Narrator, engineer, performer

I provide professional narration and engineering (recording, mixing and mastering) services, either as a package deal (best value) or separately. You can send me a finished narration to mix and master, or have me perform your narration and send the files back to you for editing by you or someone else, or you can simply send me your script, tell me what you want generally, and have me handle ALL aspects of narration, engineering, and dealing with the many confusing and annoying technical aspects of uploading to Audible etc.

Audio SerVices and RATEs

Here is a breakdown of these services:

NarratioN

My rate as a narrator is $300 per finished hour of audio -this means you are not paying for how long it takes me to do the project, only invoiced based on the inherent length of the material. According to industry leaders Edge Studio and VoiceActing101, the baseline non-union rate for audiobook narration work is around $300 (top pros get more).

I have experience performing audiobook narration, commercial voiceovers, dramatic presentation (acting), and live public address.

Core responsibilities:

  • Creating an appropriate script from your book- I will read and review your text and flag any sections that I feel may not make sense for narration, collect my questions on pronunciation or your intent as author, etc. and proactively circle back with you to create the best version of your project for an audio presentation.

  • Delivering a compelling performance with emotional range, drawing from years of theatre training, public speaking and performance experience

  • Interpreting your unique voice as an author, and letting it come through.

  • Sending an initial sample of my narration to you for review and notes if desired- I welcome your feedback and collaboration!

SAMPLE RATE QUOTE:

Let’s say your script, which is your book minus any sections that don’t make sense in an audiobook adaptation (table of contents, a prologue if you choose to exclude it, etc.) contains 15,000 words. At an average reading rate of 2.5 words per second (the industry standard for audiobook narration), the estimated duration of the finished audio would be 1 hour and 40 minutes.

$300 per finished hour x 1.67 hours = $500 rate for narration

Engineering, Mixing and Mastering

My rate for engineering is $150 per finished hour of audio (again, not a charge for the actual time I spend on the project, only the inherent length of the material). This is in line with industry standard rates for audiobook engineering.

I record with a professional-level signal chain of:

  • Neumann TLM-102 microphone with shock mount

  • DBX 286s channel strip

  • Roland and MXR audio cables

  • Focusrite interface

  • Ableton Live 12 Suite DAW software

  • Professional standard plugins for audio processing and mastering including iZotope RX 11 series

    Core responsibilities:

  • Editing all takes together cleanly, to create a single smooth performance throughout the audiobook with no sense of interruption

  • Cleaning up audio

  • setting levels and reducing noise

  • removing mouth noises, clicks, pops, de-essing

  • adding royalty-free music if desired by client

  • re-editing narration or changing effects after I submit a first draft for approval

  • Mastering finished audio to meet specifications for submission to Audible, etc. including peak levels, consistent volume, noise floor, and file encoding standards

EXAMPLE:

Your script has 15,000 words, which equates to 1 hour and 40 minutes of finished audio.

$150 x 1.67 hours = $250

Compared to traditional audiobook production, where a self-published author is responsible for finding and paying a narrator, renting studio time and paying an engineer, I represent a discount per service, and bring a convenience factor where you only have to talk to one person from start to finish!