Voice Over Audiobook Narration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the required noise floor level for audiobook submissions on ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange)?
- -40 dBFS or lower
- -60 dBFS or lower (Correct answer)
- -80 dBFS or lower
- -20 dBFS or lower
Correct answer: -60 dBFS or lower
ACX requires the noise floor to be below -60 dBFS to ensure clean, professional-quality audio.
Question 2: In audiobook production, what does the abbreviation 'PFH' stand for?
- Pre-Formatted Hour
- Per Finished Hour (Correct answer)
- Professional File Header
- Post-Final Hour
Correct answer: Per Finished Hour
PFH stands for 'Per Finished Hour,' the standard unit used to calculate narrator pay rates in audiobook contracts.
Question 3: What is the ACX-required RMS (root mean square) loudness range for audiobook audio files?
- -12 to -6 dB RMS
- -30 to -25 dB RMS
- -23 to -18 dB RMS (Correct answer)
- -40 to -35 dB RMS
Correct answer: -23 to -18 dB RMS
ACX specifies that the overall RMS loudness of each audio file must fall between -23 dB and -18 dB RMS.
Question 4: Which Amazon-owned platform serves as the primary marketplace for independent audiobook production and distribution?
- Findaway Voices
- Libro.fm
- ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) (Correct answer)
- Downpour
Correct answer: ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange)
ACX, the Audiobook Creation Exchange, is Amazon's platform connecting authors, publishers, and narrators for Audible/Amazon distribution.
Question 5: What does 'room tone' mean in the context of audiobook narration?
- The EQ applied to simulate studio acoustics
- A silent recording of the ambient sound in the recording space (Correct answer)
- The reverb setting used during audio mastering
- Background music mixed beneath the narration
Correct answer: A silent recording of the ambient sound in the recording space
Room tone is a silent recording of the natural ambient sound in the recording environment, used in post-production to fill gaps seamlessly.
Question 6: What file format does ACX require for final audiobook submissions?
- WAV 24-bit/96kHz
- FLAC 16-bit/44.1kHz
- MP3 at 192 kbps CBR or higher (Correct answer)
- AAC at 256 kbps
Correct answer: MP3 at 192 kbps CBR or higher
ACX requires final audio files to be submitted as MP3s at 192 kbps constant bitrate (CBR) or higher.
Question 7: When narrating fiction audiobooks with multiple characters, what is the narrator's primary responsibility regarding character voices?
- Always use regional accents for each character
- Apply pitch-shifting software in post-production
- Create distinct, consistent vocal qualities to differentiate each character (Correct answer)
- Record each character's lines in separate isolated sessions
Correct answer: Create distinct, consistent vocal qualities to differentiate each character
Narrators must develop distinct vocal qualities such as unique pitch, pacing, or tone for each character and maintain those consistently throughout the entire recording.
Voice Over Audiobook Narration 1
What is the required noise floor level for audiobook submissions on ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange)?