There are many reasons readers might choose an audiobook over a printed book. Audiobooks can pass the time during a long commute or provide a more accessible experience. Or perhaps a fan wants to hear a story told in the author’s own voice. And, unlike in decades past—when audiobook listeners would find themselves dragging around cases full of cassettes or CDs (when they could locate an audiobook at all!)—audiobooks are now easy to find, easy to download directly to a smartphone, and easy to listen to whenever and wherever you want to get lost in a book.
Indeed, audiobooks are a great way for authors to reach a new, ever-growing, customer base. In fact, accessing audiobooks is so easy for readers, that, according to Statista, audiobook revenue is expected to grow from U.S. $9.84bn in 2025 to U.S. $13.03bn in 2029.
But are audiobooks easy to create?
The answer, in many ways, is yes. With a little research and a small investment in recording gear, it’s possible for authors to self-produce, and even self-narrate, their own books from the comfort of their own homes.
However, the answer is also a resounding no. Whether you record a book yourself or hire a full-service production company to walk you through all the steps, there are a few universal choices that go into producing any audiobook. Choices that can ultimately mean an entertaining, immersive experience, or audio that will sound like nails on the chalkboard to a prospective reader.
Narration
One of the first big choices is narration: should you narrate the book yourself, or hire a professional narrator (or multiple narrators)? When making this choice, there are a couple of questions to consider:
- Who will read the material in an engaging way?
- Who can handle the content (if there is challenging content like foreign language words, scientific or medical terms, or a variety of character voices)?
Some authors are also wonderful narrators, but those two talents don't necessarily go hand in hand. Professional narrators have experience putting in long hours in front of a microphone, juggling character voices, and seamlessly recording corrections. It takes a LOT of work to deliver a performance that will allow the reader to lose themselves in a story.
Also, consider if you have the time to record a book yourself. It can take three to four times as long as the runtime of the finished book to record the first take of an audiobook. Authors often find it worth the investment to hire a professional narrator rather than try to tackle it themselves due to their other commitments, especially if they have a marketing deadline for the audiobook version. Many authors have found themselves in narration purgatory, trying to find a (quiet) few hours to record a chapter or two.
Author Oversight
Another crucial decision is what level of oversight you, as the author, would like to have over the entire process. Whether you're producing the audio yourself, or working with a full-service production company, there are many touchpoints that can be set up in advance to ensure the audio turns out exactly how you want it:
- Reviewing narrator auditions
- Reviewing a pace and tone sample (before the narrator is off and running), and
- Reviewing final files.
AI Technology
AI technology is also on everyone’s mind these days and may ultimately be a game changer for the audiobook industry. While it's primarily being deployed in the post-production process, AI narration remains an enticing option for audiobook producers. At this point, the price and the quality don't quite make AI narration an ideal option—however, that could change in the future.
Another downside to AI narration is that using it means forgoing the largest distribution platform for audiobooks in the world, since Amazon/Audible currently prohibits AI narrated audiobooks.
The Production Process
If you're considering self-producing an audiobook, and are just starting out, it's still worth a call with a sound engineer or full-service company before you dive in. While it's certainly possible to do everything oneself these days, the production process is complex and technical—requiring recording (with a good mic, a good studio environment, and good technique), editing (with knowledge of specialized audio software), proofing (focus and critical thought, and exceptional listening skills) and mastering and formatting the final audio (requiring high-level knowledge of audio pitfalls and plugins). And, while many levels of sound quality are “acceptable” to a reader who wants to escape into a good book, listeners can easily find themselves distracted by audio with mistakes, inconsistencies, or sound quality issues.
But, if you have a DIY mentality—and the idea of learning about and operating audio software, cobbling together a home studio space, and working through extended recording sessions appeals to you—then self-produced audiobooks might be the way to go. However, if you'd prefer to focus on other aspects such as promotion, marketing, and PR, then a full-service audio production company will be an easier path.
While there are no one-size-fits-all solutions, ultimately, it’s a question of how to create the best audiobook possible to expand your audience.
