Production of audiobooks, audio stories and sound fictions: keys

On this platform, Raúl Montero, CEO and co-founder of Sound of Ideas e InNovaVoice, sheds light on the production and post-production of audiobooks, audio stories and sound fictions, three of the pillars of sound entertainment.

Audiobooks, audio stories or sound fictions: all these audio productions would be included in productions of sound entertainment. Like all audiovisual production, it has a process of pre-production, production and post-production. And part of a written script. It doesn't matter if it is a novel, a fiction script, an academic essay, an editorial article or a training: you start from that writing and adapt the production to each sound format. How to convert that text into audio is the key to the final result and the arrival and impact that that production ultimately has on the consumer.

In pre-production we have the preparation of materials of each project. Texts, instructions and possible voice casting requests are received from the client (publishers, distributors, producers). On this, the texts are prepared and the critical points: style, layout, main characters, pronunciations and languages, graphics, possible adaptations. Afterwards, professionals are called to carry out a casting. In the case of an audiobook or audio story, it is normal for a single professional to narrate the entire work, but sometimes it is recorded in several voices. In the case of fiction, it is essential to have a voice for each character and thus achieve the best immersive experience.

The production of audiobooks, audio stories and sound fictions

Once we have the ideal voice (or voices), we move on to the process of production. The calendar of the recording sessions is organized and the relevant agreements are signed with the professionals. Basically, a Confidentiality NDA and a services agreement.

The usual thing is to do 4 hour recording sessions. In a format like the audiobook, and more with a single voice, we get 2 good hours in each session. That is, a ratio 1:2. And if on average an audiobook is 8-10 hours long, in 4-5 days we record it. In the case of sound fictions things change, and we must organize simultaneous recording sessions between various voices, specific scenes sessions with other characters, environments, wild tracks to have resources, etc… Everything moves much further in time, logically.

If we think about 10 hours of reporting, we talk about doing 10 movies at sound level, and in much less time. It is a lot of work wingspan.

You have to go as far ahead as possible, as in any sound production, from the recording process to subsequent mixing. Take into account all the soundscape what you will want to achieve in the final mix along with the sound effects (foley and setting) and music. In this way, we will take advantage of the recording to provide the intention, interpretation and the suitable interpretive resources for each sequence, scene or passage. We do all the production and that gives us a complete vision and allows us to develop a cyclical production chain in which all processes are related. We design our sound effects, we compose our original soundtracks and we create the necessary setting. If we think about 10 hours of story, we talk about making 10 movies at sound level, and in much less time. It is a very important job.

Returning to production, after each recording session, the audio goes through a editing process (cleaning and layout) and text review. And after review, it is most likely that quote the professional (or several) to record some corrections that are located. As in the paper edition, you can remove errors in each of the revisions be done, so you have to be effective and, more importantly, efficient.

Mixing and mastering, critical points of post-production

Here the production process ends and we enter the post-production. All audio is laid out. It is done final mix and mastered. You have to adapt to the technical specifications of each client in it mastering and in the delivery of the final format. There are more or less standards, but there are always particularities of each one. Let's keep in mind that we are talking about a recently created industry that has gone from 0 to 100 in just 5 years. It is necessary a little more time for everything.

In the case of sound fictions, the processes of mix y mastering They are more critical. In many cases we are talking about mixing sessions of more than 120 tracks including voices, effects, music and environments. Sometimes a binaural sound mix, achieving a greater immersive experience for the user, taking advantage of the spherical dimension with respect to one of the axes that this technique allows us. We have also made ambisonic, three-dimensional recordings and mixes, which play with the full 3D spherical plane, not only spacing the sound in front, behind or to the sides, but also up and down. The result is absolutely immersive. They are productions that take a long time to work on and are become your daughters. In each one you leave a part of yourself, without a doubt. Well, and years of life too.

In the case of a normal audiobook to one single voice and without sound ambience, the complete production is between 15 and 30 days. And for an average of Final 10 hours of audiobook, are used between 50 and 70 hours of production, and a human team of several people.

In the case of a normal audiobook with a single voice and without sound setting, the complete production is between 15 and 30 days. And for an average of 10 final hours of audiobook, between 50 and 70 hours of production, and a human team of several people. We have several recording rooms so we carry out several productions simultaneously. This world of sound entertainment merges literature and sound and we are passionate about that.

Now, in addition, we have created InNovaVoice, a new brand in which we use the IA like a tool to produce sound content. We already used it to complement our musical compositions, but now we also use it to clone voices of professionals, con guaranteed rights and with the authorization of the professional in each use of course, and to produce all the sound content with text-to-speech tools. Always with a human team behind each process. And always in a complementary way to the traditional analogue production, which is our passion.