Inside an Audiobook Narrator's Booth

Sean gives you tour of his studio and passes on some tips about how you should layout the interior of your booth.

[@metalhead930430]

Your voice on DFW's Infinite Jest is just perfect. I hoped that you would also do The Pale King -- no such luck. Thank you for being great at what you do*. *You're now the voice of the reader in my head.

[@RyanMcQuen]

So killer! He phrases Wallace so perfectly.

[@MonkTorius]

Thank you for this video and the info you provided to other comments, it's all quite informative, as well as your other video on audiobooks. I've often pondered if I should get into audio books, i believe I have the voice ability, however, i dont know if I have the drive for it, and your videos have given me pause, to think and to examine if i should attempt it. Thank you again, and be well, sir.

[@jhh243]

Thank you so much for this look inside the booth. I am building mine and was struggling with what would be comfortable. You have given me a great start. Subscribed and liked.

[@ITPMMentor]

Love your performances and love this practical explaination of why you made your choices

[@moment_visual]

Listening to body keeps the score with your narration was a bliss. Thank you

[@DavidHayes17A]

Thanks and some great tips and especially the eye level - very good video

[@MelissaHearne]

Thanks, Sean. I've been looking for exactly this kind of info.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

That orange pair of scissors looks like it's about to fall over and ruin a take. Ha. Anyway, this was interesting. I had to look you up on here because I'm a quarter of the way through Infinite Jest and I honestly don't think I could have made it this far without you. I have the book and follow along with your recording. Or, when it's inconvenient to engage the actual book, I just keep your audio running while I do other things. Your inflection is amazing, and really helps me understand DFW's words and sentences better. You're a very fine actor. Thanks a lot.

[@SeanAllenPratt]

D'oh!

[@elliejoanna5925]

I have exactly the same scissors but idk why that’s relevant 😅

[@petkuscinta9797]

I have seen 3 videos on you tube now of Sean. 2 of them (including this one have incredibly high and strong "S" pronounce. 1 video was OK - no "S" letter pronounce issues

[@GeorgeWhittam]

This is a really great resource, Sean. Nice job, and Mac Mini is a GREAT choice! Mic placement suggestion is spot on. Thanks for pointing out that deeper voices may have issues with this type of booth, absolutely accurate advice. I'll post this in my video tutorials area at vostudiotech

[@landforsalebydannnylanddot8351]

Amazing video, Sean, well done! I have listened to “Relentless,” and your work is superlative. Thanks, kindly! 😎 Daniel F. Harb, ARRT, RT(R)

[@landforsalebydannnylanddot8351]

Thank you, Sean.... Your voice is “Liquid Gold.” 😁

[@fredgalyean]

Thanks for sharing! Very useful tips and info.

[@qubodup]

I sure am curious what it looks like now, 10 years later

[@EytsirhcChristye]

We have a place where you narrate as a volunteer and I have an audition for that. You narrate newspapers, magazines, and books for blind people. My parents live up the street and have a soundproof room, so I’m getting there. I’ve been working at a call center and people keep saying I should narrate audiobooks and my nephew loves the videos I made him of me reading him books and I’m his favorite show. My parents have been saying I should narrate audiobooks. I looked into it and KZbinrs said it was easy and you could record on your iPhone and make $100/hour on ACC and then I looked into it and there’s a lot more that goes into it.

[@SeanAllenPratt]

You should check out acx.com and then join the ACX Facebook group. Also: - Go to KZbin and subscribe to Daniela Acitelli’s channel - kzbin.info/door/ann0oUyOrqAMJ4T7NXenxA Start watching her webcasts, “Narrator’s Cup of Joe”. It’s very informative about all things audiobooks! - Go to ​​www.narratorsroadmap.com/ and signup for Karen Commins e-newsletter. Also, you should bookmark her site as it is an EXCELLENT resource. - Finally, I’d like for you to watch this KZbin video titled: The Habits Of Effective Artists. I think you’ll find it entertaining and informative. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rH6WaqSejdGYask

[@MrSpruce]

Nice to see you still reply to three, almost four year old videos.

[@SeanAllenPratt]

I'm still here :-)

[@MrSpruce]

Sean Pratt A reply within a minute? That's pretty good I'd say. Anyway, I'm starting to get into a bit of narration, and I'm finding it rather fun :P

[@MrSpruce]

@@SeanAllenPratt But are you here 5 years later?

[@SeanAllenPratt]

@@MrSpruce Very much so. 😎👍🏻

[@matthewjbarron]

For an online dictionary, might I recommend a subscription to Oxford English Dictionary? I hear they have an iOS app as well.

[@firstpersonshredder8933]

Editing is the death of me. It kills me. Any thoughts or tips? I mean recording is alright. but editing...

[@SeanAllenPratt]

Punch and Roll! It's the ONLY way to go!

[@bedtimetales3205]

@@SeanAllenPratt I remember when I discovered how to use Punch and Roll, it was a complete lifesaver lol

[@Overit5000]

these booths are incredibly easy to build FYI... 2x4 and roxul safe n sound

[@JohnKostohryz]

Great video...thank you!

[@JekkaEmbers]

Sean! Can you send us audible links to some books you’ve narrated? I’m looking for some Christian books about righteousness. Thanks!

[@SeanAllenPratt]

As Sean Pratt - www.audible.com/search?ref=a_search_l1_catRefs_12&pf_rd_p=7fe4387b-4762-42a8-8d9a-a63254c74bb2&pf_rd_r=WW54AED96VAWDWXY6BN9&&keywords=Sean+Pratt&node=2226667011&submitted=1&sort=popularity-rank As Lloyd James - www.audible.com/search?ref=a_search_l1_catRefs_16&pf_rd_p=7fe4387b-4762-42a8-8d9a-a63254c74bb2&pf_rd_r=EH3J05VWH3AXPXV3ABG7&&keywords=Lloyd+James&node=2226667011&submitted=1&sort=popularity-rank

[@charlie5thumbs351]

Hi Sean. I'm really interested in doing this, but I realize that I need to get some experience. So, what I would like to do is to get started on Librivox, just to do some volunteer work and get my feet wet. I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of microphone would be good to start out with, being on a very tight budget. I would eventually like to work my way up to something better of course. I read in a few places that you could get by with reading for audible.com or ACX using the Audacity software as well, but I don't know how true that is. I know I won't be doing full time professional work anytime soon, but I was wondering if I could break into the field with free software and a cheap mic.

[@SethSpeaksChannelJaneRoberts]

Do you by chance know how to eliminate the tinny/metallic sound that seems to come of mic, but at various intervals and usually only when speaking? It is not heard with the recording ear phones, it's also not even seen in the DAW (audacity) as a spike, in fact it's ONLY heard with ear buds at highest volume level. I have been checking all kinds of audio for this to see if it happens a lot and it does, but I didn't hear it in your video here (listening extra close when you are in booth using your mic which happens to be the same mic I use). When I go to master my audio narration all I do is noise reduction and normalize (-3db), then export. I have tried EQ and compression to see if it is removable, but it seems to get louder. It's a subtle little tin or metallic sound, but again it's not consistent; it's not room noise. If you know what I'm talking about, please, any advice would be graciously received. My gain is set to about 2:45 on interface.

[@jojofunhe]

thank you for sharing this

[@adammosko844]

Hello, I have been watching several of your videos and find them very helpful. I have just begun seriously looking into becoming an audiobook narrator. You mentioned that you teach workshops in Washington, DC. Do you offer any of these via webcast? I live in Pittsburgh, PA. I would be very interested in checking out one of your courses. Thanks, Mandy

[@SeanAllenPratt]

+Amanda Mosko At present, I do occasional workshops, in person or via Skype. Also, I do one on one coaching on Skype. Check out my Facebook page - facebook.com/Sean-Pratt-Presents-56889139579/

[@SimpLeeBeth]

#goals 😁

[@MrRevilo1951]

Great video--quick question--how did you hang your mic stand from the wood? That is precisely what I need.

[@ChrisOrillia]

Love your Surfaces and Essences, what was it like to read a book like that?

[@SeanAllenPratt]

It was difficult! :-)

[@saizawm]

Thanks so much!

[@laurick6122]

Thanks for the great info ! How long do you read before you take a break? and what is the total number of hours you will read in a day?

[@SeanAllenPratt]

I record for 45 minutes in the booth before I take a 15 break. I do that 5 or 6 times a day, recording 2 finished hours of material.

[@jessejones9197]

Hi Sean, Thank you so much for this info. I have a further question on your booth setup. How are you cooling it? Are you simply using the fan that came with it or have you modified it or added to it. In my situation I have to have my booth in my garage which is not air conditioned. Even worse, I'm in Texas.

[@SeanAllenPratt]

Jesse Jones Actually, I now use some dryer hose and a few other HVCA couplings to connect it directly a floor vent. Can you access your vent from the garage?

[@jessejones9197]

That's a great suggestion. I was devising some complicated set up using a window unit and dryer hose, but I might be able to appropriate an air vent. I'll explore that idea. Thank you!

[@SeanAllenPratt]

:-)

[@ArisaStudios]

I'd like to do that but I don't think I have the 'voice' to do it.

[@leighannwoody545]

How do you turn pages of the material you are reading without making any sounds?

[@SeanAllenPratt]

We now use an iPad

[@GehirnGoldmine]

Very interesting, thank you :-)

[@SeanAllenPratt]

+Matthias Schwehm Glad you liked it!

[@StardustLu1]

So I need somebody to show me how to use FL Studio. My huge problem.

[@GamerX1210]

Any reason not to use an ipad for your script? Seems quieter than a lamp.

[@SeanAllenPratt]

Nope. You can do that, too. :-)

[@onetakeonly1592]

That acoustic setup is bad.

[@politereminder6284]

How so?