Simply Audiobooks Inc.

Leave a comment

How is an audio book made? Find out with Scott Brick.

We may all enjoy snuggling up to a good audio book, but do you ever stop and wonder how they get made? How these narrators never stop for a sip of water, how they can constantly transition from a female voice, to a male voice? I know I do. Not all the time, but when I hear a great narrator I wonder what makes them so great. Well, I came across a wonderful You Tube channel that outlines, with a new video everyday, how an audio book is made. Scott Brick, the narrator of many great science fiction novels, takes you through how an audio book is made with various narrators giving their two cents in honour of June is Audiobook Month!

Check out my favorite clip below:

Or, if you have a few minutes visit Mr. Scott Brick’s Your Tube channel by clicking here and catch all the videos thus far.

If you’ve watched the clips, let me know which one was your favorite!

Leave a comment

Video of the Week

Instead of reading a blog post today, here is something a little different.

Check out this video of Jim Dale, the voice of Harry Potter, in the recorded audio books, who talks about the art of narration.

I found it quiet entertaining watching him narrate various characters with such enthusiasm and belief. It made me realize and understand why children and adults alike are fascinated with his narrations.

Multi-award-winning audio book narrator extraordinaire Scott Brick wants to give you the chance to break into the world of audio book narration.

Brick recorded his very first audiobook on June 10th, 1999 and is holding a contest in conjunction with the Audio Publishers Association to celebrate his tenth anniversary.

Even if you don’t recognize his name, you’d very likely recognize his voice. Brick has narrated over 300 audiobooks including works by  Frank and Brian Herbert, Clive Cussler, Lincoln Child, Orson Scott Card, Harlan Coben, Truman Capote, Brad Meltzer, and Nelson DeMille – you know, just to name a few.

So, there’s your background, now – the goods.  Put together a 3 minute recording of you reading one of your favorite books and email it to Scott starting on June 10th. The entries will be whittled down to a final pool of 25 and from that a total of 5 winners will be named. The Grand Prize winner will get a personal instruction session with Brick in the studio, and will be given actual audio narration work with publishers like Random House, Harper Collins, and Hachette.

Brick says “Trust me when I tell you, this is a rare opportunity. The world of audiobook narration is a tough one to crack, but once that door is open, it can be immensely rewarding. And everyone who enters, whether they wind up in our top five winners or not, will have their voice heard by the people who do the actual casting for audiobooks. That’s gold, people, pure gold. Do yourselves a favor and enter.”

Visit Scott Brick’s blog for full contest details and updates.