I've been reading and listening, trying to decide how to go about making my own audio books. Here's a summary of what's happened since the idea was proposed to me by a fan.
Where I began:
I downloaded Audacity, a free audio program that lets me make each chapter of the book into an audio file. I chose a Maggie Pill book as my first, since they're shorter, with shorter chapters and generally easier reading.
What I bought:
a chair that doesn't squeak when I move
a good microphone with a sturdy stand
a pop filter (to keep fricative sounds like p's and b's from "popping" in the recording)
headphones
What I already had:
a damaged but working laptop I can leave in place so I don't have to re-attach things each time I record
an iPad to use as my script (no shuffling paper sounds)
a stand to hold it upright
a table that's just the right height
a "deluxe sound booth," really just closet with a door that closes. I put old pillows all around on the overhead shelves to deaden echoes and baffle noise. Right now the cords are in the way and I have to slither around them like a snake to get into place, but I'll move things around as I figure out what layout works best.
What I still need to learn:
The technological part. The terminology confuses me and most tutorials assume I know things that I don't. I contacted an audio engineer on Upwork and paid for a few hours of his time. I recorded one chapter and sent it to him for assurance and advice. He said I'd done everything right as far as recording goes, so I've got that part down. His job will be to correct the audio itself and prepare each file for submission to ACX. Tutorials claim I can learn how to correct my own mistakes, but it sounds like work I won't enjoy, so at least with this one, I'm willing to pay for expert help.
It's all in place, and I intend to start tomorrow. I will kick my husband out of the house, brew some tea, and sit down to read Maggie's Cat on a Hot Trash Route.
How long can I entertain myself with this? I'll keep you posted.