How to Narrate Your Own Audiobook for ACX (Step-by-Step Guide for Authors)
Thinking about narrating your own audiobook? This guide walks you through ACX’s audio requirements, best practices for home recording, and tips to work smoothly with your audio engineer—so your DIY narration meets Audible and iTunes standards. If you are working with an audio engineer, I suggest recording a sample, and sending to your engineer. This way your engineer can tell you if they are seeing problems with your file early on. i.e. A lot of background noise, you’re speaking to close to the mic, to far, etc.
ACX VIDEO TRAININGS - Home Audiobook Narration
Please familiarize yourself with ACX’s Video Tutorials here, or click into the video below: https://help.acx.com/s/article/video-lessons-resources
These tutorials are concise and informative, with only 12 videos averaging about 5 minutes each.
READ THROUGH ACX Audiobook Requirements Here:https://help.acx.com/s/article/what-are-the-acx-audio-submission-requirements
I list out the important points below:
Record each chapter/section as a separate audio file. Name it as Chapter1, Chapter2, etc.
When you hit record, wait 5 seconds before speaking. When hitting end recording, wait 5 seconds. This is called room tone.
Each file cannot exceed 120 minutes.
You need to include opening and closing credits that match the title’s cover.
Opening credits: Read off name of the title, the author(s), and name of the narrator(s).
Closing credits: Read “The end.”
Your audiobook engineer would also need to create a 2-5 minute sample.
Consider using the beginning of the book as your sample. Audible is currently testing sample formats that provide listeners a seamless transition to continue listening after purchase. You may work with your Rights Holder to select a different portion of the audiobook as the sample. However, most listeners will hear a sample from the audiobook’s beginning regardless of the selected excerpt.
The sample must come from the audiobook.
iTunes automatically uses the first five minutes of the book as their sample.
Further details on the above items can be found in the link above (https://help.acx.com/s/article/what-are-the-acx-audio-submission-requirements).
Please consult with your audio engineer if you need guidance on software, gear, or other aspects of recording.
Latest Blog Posts:
Browse Categories
Want to Discuss Your Book? Ready to Publish or Bring New Life to an Old Title?
Subscribe now.
Stay up-to-date on the latest self-publishing industry news, announcements from platforms like Amazon KDP/IngramSpark, and marketing tips. Get exclusive content and discounts on our products and services.
CATEGORIES
© 2009–2026 Journey Bound Publishing. A YellowStudios LLC Company. All rights reserved.