Frequently Asked Questions

The audiobook production process includes steps such as finding a suitable voiceover artist or narrator, recording the audiobook, editing and post-production, and reviewing the final product for inconsistencies or errors. After your book has been produced and your final payment has been made, you will have access to the completed audiobook production in downloadable files to use as you wish, with no further fees payable for royalties or anything else. It’s all yours. This price will include the following process and services: Narrator Preparation of your audiobook Narration of your audiobook Editing of the narration and first pass of sound proofing Soundproofing Editing – Back here again to add all the pick-ups to the report and fix anything fixable that’s been picked up by the sound-proofer (learn more about this) Narrator re-records all mistakes or issues with any narration such as noises that can’t be edited out Editing to seamlessly replace all the narration the narrator has re-recorded Mastering All levels are checked to ensure ready for the ears to intimately listen, and to ensure industry standards for uploading to the multiple platforms Communication - Let’s not forget about this all important service. Indie Audiobook Productions communicates with you for the entire audiobook creation. And we get your approval and feedback at 3 stages throughout the process! *Note: Anything outside of a single chosen narrator recording your audiobook, for example, sound effects, music, multi-cast narration will need to be priced on a case-by-case basis. A conversation with the team about the extra time needed for these extras to be worked into the process will be considered and priced accordingly and fairly.

We insist you do! Even if you have the money put aside to pay for your book, and happy to pay all the money before we start, we have a split payment process that ensures you get to approve your audiobook chapters as we go.

We’ll be happy to draw your attention to these errors and mark them up on your script for you so you can make changes to your books if you want to. If there are many errors and it’s interrupting the flow of narration too much, we will need to charge you for the service of proofing on top of your narration costs. Costs for these will be in your proposal document, however it would be better if you can make sure the book is consumer and narration ready.

Investing in quality narration, audio production, and editing is crucial in creating a successful and engaging audiobook. Quality narration and production can lead to better listener engagement, positive reviews, and increased audiobook sales.

A audiobook editor plays a crucial role in editing and tailoring the audio content of your audiobook. They remove unwanted sounds, modify narration pace, ensure volume levels are consistent (so the listener isn’t having to adjust that volume button throughout their listening), and ensure a seamless listening experience for the audience. An audiobook editor is responsible for handling the technical aspects of audio production, including noise reduction, amplitude and compression, EQ, and mastering. They ensure that the audiobook files meet the specific requirements set by platforms like ACX.

If you don’t want to choose a narrator yet because you need to know an approximate cost for your budget purposes, we have a word count calculator for you to it out on our homepage HERE.

Each finished and fully produced hour that you hear, will have had approximately 6-8 hours of work behind the scenes. So, if you have a 7 hour audiobook (appox.65,000 words) you’ll be looking at approximately 1-2 weeks to be on the safe side. Think, 2 days to a finished hour, to be sure you that you’re allowing for the unexpected.

Let’s get straight into it. There’s nothing more annoying than finding the service you’re looking for, and want it even, but the price is hidden from you till you apply for a quotation. This would waste our time as well as yours. So here it is. Full transparency. We have a FREE calculator for you to use on the homepage here that will give you the cost of narrating your book based on your book word count. We’ve given you access to this information so you can work out if this is a feasible path for you to take before you spend any time on the idea of producing an audiobook. BUT….. We don’t ask for the cost of your audiobook production up front. We offer a split payment system, based on each milestone reached in the project. We take a deposit (payment 1) to get your production set up and launched, a team allocated, and your book prepped and read by the narrator. The 3 remaining equal payments will be released to us, by you the author, each time you’ve received (in viewing only form) and approved a 3rd of your audiobook chapters/files (payment 2). We continue with the next third of your book (payment 3). The final payment is released by the author to IAP when you’re audiobook is complete and you are satisfied with the end result (payment 4 – final payment). Then we release the downloadable files to you! This way, we hope, this instils further trust in us as a company, to show you that the ‘proof is in the pudding’. That we’re giving you the quality service you are paying for, and assured that we are narrating your book, in the way you want it to be heard. We charge £250 per finished hour of audio after the first 9,300 words (which is priced at £300 as this is the minimum production cost). When we quote an audiobook production, we base the quotation on 9,300 words per finished hour. If your wordcount increases or reduces for some reason, so will the cost. For example, if you forgot to include a dedication, or the opening and closing credits, your price will increase per word. You may have faster paced narration throughout or you may have slower. But the price will be the same as we charge per word.

We invoice you for whole job (not including any extra words or extra time needed on the audiobook that we agree on – this would be a separate invoice). We list the 4 payments for you. They are due by way of approval to move onto the next set of chapters. Currently you can pay your payments by PayPal, Bank Transfer or Stripe, the details of which are on the invoice. There are other payment options out there that offer a line of credit or a way to pay in instalments, but for now, Indie Audiobook Productions only offer this 4 part split payment option.

The communication between the author and the narrator will be managed through the Indie Audiobook Productions Project Manager. They are keeping a close eye on the production of the audiobook and making sure everything is going as it should and ensuring the audiobook is delivered on time. Any question for the author from the narrator will be communicated through them and if the author has any extra information or responses, the project manager will make sure that is given to the allocated team of narrators, editors and proofers to add into their working production schedule. This keeps things all in on place and allows us to keep track of the questions, answers and directions etc.

No, you don’t have to pay everything upfront. We offer a split payment plan where you pay a deposit (currently 40%) to get the production underway, and 3 further payments (each 20%) by way of your approval for each third of the audiobook until completion. This payment structure is in place to help authors to place their trust in us, and also to help with the financial burden by spreading the payments out.

Your investment covers complete audiobook production services including narration by a professional voice actor, audio editing, proofing and mastering to ensure the highest quality. You get to keep your rights and pay across 4 split payments.

Absolutely! In fact this is part of out standard process. We provide 3 opportunities throughout the production for you to listen to the chapters as they are completed. This allows you to give feedback and ensure the narration meets your expectations throughout the production process. *Obviously there are limits as to what we can change within the original quoted cost, but we can amend narration with an additional charge if it's outside of the original information provided to us.*

We believe that what the narrator looks like (along with the other members of the team working on your book), is not a relevant or necessary factor in your choice of voice. The narrator will not be seen when your audiobook is being consumed by your audience, and so we don’t deem it necessary. We also encourage inclusivity within our business and so, what someone looks like, has no bearing on their narration skills. We vet all narrators available to you and they have been tested for quality. Once your book is in the works and being produced by Indie Audiobook Productions, you'll have the narrators name, as this will be included in your opening and closing credits of the book. For example: A Day In The Life Of Nelly Written by This Indie Author Narrated by Indie Narrator Produced by Indie Audiobook Productions.

When choosing a narrator, consider factors such as their performance, the quality of their voice, their narration experience (although, just because a narrator is new to audiobook narration, it doesn’t mean they won’t be good) and their understanding of your book's content. The narrator should be able to convincingly portray your characters the way you want them heard, and hold the listener's attention with their narrative skills.

Sure! Ask for a sample! IAP will allow you to request up to 3 narrator samples for your book.

Yes, of course! In your Sample Request Form, make sure you state the different POV names and the 3 narrators you want for each POV. If you need more than 2 narrators, please get in touch.

All narrators available to you on the narrator page have been fully vetted. They have had to apply for their place in the Indie Audiobook Production Team, had their studios tested and approved, as well as their samples that you listen to on the page, and they've had their history of narrating audiobooks, and the quality of them, verified. Our narrators range from seasoned professionals with years of experience and hundreds of audiobooks narrated to fresh, dynamic talents in the industry, building their portfolio. They are all trained to deliver high-quality audio performances.

Absolutely, yes. Email us for special requests like this. We’ll be in touch to talk about your narrator needs so we can better understand how to help you. It’s worth noting that anything other than choosing one narrator for your audiobook will usually be an extra cost. We’ll need to have a discussion within the team to make sure we are covering your requirements and work out the extra time required to perform and produce these requirements. We’ll be fair with the pricing but expect to pay more. Up to 3 per POV (point of view).

Please get in touch through our contact form and let us know more about what you’re looking for in your narrator. Perhaps we can help point you in the right direction or we might have narrators in mind that aren’t currently part of the Indie Audiobook Productions team. Pass us your phone number, because sometimes a call helps us to get a better understanding of what you’re looking for.

Platforms like ACX allow you to browse narrator profiles, listen to voice samples, and request auditions from potential narrators. At IAP we offer vetted narrators only. Many other platforms such as ACX (as it stands today), do not. But that’s not to say you won’t find a voice over at ACX that we don’t have here. If you do find someone elsewhere but you want to use them through Indie Audiobook Productions for your protection, let us have their contact details, and let’s see if we can get them to work with us for your production. Our narrators will have had their recording environment/studios, narration experience, and references checked and approved by experienced professionals of the industry. Your samples and books will be of the best quality and from the most quality narrators, not questionable recordings on phones, in unsuitable environments with unacceptable background noises.

We’ve tried to make this a nice and simple process for you. Head over to the narrator page, where you will see a list of audio samples. Use the filters on the right of the narrator page to select the qualities and skills you require from your narrator. Even if you only know that you need them to have a British accent, or that they need to be male or female, you don’t need to use them all, just use it to make sure you use your time wisely in listening only to the narrators that meet your criteria. Each narrator has put together a selection of passages in short 2-minute samples to give you a bit of variation to give you an idea of their range. Click the 'heart' to favourite as many narrators as you like and that you think might work as the voice of your book. Once you’ve had enough of browsing and made your selections , click the button that allows you to view all the narrators you favourited. Then it’s just a case of ‘process of elimination’. Un-favourite the ones you don’t want, until you are left with 3. Click the ‘copy your favourites to clipboard’ to use in your ‘Sample Request Form’ in a later stage. *Note - It would be wise to copy these somewhere like a note, or document in case you copy something later, and lose this information.* Then click 'Apply for FREE Samples'. Fill out the form and add your 'narrator reference numbers' when prompted to do so on the form. You’ll need information about your book, such as word count, the name of it and some description from the excerpt of about 300-600 words for the narrator to produce a sample from. Once the form has been submitted, sit back and wait! In 2-3 business days we’ll email you to let you know that the samples are ready to listen to and will provide a link to them - check your junk emails, we sometimes get lost in there. Found 'The One'? To go ahead with placing your order and getting your audiobook production started, click the link in your email or here on the website. *Note – these samples are for you to choose a narrator that will narrate your book. They are for this purpose only. You will not be able to download for any other use without prior permission and purchasing the rights to do so, which are £25 per sample*.

Absolutely! Many authors prefer to maintain the same voice for their series or subsequent books for consistency. We are happy to arrange this for you.

We have a diverse pool of experienced, professional, talented (and human) audiobook narrators. Depending on your book’s genre and the specific tone you’re aiming for, we'll help you select the perfect voice to tell your story.

Absolutely! In fact, we encourage authors to be involved in the selection process. You can request 3 free samples from various narrators and choose the one whose voice resonates most with your vision.

It expands your distribution options, allows you to reach a wider audience, and gives you control over the financial rewards from audiobook sales.

We can refer you to audiobook editors that could take a look and price it up for you, but we don’t offer this service at Indie Audiobook Productions currently.

Yes, we offer discounts for bulk projects like a series or trilogy. Producing multiple books at once is efficient and cost-effective, allowing us to pass those savings on to you. Get in touch to discuss this further by emailing info@indieaudiobookproductions

We currently don't. We have narrators that specialise in certain genres, but they don't ONLY narrate a specific genre. If you are looking for a specialised narrator, for a particular genre, please ask by emailing info@indieaudiobookproductions.co.uk and we'll help as best we can.

IAP does not publish audiobooks currently, or upload to audiobook platforms for you. Nor do we advise how to, due to the forever changing platforms available and their processes and specific standards required. We are an audiobook production company, and this is our expertise. The audiobook production you receive will be produced to majority of the distribution platforms specifications. There are however, plenty of audiobook publishing companies that you can find via. the search engines, but we wouldn’t be comfortable recommending any as again, as we have limited eexperience in this area. We would advise though, to do your research. Make sure you have read reviews, good and bad, and have proof of their success in publishing audiobooks on a regular basis.

Room treatment is crucial for achieving high-quality audio in audiobook recording. Proper room treatment helps reduce acoustic reflections, minimise echo, and eliminate unwanted background noise, resulting in a more controlled and acoustically dead environment.

It's important to consider your voice characteristics when choosing a microphone for audiobook recording. Condenser microphones are often recommended for their sensitivity and detail, but ribbon microphones and USB microphones are also viable options depending on your specific needs and budget.

We’ve opted to request reviews with Google Reviews, as we understand it to be one of the most reputable way to gather reviews. Our reviews are shown on the website, and are pulled through from Google Reviews directly.

While major platforms traditionally favour human narrators, some emerging platforms allow the creation of AI voices based on the author's own voice. Using AI voices can potentially reduce costs, but it's important to consider the emotional depth and expressive range that human narrators bring to the audiobook. At Indie Audiobook Productions we only use human voices. We don’t use AI for narration, proofing or editing. We’re happy to produce an audiobook that has been created using AI assistance if it is well written and has been checked over by an editor and proofer to ensure it is ready for human narration and listening.

Audiobook production offers several benefits, including the ability to reach new audiences who prefer audio content, increased sales potential due to the rising popularity of audiobooks, and global distribution through platforms like Audible, Amazon, iTunes, and Kobo.

We offer narrators fluent in multiple languages and a variety of accents. Whether you need a specific regional accent or a narrator who can speak in a global language, we can accommodate your needs. You can use the filters on the narrator page to select specific languages and accents, but if you can't see what you're looking for, please get in touch

Our pricing is simple and transparent, based on a straightforward narration of your book (with no extras such as sound effects, music, multi-narration, multi-cast etc. These requirements will need further discussion and will be an extra cost). On our homepage you’ll find a wordcount calculator so you can easily understand the costs involved, so you can budget accordingly. Remember that we offer a payment schedule based on several milestones, so you don’t need to pay all of the cost upfront. AND we have a Rewards Programme that allows you to earn money off your audiobook production with successful referrals and as you spend.

Currently, we only offer audiobook production services, not distribution. That’s not to say we won’t in the future but for now, we don’t. We will be adding information to our website soon with places to go to distribute your audiobook.

You can reach us through the contact form on our website, or email us directly at info@indieaudiobookproductions.co.uk. We're here to answer any further questions you might have!

All of it! At Indie Audiobook Productions, we operate on a transparent fee-for-service model, meaning you keep 100% of the royalties. Unlike other companies that might require a share of your royalties/profits, our goal is to empower authors by allowing them to retain full control and benefit from all their sales. You pay for your audiobook production and you keep it! All yours :-)

Our rewards program rewards you with points, that have can be used to towards the cost of your next audiobook production. There's no limit to how many points you can earn or use for your production. If you've earned points, you’ve marketed for us by spreading the word of Indie Audio Productions or you've spent money with us! To summarise: 1. For each new author you refer who completes an audiobook production, you'll receive 1 point that has a value of £5 off your next audiobook project. Just ask us for a referral/affiliate link to share! 2. For every whole finished hour of your own purchased audiobook, you’ll receive 1 point – again £5 per point - to use against your next purchase of an audiobook with Indie Audiobook Productions. So as an example, if you refer 2 authors and have an audiobook production of 10 hours completed by IAP, you’ll have collected 12 points, which is £60 off your next audiobook production with us! We also run competitions and incentives to earn points throughout the year, so It’s worth following us on social media and signing up to our Gazette. We also offer affiliate marketing links. Find out more by dropping us an email through the contact form or emailing info@IndieAudiookProductions.co.uk