptop. Do you have any recommendations for a beginner to start out on? I’m overwhelmed trying to find the minimal affordable equipment I need to purchase to begin with. Thank you again.
Hello! I'm just getting started in the acx world and your videos are amazing! One question, is there anyway for me to know if a book has curse words before auditioning? Thank you!
Thank you for watching! Its hard to say, you could ask the rights holder within the audition message if there are any curse words within the manuscript. Other than that, the Rights Holder may include this information within the description of the book and/or comments section. Definitely read through all of it before auditioning, if nothing is mentioned, ask. :)
I think it just felt like I could understand it better, get my work done faster. I could do more with it with voice over work. But, it's just a preference really. :)
Of course! I have plenty of videos on what you need, and where to start. Also check out my website for some helpful resources. Https://www.voiceoverangela.com
🤔 I wish I would have pursued this a lifetime ago. I have had a very distinctive voice, (I could go years w out talking to a friend, but all I would have to say is ‘guess who’ and, they would, every single time. 😆 🤷🏻♀️ Was useless at prank calling 🤭 if u cannot YET tell, I’m O. L. D.) I don’t intend to pursue a career, as I am way too old, and way out of my league; I guess I am considering trying my hand at reading stories online. Idk how to even go about finding stories I can use, w out royalty, cuz I’m broke, atm. Trying to find a niche my disabled body n Swiss cheese brain can handle. I need to find independence again. Or I will keep getting sicker and sicker, from this not too good situation I’ve now found myself in…. I would love to write my own, but easier said…tho I guess now there’s AI. It just makes me feel, dirty all over. 😅
Hello Angela, I am not native English speaker But I have bachelor degree on English language and literature and can speake English fluently. So there is any chance to become a voice over artist or audio book narrator??? It is my dream to become a voice over artist!!
There are books that are available ti be narrated by non English speakers. There are a few other languages available. For English, if you can tell a good story, you should be fine.
How can you find out who the rights holder is. I have submitted an audition and worry because it goes to a narrator profile with 7 previous projects that are no longer available. Thanks, George
So I already narrate audiobooks as a volunteer at Librivox. I've been doing it under a pseudonym because it seemed cool at the time lol. Can I still use my works as experience and demos if I want to start making money on ACX?
I did, I used them as demos and experience in the beginning. You'd also need to consider the pseudonym, if you're going to keep using it, and be sure to seek professional advice for legal and tax purposes.
I just finished narrating an audio book as a new Narrator. The Rights holder sent me several chapters, but his format submission sheet was totally different. None of his chapters were edited before hand and it just added so much work for me to do? What do you do in a situation like this? Also I'm having issues with proper audio levels in ACX- Any advice you have its heavily appreciated.
First, I would ask if they gave you the final draft of the manuscript. People make ooopsies. Your best bet for getting your formatting down, because there are too many variables from studio to studio, is to watch RU-vid videos about acx formatting and/ or meet with someone who can help you get it down in your own home studio.
Hello Angela. I'm a newbie in narrating and it's been a couple of weeks since I started auditioning for ACX, unfortunately, most of the time I've got rejected and the other times I didn't receive any answer from the right holders. so I wanted to ask you a favor, I wanted to send you a couple of my auditions if it's possible so that you can listen to my voice and help me out, I don't know where my problem is. and the right holders don't tell me the reasons for the rejections. One of them did tell me but it was so confusing. therefore as you are a professional in this field, would you mind listening to a couple of my auditions and giving me your feedback?
So submitted my first audition. Didn’t get it. I find the toughest part is editing. I’m using garage band cause I don’t want to spend any money on Adobe Editor (can’t remember the name)
Hi! I didn't get my first audition either, I think it was my fourth or fifth audition where I landed my first ACX job. I'm totally with you on the editing, it does take time to learn the processes and effects that seek save you tons of time. Just keep at it! :)
You would definitely need a DAW, there are many different ones available. Such as Audacity, Adobe Audition, Reaper etc. You will need to be able to format the files properly for ACX, you can do this in a DAW.
I had a feeling, lol! It's up to you, I would say, when you feel ready for a coach. Find someone who is where you want to be, someone you feel comfortable with and can talk to freely.
Everyone's schedule and ability will vary... you'll have to break it down to what you can narrate per day, then edit per day depending on your schedule. From start to finish, it could take you 5 to 15 hours, depending on your time and experience level to complete a book this size.
I'm new to acx and I was just wondering If the job let's say is $100 pfh and it has 3 hours, but you tell them to give you one month. Will you be paid only for those 3 hours?
@@VoiceOverAngela ohhh, now I get it, so if the finished audiobook is 4 hours instead of 3, they will have to pay me for the 4 hours And is it always me who has to edit the whole audiobook?
@@vladxful yes, so if the book is 4 hours long, you would get $400, if your rate was $100 PFH. You could outsource editing, but that eats into your profit, editing is typically $35- $125 PFH depending on what you need. This is why we learn to do it ourselves.
Hi Angela, What would be considered a high quality MP3 file? I am working on a project with a client and they requested the final file be a high quality MP3.
An mp3 is a compressed audio file, it's smaller in size. If you save it as mp3 but also at say 4800hz or 44100hz and 16, 32 bit. It would be smaller in size but still a great quality.
@@VoiceOverAngela Hmm okay obviously I can ask them haha but say someone asked you to send them a high quality MP3 what would be your first instinct on the hz and bit?
@VoiceOverAngela so its just moving blankets on the walls? Also, your lighting is very good and your streaming video is very clear. Do you have a video on setting up your studio
@@tracisandstrom yes, it's acoustic panels with moving blankets over top. I do have a walk through video on my channel. Thank you for the compliments, it's nothing fancy.
To get paid to read books, we need to take a whole month doing so??????? And what about the Audio Rights?? This wasn't even mentioned. Ugh why do people spam things to make money off of and then leave out details like "to get paid to read one book on audio can take you a month to do so"...and then you won't get paid max because you don't even have the rights to do so.... Like come on. Where are the real jobs that don't take an arm, a leg and a MONTH to make money.
It takes this long because audiobook Productions take time. It's a marathon, not a sprint, not easy money. Royalty Share is paid monthly. Most books take a month or so to produce. The audio rights belong to the copyright holder. I have many videos, as do others, who share lots of information for free for people who really want to become a narrator, not quite what you mean by spam... but, thanks for watching!
