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Quality? You be the judge: https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Stephen+Robert+Cass
See, here’s the issue: Authors don’t often understand how much it costs to hire quality narrators AND then turn around and pay another studio to finish their audio files.
I have a detailed explanation of what it takes to get all this done below, but I plan to give you precise information here towards the top of the page.
The cost of a top narrator: 6-8 cents a word. At the top, that’s $4000 or more for a 50,000 word book.
The cost of a good editor and audio mastering engineer that knows the quality standards: 20 hours of studio time (varies greatly. There are a ton of factors involved. It’s safe to assume that if you get narration/editing/mastering done at the same time, the studio time will be managed as well as possible.
Separate recording/mixing/mastering facilities will increase your costs.)
That’s $2000 if the editing/mastering studio charges $100 per hour.
Are you ready to spend $4000 to $6000 to have a quality audiobook finished? Most people will balk at this.
Quality audiobook narration and production involves skilled voice acting and a meticulous process of recording, editing, and mastering audio. In the same scenario as above, you’ll receive quality narration and exquisitely technical engineering, all done in the same studio for less than half of this price. The same 50,000 word book would cost $2000 for final mastered files at Solid Walnut Media’s Your Audiobook service.
However, we apply a sliding scale discount beginning at 22,000 words and up to 50,000 words. We will discount $750 for your 50k word book. Depending on other factors, you could be quoted $1250 for your 50k word book.
No future stake in your royalties.
Quality? You be the judge: https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Stephen+Robert+Cass
Enter the basic details about your project at the Your Audiobook link above and receive a detailed quote, specific to your situation.
I have simpler rate for narrating and producing audiobooks.
After I ask you a few questions at the Your Audiobook link above I am going to send you an offer. My offer will have nothing to do with taking your future royalties. Your product will always remain yours.
You are hiring me as a voice talent, project director, and audiobook producer. This package offer is a work-made-for-hire with no future claims on your book.
My price will not be as expensive as the top narrators and producers but it will not be low. It will be reasonable, however. Why?
What is often not made clear to you: after you hire a narrator you need to hire another sound engineer to edit and master the audio to specific technical criteria of ACX (Audible), Findaway Voices, and Author’s Republic.
I’ll be glad to deliver most requests of studio time within the price schedule for your project, but will quote you an hourly rate for special needs.
There will be studio time added for any other special requests such as time for producing long advertising, or for the delivery/upload of the files to other destinations.
Below are samples of my work and reviews. Thanks for reading today!
Enter the basic details about your project at the Your Audiobook link above and receive a detailed quote, specific to your situation.
Here is the price schedule page: https://songs4god.net/audiobook-price-schedule/
Ask me about the next available start project start date. Depending on the length of the project, I aim for an approximate 60-day turnaround.
Six audiobooks. Five audio samples are found at https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Stephen+Robert+Cass
Save on finding a narrator plus a final product audio producer. Enter the basic details about your project at the Your Audiobook link above.
Here is the price schedule: https://songs4god.net/audiobook-price-schedule/
My studio:
ProTools
Here is the short explanation of the audiobook production business, what it often takes to get your book narrated, and how much it will cost.
This is a Q & A section so you can get the information you need to make the right decisions.
Key factors:
You can spend less to get your book recorded, but beware of the quality and lack of expertise.
The real answer is going to depend on whether you record your audiobook and self-publish or whether you hire a narrator PLUS an audiobook producer.
Or you hire an independent producer with both talents, but not interested in future royalties.
Here are some possibilities:
1. Invest $100 – 1000 in audio equipment and learn to record and produce.
Learn how to capture quality audio as well as to learn how to edit and produce the audio. You’ll also need to understand the technical production quality requirements of Audible, Findaway Voices, and Author’s Republic.
2. Enter into a revenue sharing agreement with an audiobook narrator.
You can find narrators who will split your book sales 50/50. Different platforms offer different deals. For example at ACX, you pay a reduced rate upfront and then receive 50% of royalties for 7 years. A downside is that your audiobook can only be sold on the Audible and ITunes platforms. The Findaway Voices revenue sharing is reduced up front cost and the narrator receives 20% of royalties for 10 years.
3. Pay a Per Finished Hour rate (2025 cost range is $100 – 300, less experienced narrators at the lower end).
This is a way to pay a narrator according to the number of words. To give yourself an idea of the cost: divide the total number of words by 9,300 to get an idea of how many hours the narrator will charge you for. This is most likely not your total cost. Not all narrators will ALSO produce the audio, which will be an additional PFH charge.
4. Find a hybrid deal between PFH and revenue sharing.
PROs
There are a few PROs going with the above scenarios. If you decide to invest in the equipment, you can retain all control and aren’t sharing any revenue. You’ll also learn for your next project. The revenue sharing/PFH options might be viable if you’re on an extremely tight budget.
CONs
There are many more cons to consider in all four above scenarios.
It’s a bonus if you can find a narrator who also knows how to edit and produce the audio, plus knows how to produce the audio files at the quality needed to upload at ACX, Findaway Voices, and Author’s Republic.
Your brain will be relaxed simply knowing that the revenue sharing part of the equation has been removed. You pay the fee or fees and then you’re done. Free to collect all the revenue without splitting anything.
What should you look for when seeking such a narrator?
Performance Ability – The ability of the narrator to read your book passionately and appropriately. You need them to connect with your listeners and meet their expectations–as well as your expectations that they can interpret your intended emotions as an author.
Technical Skill – I mentioned that most audiobook publishing platforms have technical requirements that their audio must attain. Many authors are not audio engineers and don’t need to understand this criteria, but their hired editor or producer MUST.
Your total cost to produce your audiobook includes narration plus audio production. Seek a narrator who is qualified for both technical skills to reduce your costs.
Creative Control – If you want to have creative control over every aspect of the production, consider hiring a narrator/producer who seeks your guidance on the tone and voice character of your audiobook. Choose to work closely with a voice talent in a studio where you can act as the director. Or, be comfortable with the direction they want to take your audiobook. Ask for work-in-progress samples.
When working with freelance narrators online, you typically have to give up a lot of creative or directional control once you have chosen a narrator and trust their job progress and their interpretation of the manuscript.
Budget – It can be less expensive to record your own audiobook than to hire a professional narrator for a flat rate fee. At a minimum you will need to purchase basic equipment, but it can be used again on your own projects or you may even choose to do some freelance narrating of your own once you learn the process.
The bottom line: it sucks trying to get your audiobook recorded without spending a ton of money and/or giving away half of your royalties for years to come.
My humble solution: hire me! Ask what I can do for you in the Your Audiobook link.
I loved working with Steve Cass to produce my audiobook. He did more than just read words off the page, he captured the heart and meaning behind them (all forty-three thousand of them).
His communication was excellent and he’s a very pleasant and professional person to work with. I would highly recommend him for any project!
Dak Frederick, 101 Things Every Man Should Know
*****
Interview with Rebecca Hefner of https://indieaudiobookdeals.com:
For further research and real life examples of audiobook production:
https://krystalwascher.com/blog-audiobooks-for-authors/how-much-does-it-cost-to-create-an-audiobook
6 Lessons About Audiobook Production You Need to Know
I would love to help bring Your Audiobook to life!
If you’re interested, also hire me to create compelling audiobook companion documents and videos of your audiobook for YouTube! Check out samples at my YouTube channel audiobook playlist.
