Audiobook Production Trivia 4

Question 1

What is the average words-per-minute rate that most professional audiobook narrators target for fiction?

Accepted Answer

155–180 WPM

Answer

Most professional audiobook narrators aim for 155–180 words per minute for fiction, balancing clarity with pacing.

Question 2

Which file format is most commonly required for final audiobook delivery to major distributors?

Accepted Answer

MP3 at 128 kbps

Answer

Most major audiobook distributors, including ACX/Audible, require MP3 files encoded at 192 kbps or 128 kbps mono.

Question 3

What does 'royalty share' mean in the context of ACX audiobook deals?

Accepted Answer

The narrator receives a percentage of audiobook sales instead of an upfront payment

Answer

In a royalty share deal on ACX, the narrator receives no upfront pay but earns a percentage of the audiobook's ongoing sales revenue.

Question 4

What is 'mouth noise' in audiobook production and how is it typically addressed?

Accepted Answer

Clicks, pops, and lip sounds from the narrator's mouth, reduced by staying hydrated and using editing tools

Answer

Mouth noise refers to distracting lip smacks and clicks that are reduced by drinking water before sessions and manually editing them out in post.

Question 5

In audiobook production, what is a 'chapter header' or 'chapter slate'?

Accepted Answer

An audio announcement of the chapter number or title recorded at the beginning of each chapter file

Answer

A chapter slate is the narrator's spoken announcement of a chapter title or number, typically included at the start of each chapter's audio file.

Audiobook Production Practice Test