This is it! Your characters want to be heard, and we can help.
Audiobook production begins with a brief questionnaire about your manuscript’s tropes, structure, and main characters. We’ll also collect information about any required accents, specialty words, and other pronunciation needs. Once we receive your manuscript, we’ll prepare it for recording and include directional notes. Casting begins with our narrator roster and, if needed, expands to a custom casting call at no additional charge to find the right voice actors for your audiobook.
As a full-service audiobook production company specializing in romance, CTR Audio includes script preparation, direction, casting, narration, editing, mastering, and proofing in one affordable production package.
Audiobook production costs are calculated using a per-finished-hour (PFH) rate. Once the project is contracted, a one-third deposit is due. During casting, you’ll receive fully mastered auditions for review. When your audiobook has a cast, we’ll provide a 15-minute sample of fully mastered audio in your selected narration format for feedback. After the sample is approved, we stay in communication with you along the way, providing progress updates throughout the audiobook production process.
Solo Narration
Telling your story with a single female or male narrator is a budget-friendly option and an excellent creative choice for certain storytelling styles, particularly single-POV manuscripts. In romance, it’s essential to cast a voice actor skilled at performing characters of different genders while maintaining the essence of each individual character.
Because one narrator performs the entire audiobook, casting focuses on finding an actor with a versatile vocal range and strong characterization skills. Capturing the essence of each main character, regardless of gender, is key. During editing, careful attention is given to ensure characters are clearly and consistently differentiated. Audio files are then mastered for optimal tonality and compliance with distributor formatting requirements.
Dual Narration
When a manuscript is told from multiple POVs, dual narration offers increased authenticity by allowing us to experience the story through the voice of each main character. As with single narration, each narrator voices all characters while narrating within their main character’s POV.
Narrators with strong characterization skills and versatile vocal ranges are important for this production style. When characters are voiced by more than one narrator, sample performances are shared between narrators to help maintain consistency. Each narrator’s audio also undergoes individualized equalization treatment to create a pleasing transition from one voice to the other. Delivered files are mastered for uniformity and compliance with distributor formatting requirements.
Duet Narration
Whether your story is told from one POV or several, duet narration allows your main characters to speak to each other conversationally in their own consistent voices throughout the audiobook. Many listeners consider duet narration especially immersive. For romance, it can offer an authentic representation of the romantic dynamic between your characters.
Duet production also allows for more targeted casting, as we can find the right voice actor to fully embody each main character. Each narrator’s performance undergoes individualized equalization treatment to create seamless, realistic interactions within your scenes. Finished files are then mastered for consistency and compliance with distributor formatting requirements.
Multicast Narration
Some manuscripts benefit from more than two narrators. Romances with multiple main characters may benefit from casting individual voice actors for each love interest, while certain supporting characters may benefit from clear vocal separation of their own.
We can discuss the advantages of casting individual actors for specific characters and determine a practical, dynamic approach that best captures your character interactions. There is no limit to the number of narrators who can be cast to perform your story.
When combined with duet production, multicast narration allows multiple characters to interact in their own consistent voices, creating a highly immersive listening experience.
Full production rates starting at $270.00 PFH for single narration format.
Example of a Duet Narration
Calculate your the cost of your manuscript with this formula:
(Average narration pace is set at 9,000 words per hour. Actual reading pace may average between 8,500 – 10,000 words per hour)
Manuscript word count ÷ 9,000 = The finished length (in hours) of your audiobook.
Next. Your estimated audiobook length x The per finished hour (PFH) rate.
Example: 50,000 words ÷ 9,000 = 5.6 finished hours
5.6 finished hours x $270 PFH rate = $1,512.00 US for a single narration audiobook at the starting rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does production time include?
Our full service production process starts with pre-production preparation. First, a fully developed character profile is created to be communicated to the actors for casting. Auditions are held and reviewed based on these character notes. During pre-production, your script is sorted and coded by character. Directional notes are added to the script to help ensure the exact mood of key lines and scenes are conveyed in the actors’ performances.
During production, each actor’s file is vetted for audio quality and equalized to create a blended tonality when combined. Then, each file is meticulously edited for background noise, flow, pacing, misreads, distracting mouth noises and each take is carefully considered for suitability in tone, inflection and conversational authenticity. Each dialogue line will need to be spliced individually in Duet format. Any errors or ill-fitting lines are re-recorded and enter the same process as previously noted before.
All files are then mastered at the most common industry standards for audiobook production. This includes adherence to chapter headings guidelines, noise floor, normalization, peak limits and room tone time requirements at the beginning and end of each chapter file. Lastly, your entire audiobook receives a quality control review before your files are delivered.
How long does the whole process take?
Though total lead time is effected by the backlog of everyone involved, here is a guideline to use for planning.
30,000 word audiobook: 3-4 weeks
50,000 word audiobook: 5-6 weeks
90,000 word audiobook: 10-12 weeks
Can CTR Audio handle the file uploading process?
We cannot upload your files unless you allow us access to your publisher account. It’s not a difficult process and we can walk you through it, but if this interests you, please make a request to discuss the specifics of what you need assistance with.
How does casting work?
What accents can your narrators perform?
Most of the narrators in our roster can perform many different accents and dialects with proficiency. From the most common requests of British RP and less formal regional dialects, to Scottish, French, Japanese, Latin-X, Australian, Russian, New York, Boston, Southern US, to even more nuanced accents such as Queens vs. Brooklyn, Manchester vs London. Don’t be afraid to request an accent you don’t see represented in this list or in the samples on this site. The versatility of our roster is astounding and if a custom casting call is necessary, we will provide one for no extra charge.
Do you have any content restrictions?
While we believe strongly in free speech and creative license, we follow the guidelines set forth by most large retailers prohibiting the glorification of hate speech, sexual abuse, non-consensual sex, and any descriptions of sexual acts involving minors under the age of consent.