Turn your Book into audiobook

Recording an audiobook gives your audience another dynamic way to interact with your content. That’s where PortableVoices comes in. Our in-house team works with you through the entire audiobook creation process—recording, post-production, and distribution—with the same world-class approach we use in our publishing services.

Audiobook Publishing made Easy!

PortableVoices helps manage audiobook production and distribution with time-saving and sales-boosting features.

WE MANAGE IT ALL

Recording, Audio Editing, and Uploading

Now is the time to self-publish audiobooks

Audio is the fastest growing format in online publishing. An estimated 300 million people worldwide listens to audiobooks on a monthly basis.

Succeeding as a self-publisher is about not only sustaining but maximizing your revenue streams. PortableVoices provides a simple yet effective process for getting your audiobook out to new and growing audiences.

What’s Included in the Audiobook Service?

The PortableVoices Audiobook production service includes everything you need to either be paired with a professional narrator or coached on how to speak it yourself, record, produce, and distribute it to the world.

RECORDING

  • Tell us who your narrator is—the voice you hear when you imagine your book being read to millions of people.
  • If you choose to narrate yourself, we’ll personally prepare you for the process, ensuring you give the best performance possible for your book.
  • The average audiobook is recorded over 2-5 sessions but could vary based on the length of your book. This process typically takes 1-2 weeks.

POST-PRODUCTION

  • Each audiobook goes through a detailed post-production process handled by 2 engineers: an editor & mastering engineer, and a quality control & spot check engineer.
  • Our expert team ensures audiobook files are prepared in accordance with distribution specifications.
  • We’ll be in contact with you throughout the process so you’re never left in the dark about what’s happening as we produce your audiobook

Production costs and royalty rates options.

You have options to meet your budget needs and earning goals when you create your audiobook with PortableVoices Studios. Choose your Producer, negotiate your production costs, and set your production schedule.

What you need to get started

It is easy to start your audiobook creation journey with us:

1. MANUSCRIPT/BOOK EVALUATION

PortableVoices receives the manuscript (or the first few sections) and does an evaluation to determine the style of writing and develop a quote for the author.

2. CONTRACT

Once evaluated and the pricing is agreed, PortableVoices and the author sign aProduction Contract (containing the terms of engagements, timelines and costs). At PortableVoices we refer to it as an Offer Agreement.

3. WORK STARTS

Your producer gets started to work with you or your narrator to first record a sample of the audiobook, which you can approve or provide feedback on. When all is set, you are good to proceed with the full project.

4. AUDIOBOOK APPROVAL

You can ask the PortableVoices to make up to two rounds of corrections to your finished book. When you're happy, you pay for production, unless you agreed to a Royalty Share deal.

5. DISTRIBUTION

PortableVoices distributes your audiobook through established independent bookstores and online retail channels under both the exclusive and non-exclusive contracts. If you grant non-exclusive distribution rights, then you can distribute through additional channels.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an audiobook and how does it work?

Audiobooks are voice recordings of the text of a book that you listen to rather than read. Audiobooks can be exact word-for-word versions of books or abridged versions. You can listen to audiobooks on any smartphone, tablet, computer, home speaker system, or in-car entertainment system.

How do I estimate how long my audiobook will be?

Dividing the word count of your book by 9,000 will give you an estimate on the final running time of the book. For example, a typical 50,000 word manuscript (200 book pages) will be roughly 5.5 hours of finished audio.

How long does it take to fully produce an audiobook?

The delivery time depends with size of the book but PortableVoices can deliver a retail-ready audiobook within 2 weeks to 3 months from signing your agreement.

How long does it take to record an audiobook?

A professional narrator will record close to a 2:1 ratio. This means that for every 2 hours they spend recording, 1 hour of audio will be used. Authors or newer narrators typically record at a 3:1 ratio which extends the recording time. This is why we typically recommend that all authors work with one of our professional narrators.

I’m going to narrate my audiobook. How do I prepare?

Long-form narration can be a strenuous task. To prepare, spend as much time as possible reading your manuscript out loud, restarting sentences when you make a mistake.
You can also use annotation software to give yourself subtle reminders to breathe and highlight words you’re having trouble with.
While many Authors love the idea of using their own voice to record their book, in most cases, we highly recommend working with one of our professional narrators to ensure your audiobook meets all the required audio standards and is just as enjoyable to listen to as it is to read.