1. With a text-to-speech program.
Cost: Low (Free to $100)Quality: Low
Time: Minimal
Programs and/or tools:
- NaturalReader Free – NaturalReader Free is one of the best free text to speech software. To hear any text, just select the text and press your selected hotkey – NaturalReader will immediately start reading it for you. Extremely easy to use. Download Here.
- iSpeech Free – You do not have to download or install anything. Just copy paste the text you want to be converted, or you can even upload a document. iSpeech will convert that to text for you. Completely Free. Try Here.
- ReadPlease – Read Text from Clipboard ReadPlease is another free and easy to use text to speech software. You can download it, and paste any text that you want it to read. Apart from that, ReadPlease can also read the text from your clipboard. Download Here.
- DSpeech - Free Text to Speech SoftwareDspeech is another free text to speech software. It easily converts text to speech, and lets you save them as audio files. This is a simple no frills attached Text to Speech Software. Download Here.
2. Hire a professional.
Cost: High ($500-5000)Quality: High
Time: Minimal
Production Companies:
3. Your voice or with the help of your friends.
Cost: Mid-rangeQuality: Mid-range
Time: A lot
Programs and/or tools:
A high to studio-quality microphone ($50-500)
Headphones ($10-50)
Audacity - Audacity is a free, easy-to-use and multilingual audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.(Free)
Tomorrow, we will discuss the third one in greater detail. A lot of self-published authors want to turn their books into audiobooks and yet they don't like their voice, or they would like a certain type of reader. Perhaps as a large writing community, we can work together to help all writers succeed at this.
Source:
http://www.technicalcommunicationcenter.com/2010/12/18/how-to-turn-your-book-into-an-audiobook-and-vice-versa/
Wow. I had no idea! I'll definitely explore these options. When I edit my own books I love to read them aloud--helps me find mistakes, it would be great to be able to listen to it being read.
ReplyDeleteI'd read someone's book for an audio recording for free :) but I'm, afraid my voice belongs more in SHREK and ICE AGE films than in audio books :))
ReplyDeleteI sound like a girl. Not a woman, a girl. So maybe my voice would be great for YA literature.
ReplyDelete@Dez - why SHREK and ICE AGE?
Great suggestions Clarissa.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a job that included lots of driving, so I listened to many books on tape. From that experience, I would highly recommend #2 if possible for authors. Some of the writers who tried to read an audio book were so bad, I had to stop it.
Reading for an audience and writing are two different skill sets that not everyone is best suited to perform.
Never ever thought about producing an audiobook. This is interesting. I have a Texas accent, so I'd definitely be out as a reader.
ReplyDeleteI agree with getting the proper tools, not just the voice. It makes a lot of difference. My sister said my voice sounds like her GPS system voice, though, um, I always cuss at mine. =)
ReplyDeleteI think it would be great fun to read my books out loud!
ReplyDeleteWow, I didn't know about all of those tools... very interesting. I sing and I do podcasts and vlogs at YouTube... not singing though... so I guess like my voice... as long as I don't hear it too much. But I wouldn't be able to do the "acting" or the sound effects. So, I'd never do my own audiobooks. My publisher does audiobooks, but I think they're only doing stories along the lines of "The Princess Diaries."
ReplyDeleteVery interesting stuff! Not sure how I'd sound in audio, though (Southern accent...)
ReplyDeleteClarissa - I didn't even know this stuff! Thank you :-)! I'm going to have to archive this post; I've been thinking about whether to do this, and you've given me such good food for thought. I used to be DJ, too, so maybe I even could do the narration myself...
ReplyDeleteEeep...I cannot imagine reading my own book and recording it. How traumatizing.
ReplyDeleteSo interesting to see all the different options. Like others, I hate to hear my recorded voice. Working with others sounds like a great idea!
ReplyDeleteTremendous post. I have used a free TtoS app as an editing tool, because I hate to read my writing out loud. Thanks for all this excellent info, it will really come in handy.
ReplyDeleteDoing it with friends would be fun, but we'd probably spend the whole time cutting up.
ReplyDeleteSounds awesome, but I need to find someone with a really great voice...someone who evokes the essence of Jack London, mingled with the friendliness of Winnie the Pooh:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information and the links!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely hate the sound of my voice!!!
ReplyDeleteAwww but these are amazing tips and links - thank you! Take care
x
Thank you so much. I downloaded from the first link. I might try the rest.
ReplyDeleteGood info, but I'm nowhere near doing that.
ReplyDeleteMakes sense. I don't think you'd want my voice though, it's pretty grating. :P
ReplyDeleteI love your think outside the box ideas. So many options for indie authors. Personally, I hate the sound of my voice.
ReplyDeleteHi Clarissa .. so interesting to read about - thanks for posting .. everyone seems to be in agreement - a fun and very positive thought and route to take your work .. cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteAs you mentioned in the post after this one, doing some sort of exchange would be good. I'd certainly be willing to do that for another writer. 'Course a Jamaican accent might not go over so well with a North American crowd. :)
ReplyDeletethis is very informative article. i am getting into audiobooks again. I think one of your last post prompted me to give them a second chance.
ReplyDelete