Audiobook Production Skill for Claude

Help me verify this audiobook meets ACX submission requirements.
[provide audio specs or describe setup]

Help me structure an audiobook from this manuscript:
Total word count: [X]
Chapters: [Y]
Type: [Fiction/Non-fiction]

Create a production plan for my audiobook project:
Book length: [word count]
Narrator: [self/hired]
Deadline: [date]

## ACX Audio Specifications (2026)

### File Format
- MP3, 192 kbps or higher (constant bit rate)
- 44.1 kHz sample rate
- Mono (single channel)

### Audio Levels
- RMS: -23dB to -18dB
- Peak values: -3dB maximum (no clipping)
- Noise floor: -60dB or lower

### File Naming
- Chapter files: [BookTitle]_[ChapterNumber].mp3
- Opening credits: [BookTitle]_Opening_Credits.mp3
- Closing credits: [BookTitle]_Closing_Credits.mp3

### Content Requirements
- Opening credits (first file): Title, author, narrator
- Closing credits (last file): "This has been [title] by [author], narrated by [narrator]"
- Each chapter file is standalone (no cross-file audio)
- Consistent room tone throughout

### Quality Requirements
- No extraneous sounds (mouth clicks, pops, page turns)
- Consistent audio quality across all files
- Retail sample: ~5 minutes of representative content

## Manuscript Preparation Checklist

### Structure
□ Chapter breaks clearly marked
□ Section breaks identified (longer pause points)
□ Footnotes converted to in-text explanations or removed
□ Visual content (charts, tables) adapted for audio or noted for skip

### Pronunciation Guide
□ Character names with phonetic spelling
□ Foreign words and phrases
□ Technical terms and jargon
□ Place names and proper nouns
□ Acronyms expanded or spelled out

### Narrator Notes
□ Tone shifts marked
□ Character voice cues (if fiction)
□ Emphasis suggestions (minimal)
□ "As shown in Figure X" → adapted for audio
□ Author asides or commentary identified

### Timing Estimate
□ Word count per chapter
□ Total word count
□ Estimated runtime: words ÷ 9,300 = hours (approx)
   - 50,000 words ≈ 5-6 hours
   - 80,000 words ≈ 8-9 hours

## Home Studio Essentials

### Minimum Equipment
- **Microphone**: USB condenser (AT2020, Blue Yeti) or XLR setup
- **Pop filter**: Essential for plosives
- **Mic stand**: Stable positioning
- **Headphones**: Closed-back, wired

### Room Treatment
- Record in smallest, most furnished room available
- Hang blankets on hard surfaces
- Use reflection filter behind mic
- Close windows, turn off HVAC
- Eliminate electronic hum (fridges, computers)

### Recording Software (DAW)
- Free: Audacity, GarageBand
- Professional: Adobe Audition, Reaper, Pro Tools
- ACX-specific: Hindenburg Pro (audiobook workflow)

### Test Recording Checklist
□ Record 30 seconds of room tone
□ Record test passage
□ Check RMS levels (-23 to -18 dB)
□ Check peak levels (below -3 dB)
□ Check noise floor (below -60 dB)
□ Listen for room echo or hum
□ Verify consistent mic positioning

## Mayer's Principles for Audiobook Delivery

### Voice Principle
"People learn better from human voice than machine voice."
→ Warm, conversational delivery beats polished broadcast voice
→ Let personality come through
→ Avoid monotone "reading" voice

### Personalization Principle
"People learn better when words are conversational rather than formal."
→ Write/deliver as if talking to one person
→ Use "you" and "we"
→ Contractions are encouraged

### Segmenting Principle
"People learn better when content is in learner-paced segments."
→ Clear chapter breaks
→ Section pauses for complex material
→ Chapter summaries for dense non-fiction

### Redundancy Principle (for video/slides)
"People learn better from graphics and narration than graphics + narration + text."
→ For audiobooks: don't describe visual elements you can't show
→ Adapt visual content or acknowledge it's omitted

### Coherence Principle
"People learn better when extraneous material is excluded."
→ Cut verbal filler
→ Remove tangents that don't serve the chapter
→ Every word earns its place

## Audiobook Production Pipeline

### Phase 1: Pre-Production (Week 1-2)
□ Manuscript finalized and proofread
□ Pronunciation guide complete
□ Chapter structure confirmed
□ Recording schedule created
□ Test recordings approved

### Phase 2: Recording (Weeks 2-6, varies by length)
□ Opening credits recorded first
□ Chapters recorded in order (usually)
□ Room tone captured each session
□ Daily backup of raw files
□ Notes logged for pickups needed

### Phase 3: Editing (Concurrent or following)
□ Remove mistakes and restart takes
□ Remove excessive breaths (keep natural ones)
□ Eliminate mouth clicks and pops
□ Smooth edits (crossfade)
□ Consistent pacing throughout

### Phase 4: Mastering
□ Noise reduction applied (light touch)
□ Compression for consistent levels
□ Limiting to prevent peaks
□ Final RMS check (-23 to -18 dB)
□ Export to ACX specs (192 kbps MP3, 44.1kHz, mono)

### Phase 5: Quality Control
□ Listen to every file start to finish
□ Check first/last 5 seconds of each file
□ Verify file naming convention
□ Run ACX Check or similar tool
□ Create retail sample (5 min)

## Opening Credits Script
(Must be first audio file)

"[Book Title]"
Written by [Author Name]
Narrated by [Narrator Name]

[Optional: Publisher name]
[Optional: Copyright year]

---

## Closing Credits Script
(Must be last audio file)

"This has been [Book Title], written by [Author Name],
narrated by [Narrator Name]."

[Optional: "Visit [website] for more" or other approved callout]
[Optional: "Audiobook production by [producer]"]

---

## Retail Sample Guidelines

**Length**: Approximately 5 minutes
**Content**: Representative excerpt that hooks listeners
**Selection criteria**:
- Showcases narrator's ability
- Engages interest without major spoilers
- Demonstrates the book's voice/style
- Often from early chapters (context not required)

**Do NOT include**: Credits or chapter announcements in sample

## Technical Compliance

□ All files are 192 kbps MP3, 44.1 kHz, mono
□ RMS levels between -23 and -18 dB
□ Peak values at or below -3 dB
□ Noise floor at or below -60 dB
□ No clipping or distortion
□ Consistent levels across all chapters

## File Structure

□ Opening credits file present
□ Closing credits file present
□ Files named correctly: [Title]_[Number].mp3
□ Chapter numbers are sequential
□ No missing chapters
□ Retail sample created (≈5 minutes)

## Content Quality

□ First/last 5 seconds of each file are clean (room tone or fade)
□ No extraneous sounds (clicks, pops, breaths)
□ No room echo or reverb issues
□ Consistent voice quality throughout
□ All pickups and corrections completed
□ Credits read correctly (title, author, narrator)

## Final Review

□ Listened to complete audiobook
□ Spot-checked transitions between chapters
□ Verified retail sample is representative
□ Cover art meets ACX specs (if applicable)
□ All metadata entered correctly

## Audiobook Production Schedule

**Title**: ________________________________
**Word count**: ___________ | **Est. runtime**: ___________
**Narrator**: _____________________________
**Target completion**: ____________________

### Pre-Production: Week ___

| Task | Due | Done |
|------|-----|------|
| Manuscript finalized | | □ |
| Pronunciation guide | | □ |
| Room/equipment tested | | □ |
| Opening credits scripted | | □ |

### Recording: Weeks ___ - ___

| Session | Chapters | Words | Est. Time | Done |
|---------|----------|-------|-----------|------|
| 1 | Credits + Ch 1 | | | □ |
| 2 | Ch 2-3 | | | □ |
| 3 | Ch 4-5 | | | □ |
| ... | | | | □ |

### Post-Production: Week ___

| Task | Due | Done |
|------|-----|------|
| Editing complete | | □ |
| Mastering complete | | □ |
| ACX specs verified | | □ |
| QC listen-through | | □ |
| Retail sample created | | □ |

### Submission: ___________

name: audiobook-production
category: audio
subcategory: voiceover
version: 1.0
author: MKTG Skills
source_expert: ACX, Richard Mayer
source_work: ACX Submission Requirements, Multimedia Learning
difficulty: intermediate
estimated_value: $500-2,000 per audiobook (equivalent production management)
tags: [audiobook, acx, audible, narration, production]
created: 2026-01-26
updated: 2026-01-26