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Narrate Your Audio Book

Narrate Your
Audio Book

Have you ever wondered if you could narrate your audio book?
I wondered if I could, too...

Have you ever wondered if you
could narrate your own book?
I wondered if I could, too...

Do It! You Just Might Love It!

I used to think that was something
better left to 'the pros.'

I used to think
that was something
better left to 'the pros.'

Listen Up!

If you want to forge ahead and narrate your audio book (to be), here are a few pointers:

A listening ear line drawing
  1. Pick one of your books that's already 'out there,' preferably on Amazon.
  2. Go find some old quilts or blankets.
  3. Invest in a good mic, pop-guard, and shock-absorbing stand.
  4. Do some vocal chord warm-ups!
  5. Record one chapter, run through ACX test page
A listening ear line drawing
  1. Pick one of your books that's already 'out there,' preferably on Amazon.
  2. Go find some old quilts or blankets.
  3. Invest in a good mic, pop-guard, and shock-absorbing stand.
  4. Do some vocal chord warm-ups!
  5. Record one chapter, run through ACX test page

Are You Being Serious, Susan?

Are You Being
Serious, Susan?

YES! This is 'all it takes!'

Doesn't everything you've never done before always seem like 'rocket science'? Just because it's something new to you doesn't mean it's hard to narrate your audio book.

Look, if I can figure it out with Derek's help, so can you!

Get a Teacher, or... Get Derek Doepker's Guidance

Derek DoepkerDerek Doepker

If you're ready to narrate your audio book, invest in a voice teacher. Even easier, take this course by Derek Doepker.

He's a nice young man with a lovely voice! (Right, where was I?)

Seriously, Derek took the mystery right out of recording audio and how to get your audio file uploaded, along with solid tips on where to get your audio book(s) sold.

Audiobooks Made Easy logo

Inside Derek's course, you'll learn how to record your audio using 'Audacity', which is a free app. It's easy to use after a tad of practice.

You'll learn proper file naming conventions and what to say at the start and end of your audio book.

Derek's Discount

Hey, for a limited time, Derek's offering 20% OFF his full course. Let me tell you something: this is the FIRST COURSE I've ever finished ALL the WAY through to the END.

How many courses that you've purchased over the years can YOU say that about?

Derek also has a 30-day no-questions-asked guarantee, too.


Click Me for 20% OFF!

"It's the best money I've spent in quite a while. Why? My first audio book You Can Quit Drinking... if you want to was approved right out of the starting gate. I would NEVER have been able to figure out the Audacity settings etc without Derek's Course. I then went on to create an audio book for Easy Food Dehydrating. Such fun!"

~ Susan Gast

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER SMALL PRINT: I am an affiliate for Derek's course because I think it's great. And yes, should you purchase through my link, I will receive a commission. ~ Thanks! It helps keep me in coffee pods.

Do You Want to See My Setup?

Do You Want to
See My Setup?

On a desktop computer, simply click on any of the images below to see them bigger. To exit the 'gallery,' click on the lower right-hand 'CLOSE X' button. (If you're on your cell phone, simply hit the '<' back button to exit the gallery.)

Microphone, Stand, Pop Guard, and Headset

Microphone, Stand, Pop Guard,
and Headset

The microphone inside shock absorbing stand with a pop guardclick to see bigger!
Microphone shock-absorbing standclick to see bigger!
Headphones resting on a big metal clip on the table edgeclick to see bigger!

Quilt Hanging on Dowel Rod and Heavy-Duty Clips on Big Cup Hooks

King-size bed quilt hangingKing-size bed quilt hanging

This hanging quilt is to my right as I sit at the pair of iMacs. Tip: I bought some wooden dowels (about 1/4" diameter at Home Depot) and threaded them through the folded-over top part of the quilt.

Then I used some very strong metal clips which hang off heavy-duty wall hooks (think big cup hooks). I used those screw things (rawl plugs, aka wall plugs) so they wouldn't easily pull out of the wall with constant use.

Behind the green quilt are rows of the nice grey sound-absorbing peel-n-stick panels (see more about those farther down the page).

Sound Booth Showing Folding Panel Acting as a Doorway

King-size bed quilt used as a sound-proofing ceilingKing-size bed quilt used as a sound-proofing ceiling

The brown cabinet is a bookshelf with a rattan roll up/down front. Behind that is the jazzy quilt draped and clipped to a 6-panel folding wooden screen I got off Amazon.

The folded part of the jazzy screen gets pulled 'closed' behind me when I'm recording! It acts as a doorway. You will need to add lighting. Just make sure it's one of the modern LCD bulbs that doesn't give off much heat as it gets pretty stuffy in there with my two computers running.

Sound Booth Without the "Ceiling"

Looking straight on at my sound booth set upLooking straight on at my sound booth set up

This is showing you the 'recording studio' in a straight-on shot. I know this will be a fun 'winter job' as it gets nice and snuggly warm in there when the quilt 'ceiling' gets draped over my audio workstation!

But it gets the job done. Adapt my setup to a comfy spot in your home (or office) and you'll be narrating your audio book in a jiffy.

Here is the 6-Panel Wooden Folding Screen I Used

Here is a link to the folding screen on Amazon

ECOMEX 6 Panel Wood Room Divider 5.6ft.Tall Folding Privacy Screen Panels, Panel Reinforced Room Divider Wall, Divider for Room Separation, Partition Room dividers(Dark Brown)
ECOMEX 6 Panel Wood Room Divider 5.6ft.Tall Folding Privacy Screen Panels, Panel Reinforced Room Divider Wall, Divider for Room Separation, Partition Room dividers(Dark Brown)

Here's the equipment you'll need to narrate your audio book:

Here's the equipment
you'll need to narrate
your audio book:

Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone

Hand-held microphone
with USB digital output
and XLR analog output.

Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone
Audio-Technica ATR2100-USB Cardioid Dynamic USB/XLR Microphone

Dreokee Desktop Microphone Stand with Shock Mount

Portable Mic Holder and Non-slip Feet.
Net Wind Screen Pop Filter for Voice Overs Recording Studio

Dreokee Desktop Mic Stand, Microphone Stand Desk Tripod Stand with Shock Mount Portable Mic Holder and Double-Non-slip Feet Net Wind Screen Pop Filter for Instruments Voice Overs Recording Studio
Dreokee Desktop Mic Stand, Microphone Stand Desk Tripod Stand with Shock Mount Portable Mic Holder and Double-Non-slip Feet Net Wind Screen Pop Filter for Instruments Voice Overs Recording Studio

LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over Ear Professional Studio Monitor and Mixing Headphones

Music Listening, Piano,
Sound Isolation,
Lightweight and Flexible.

LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over Ear Professional Studio Monitor and Mixing Headphones,Music Listening,Piano,Sound Isolation, Lightweight and Flexible11%
LyxPro HAS-10 Closed Back Over Ear Professional Studio Monitor and Mixing Headphones,Music Listening,Piano,Sound Isolation, Lightweight and Flexible
$44.99

18-Pack Gray
Acoustic Panels
12" x 12" x 0.4"

Sound Absorbing Panel High-Density Sound Deadening Panels Acoustic Treatment Panel For Home Studio.

18 Pack Gray Acoustic Panels 12"X12"X 0.4" Soundproof Wall Panels Wall Decoration Sound Absorbing Panel High-Density Sound Deadening Panels Acoustic Treatment Panel For Home Studio
18 Pack Gray Acoustic Panels 12"X12"X 0.4" Soundproof Wall Panels Wall Decoration Sound Absorbing Panel High-Density Sound Deadening Panels Acoustic Treatment Panel For Home Studio

AMAZON AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: I am an affiliate for Amazon, too. Should you purchase through my links, I will receive a commission. The price you pay does not increase.

Now You Know What it Takes to Narrate Your Audio Book!

Now You Know What
it Takes to Narrate
Your Audio Book!


Click Me for 20% OFF!
Audio Books Made Easy
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Susan Gast

Since 1980 Susan's involvement in publishing - in one form or another - led her to write "reviews" of apps and tools related to the publishing industry.

She realized it was time to explain how she published all her books and got them to market. To that end, she created this website to showcase her puzzle books and other fiction and non-fiction books she's written and produced since 2012. Read Susan's story here.

Susan has been featured on the Mother Earth News blog, and on Solo Build It (SBI). Read her first SBI interview and her second SBI interview. This site is hosted by the amazing team at Solo Build It! along with her sister site, Easy Food Dehydrating.

Do you want to send Susan a quick message? Visit her contact page here. She'd love to hear from you!