AUDIOBOOK
PRODUCTION & EDITING
TRANSFORM YOUR WORDS INTO A CAPTIVATING EXPERIENCE
Expand your audience and unlock a source of perpetual revenue
with a professionally produced audiobook
PROFESSIONAL SOUND
Highest quality equipment and software at your disposal
UNIQUELY YOU
Your story brought to life just as you imagined
MUSIC & SOUND EFFECTS
Royalty-free music and sound effects readily available
ACX APPROVED
Guaranteed to meet all ACX audio submission requirements
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
WHEN THEY SAY NO
Richard Fenton with Andrea Waltz
This was my second large project with Richard and Andrea. I previously managed the production of their audio course for the first book in this series, "Go For No!" I highly recommend both of these books for anyone to read, especially those in sales.
We recorded this audiobook at their house, which was a unique challenge. I brought over all the necessary recording equipment, including a Shure SM7B mic, a Universal Audio Apollo Twin audio interface, Audio-Technica headphones, and my laptop and accessories. The challenge came from finding a quiet place to record. The front room of their house was being converted into a studio, which was the ideal place to record. However, after a few test recordings in the room, we found that the sound was a bit echoey. So we built a little make-shift sound booth with sound panels and a large blanket over the top. Problem solved.
Both Richard and Andrea narrated sections of the book. I created different audio settings for both their voices to accentuate their sound and control speaking levels. Being able to save their unique settings allowed us to jump back and forth between them giving each other a chance to rest from reading.
The finished audiobook of 2.5 hours took about 8 hours in total to record, including the setup and strike. Editing and mastering took roughly two days to finalize. After removing/replacing a few stumbled words Andrea found during our review process, we uploaded the book to ACX. The entire book passed the review process on the first attempt and the book was published as scheduled a few weeks later!
Highlight moments: recording in their home in comfortable clothes made the process much more enjoyable for everyone. Ordering lunch from Tijuana Flats. So good. Lastly, a funny note about the recording process, we were approaching the end of our session and Richard had one line related to Elon Musk and Tupperware that we recorded at least 10 times because it turned out to be a real tongue-twister.
Recorded, Narrated, Edited & Mastered by Sterling Skye
Master the Recording Studio
Sterling Skye
Creating this audiobook truly pushed my limits. Working behind the microphone and managing the technical aspects of audiobook production was familiar territory for me. Stepping in front of the microphone was a different story. I knew it would be a unique challenge. One that I have always had tremendous respect for. Focusing on reading not too fast or too slow, articulating every word, emphasizing questions and important points, and properly spacing sentences and paragraphs naturally is quite a long list of important details to keep in mind, and unfortunately, I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was.
I had to record the entire book twice. My initial goal to record and release the audiobook a month after releasing the print copy led me to rush the recording process. It only took editing a few chapters before realizing my performance was extremely flat. I knew it was nowhere near the quality listening experience it needed to be. After much debate, I decided to postpone the release and rerecord the entire book.
After countless hours of recording, editing, and mastering the book, it was a true celebration when it was approved for distribution. I'm extremely proud of the outcome and certainly glad that I rerecorded it. Without a doubt, a valuable learning experience. I'm looking forward to taking all that I learned from this project and investing it into the next.
We’re so glad we found Sterling to work with us. He’s a true pro and made a daunting project fun and easy. (Plus he came and set up a studio at our place which was awesome.) Definitely hiring for all audio projects going forward.
PEAK INTO THE PROCESS
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HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED EDITING? WHAT'S INCLUDED?Editing is an extremely important process performed prior to beginning a mix. It's the cleanup phase. Editing tasks include: Vocal Tuning Breath Reduction/Removal Vocal Alignment Alignment of vocal doubles, harmonies, and backgrounds Plosive or Sibilance Control Click/Pop Removal Drum Replacement Drum Sample Layering Drum Phase Alignment Guitar/Bass Digital Reamping Instrument Alignment Background Noise Removal Still need help determining what your song needs? Fill out the form on my contact page and receive a free consultation and song review.
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HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE MY MIX?It typically takes just 1 or 2 days to complete a mix. Projects with a high track count or projects that require extensive editing take up to 3 days to complete. This doesn't mean you'll receive your music within a day or two, but it's possible. The exact project turnaround time varies based on current availability.
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WHAT FILES WILL I RECEIVE AFTER APPROVING THE MIX?The Premium Mixing Package delivery includes: (1) Stereo uncompressed WAV file: 24-bit, 48 kHz (if applicable) (1) Stereo uncompressed WAV file: 16-bit, 44.1 kHz TV/Performance Mix (mix minus lead vocal) Instrumental Mix Acapella Mix Mixed stems are available for an additional fee. The Standard Mixing Package delivery includes: (1) Stereo uncompressed WAV file: 16-bit, 44.1 kHz (1) Stereo 192kbps MP3 file Mixed stems, instrumentals, and other mix versions are available for an additional fee.
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HOW DO I EXPORT INDIVIDUAL TRACKS FROM MY DAW?Most DAWs come equipped with track export functions. A quick YouTube search would be the most beneficial here. I created step-by-step guides a few years ago to export all tracks as individual audio files. These guides haven't been updated recently, so I can't guarantee that they still hold up after the latest software updates. Click on your DAW below to view or download a PDF to guide you through the exporting process. PRO TOOLS | LOGIC PRO X | GARAGEBAND | ABLETON LIVE | STUDIO ONE | REAPER | FL STUDIO
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WHAT FILES SHOULD I SEND FOR MIXING?Audio Files Individual WAV or AIFF files for each track See the question HOW DO I EXPORT INDIVIDUAL TRACKS FROM MY DAW? Stereo bounce of your rough mix Song Details Please include as many of the below details as possible: Artist/Band Name Song Name Album Name Album Artwork Lyrics Genre BPM/Tempo Time Signature Key Signature Copyright and Licensing Info Reference Tracks 1 to 3 tracks of a similar genre Could be any released song from another artist/band that you like the sound of Could be a previous release of yours that you'd like to match the sound of Could be a song that inspired you to create this current song Could be a particular sound you like in a song e.g. "Can you make my kick drum sound like this one?" You can send a link to the song(s) if you can't send the song itself
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HOW SHOULD I SEND YOU MY FILES?I use Google Drive and Dropbox for file management. Upload your project to the service you're familiar with and send me the shareable link via email. If you're using a free Google Drive or Dropbox account and don't have the space to upload your project, you can use a transfer service such as WeTransfer, or I can send a link to a private folder on one of my accounts for you to upload your project.
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CAN I SEND YOU MY SESSION?Pro Tools users can send a copy of your session for mixing. Make sure all audio files are included before sending (perform a "save copy in" with copy audio files checked).
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DO YOU OFFER FREE REVISIONS?Yes. Depending upon the service, I offer either a limit of (2) revisions or unlimited revisions. I always strive to be flexible and encourage creativity when possible. However, working without limitations and deadlines can lead to a never-ending cycle of "let's try this" or "maybe it would sound better if..."
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HOW DO I REQUEST A REVISION?All revision requests need to be sent via email. Please include detailed information such as the timestamp of where the issue(s) occurs when possible. Below is a list of common requests that would be covered with the included revisions and a few requests that would not be covered. These lists are not all-encompassing nor exclusive. I have the final decision about whether or not a requested revision will be performed without additional fees. Revision requests covered: Removal of noise problems. Volume adjustments of an individual track/sound or group of tracks (e.g., can you make the drums louder?) Basic creative decisions such as muting an instrument in a particular section of a song. Adjustments or additions of time-based effects like reverb and delay. Revision request that would not be covered: Adding tracks or audio clips not included in the original project submission. Major changes in the arrangement of a song not previously discussed. After receiving your written approval for a review file, the process to finalize your project will begin. Any revisions requested after will incur a fee. The fee will be determined based on the extent of the requested revision.
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HOW LONG WILL MY FINALIZED FILES BE AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD?You'll have (14) days to download your finalized files. After this period, I may remove your files from my servers if needed. You may request to have your finalized files reuploaded at any time during your backup retention period.
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HOW LONG DO YOU KEEP A BACKUP OF MY PROJECT?I agree to maintain a backup of all working sessions and media files associated with your project for a minimum of (1) year or (5) years for clients who book my premium mixing service. Read more about Backups on the Terms and Conditions page.