Are you a fan of your voice? Do you have you ever thought ‘What if’? …?’ the Audible Studios’ Kat Lambrix explains the techniques you require to transform your dreams of narration into a reality for professionals with professional tips and advice
You’re looking to master the art of becoming an audiobook narrator but aren’t sure how to begin? We’ve put together a comprehensive guide that covers all you must be aware of about this kind of voice art. For a deeper and real-world knowledge We’ve enlisted the assistance of Audible Studios’ individual Kat Lambrix, who dives into all you need to learn about becoming an audiobook narration. Beginning with the basics of the process of narration for audiobooks as well as strategies and techniques to improve upon, along with practical guidance on how to break into the industry and securing jobs as an audiobook narrator. Also, you’ll find helpful advice on long-term career planning and suggestions for resources that are all provided by one of the most renowned experts in the field.
So You Want to Be an Audiobook Narrator?
A lot of people wish to become audiobook narrators due to their love of audiobooks and books, and they love reading in front of others. Some people are enticed to pursue this path due to the fact that they’re told they possess an unmatched talent and a amazing sound for narration. Although both are great starting points, it requires much more than an attractive voice and enthusiasm for audiobooks to become an audiobook narration expert.
An audiobook’s listening experience isn’t only about reading words printed on the page. Narrators for audiobooks must possess the abilities and the empathy required in order to bring the book to life for the reader.
From a business perspective Most audiobook narrators operate as freelancers. Therefore, you need to be professional, organized and be able to work at your own pace as well as meet deadlines. You must also keep the track of contracts and invoices. Although it’s not the most secure career option initially, if enthusiastic about narration for audiobooks it could be your career of your dreams.
What Skills Do You Need to Become an Audiobook Narrator?
It’s a given that narration of audiobooks isn’t something to do as a pastime, but an occupation. Like any other profession it requires certain abilities that are required to begin. Therefore, prior to diving in the underwater world of narration ensure that you can be confident in saying that you have these skills:
Background in Acting
It might seem obvious, however having a basic knowledge of acting makes an enormous difference in making the shift to narration. “Narration is an acting gig. You’re embodying different characters, you’re telling stories. So, it’s really important to be able to do that,” Lambrix emphasizes. “Lots of people have gone to theater school. Some people have come to us from other parts of the acting world. But no matter what, being able to act is a foundational skill…you’re telling a story, and it’s not your story.”
Ability to Differentiate Voices, Accents, and Dialects
It may sound like another fact, but the ability to masterfully portray characters from diverse backgrounds is a crucial talent that can set you apart from other Narrators. “Inevitably you’ll run into a scene with seven sisters or four women who are in their 30s, and you have to find a way to make their voices all sound distinct for your listener,” says Lambrix.
Stamina
A day of narrating might seem easy when you’re seated for a couple of hours listening to a book you enjoy (hopefully) in front of your friends. However, in reality it’s not that simple. These hours could whirl through and wear you out and it’s essential to to keep up the best possible pace. “We generally record about six hours per day. That means you need to physically be able to perform it. It’s not easy; it’s not simply sitting and speaking,” Lambrix acknowledges. “It’s breathing control. It’s knowing when to go loud. It’s being aware of when to ease back. The quiet moments can be equally exhausting as large, loud ones because you’re dealing with a lot of emotion and lots of nuance.”
Research Skills
Then, you can do your study! How does this all fit into the picture? It’s just narrating a story you know? But what happens if you’re at the studio and come across an unfamiliar word, a country name or any other thing you don’t know what to say? Conducting some research prior to the event will go a long way to making your narrating abilities more effective. “So rather than pretending to know it all, the ability to know what you don’t know, and to go out there and do that research is important,” Lambrix says. Lambrix.
Additionally, this information could keep you from uncomfortable situations when you are inside the recording booth. “We were filming an unpublished book and the narrationist watched an interview with this person . They utilized the pronunciation of their name to describe the book. It was discovered that the interviewer said the name of the person incorrectly. Thus, the narrator uttered that name incorrectly throughout the book.” Naturally that research can go quite a ways!
Refining Your Skills as an Audiobook Narrator
Practice
You’ve realized that you have the skills needed to start, but what can you do to further improve these abilities? “Practice!” Lambrix emphasizes. “It’s an excellent idea to visit your bookcase close your eyes and select a book to read. It could be a book you’re not fond of, that’s better. Go read it and see if you accomplish it. Since, you can’t always read what you’d like for reading.”
Learn from the pros
As with everything in life, there is a chance to be better and learn from professionals in the area, so make sure you listen to your favorite voice actor-a number of times! “Listen to those who are the best in their field. Then, consider what you can do to take these ideas and integrate them into your life,” says Lambrix. “The more you work on it, the more easy it becomes. The more you plan your booth, the more comfortable you will be able to enter the booth and simply relax.”
Getting Started as an Audiobook Narrator
Everyone in the field suggests that you begin by doing some practice at home. You should read aloud in a calm closed space, in which you aren’t distracted. Get the feel of slow, clear reading and clearly. If you do make mistakes then start at the very top. Don’t be afraid of marking the page of you “script” and practice reading aloud, while also looking ahead to be aware of what’s in store. Develop your endurance. After that, record your reading, playback the recording and review your performance. Find areas that you can improve upon. It can help you identify and work on various voice patterns, dialects, and accents. There are also voice-over training classes that you can attend to learn different styles of narration.
When you feel confident about your skills, think about making a video demo. It is the best moment to purchase the best quality microphone, noise cancelling headphones, as well as pop filters (a screen that is placed behind your microphone to cut out the breath sounds and the sounds that your mouth makes when you speak). Set up a quiet studio area. There’s no need to alter the room in your home to make it soundproof however, you’ll want to create the best environment possible to record. Also, you’ll need an audio recording device on your computer such as GarageBand or Audacity as well as it wouldn’t hurt to learn the basics of editing sound to make the best recordings. A majority of audiobook narrationists read from tablets, so you may want to buy a device which allows readers to scroll and read scroll without squeezing pages. After you’ve completed your demo then you can put it on your site or on your profile for one of the websites listed below.
