What I Learned Recording My Audiobook
What I Learned Recording My Audiobook
Always listen to the customer.
I just returned from a week spent inside a tiny recording booth in midtown Manhattan, narrating the audiobook version of my new book, “The Digital Transformation Roadmap.”
This was the first time I have ever recorded one of my books in audio.
My last book (the DX “Playbook”, which is the prequel to the Roadmap) was released in audio in a few languages. The English audiobook was published by Tantor.
They decided to use a professional voice actor as narrator—who did a fantastic job. Objectively, he was a much better reader than I would have been.
What does the customer want?
However…
In the years since, I have consistently heard from audiobook readers that they prefer their books to be narrated by the author, at least in nonfiction books.
As a sometime audiobook reader, I had the same preference. But I’ve learned to never assume that you are representative of your own customer. So, I kept asking people. I always heard the same response: we want the author to read.
So, for my new book, I asked my agent to negotiate that I would retain the audiobook rights. When Tantor reached out asking to license the rights to “The Digital Transformation Roadmap,” I said I was happy to do so, as long as I could be the narrator.
After listening to some recordings of my public speaking, they happily agreed.
A world of sound
Recording an audiobook is, unsurprisingly, a lot of work. I had to pick the “deadest” week of my summer (late August), so that I could stop everything else I was doing and go into the studio.
The experience was unlike anything I’ve ever done before.
Once the “cans” go on your head, you discover that you can hear every syllable of every word precisely as it’s coming out of our mouth. It’s a bit unnerving. I quickly realized how many syllables that I normally elide or graze over in speaking—even when recording a video lecture, or speaking from a stage to an audience.
Fortunately, I got to work with a great audio engineer, Cody Berberich. In the first day, I got very used to Cody’s gentle interjection while I was mid-sentence riffing on what I thought was a very clear passage: “I’d like to get another take of that.”
Recording narration requires tremendous focus. It was tiring on the vocal chords, but just as much for the intensity of attention it required.
The experience, for me, was a sort of blend of teaching and music recording.
I teach executive audiences on a frequent basis (whether on Columbia’s campus, online, or in a corporate board room.) But I had not been in a recording studio in nearly a decade, since recording my last album as a jazz composer and musician.
Like musical recording—audiobook narration requires incredibly sharp focus and attention to the subtleties of sound (with the crisp enunciation of a tricky consonant pair, instead of the dynamic articulation of a musical phrase).
Like teaching before a live audience—audiobook narration requires a continuous focus on ideas, meaning, and how words and phrases build upon, echo, clarify, set up, and even contradict each other. As you read, you have to constantly assess where each sentence is going in regard to the prior one and the next (Is this sentence a pivot? The set-up toa series of three points? A brief, humorous aside?). Only by doing this can you find the natural arc—of pitch, timing, and inflection. Otherwise, you can easily wind up droning on and on.
A musical memory
In the end, it was a great experience. Between stretches of narration, Cody and I chatted about the many other audio projects he’s done, and the studios where we have each worked.
I recalled that I recorded my last album in the iconic Avatar Studios (later closed and reopened as Power Station). Our room was amazing, with the just the right combination of acoustic separation, and live sound. While we recorded, upstairs in “the big room”, Tony Bennet was recording that week. Great memories…
I’m tremendously excited that the audiobook of “The Digital Transformation Roadmap” will publish this fall.
I will let you know the release date as soon as I have it.
Meantime, I will end with a few lessons I took away from my week in the studio with Cody:
Lessons Learned from Recording an Audiobook:
Put in the extra time to give the customer what they ask for.
Words matter. Pay attention to their meaning.
Any time you speak, you are performing. Be alert.
Work with great people who truly know their craft.
Always sweat the details.
P.S. If you’re curious to listen to that musical recording from Avatar Studios, it’s “Carry On” by my longtime quartet “Imaginary Homeland.” (Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music | Amazon Music)
Final week to register for my online Masterclass!
You have until Sept 5 to register for my free Masterclass on "The DX Roadmap."
The program is FREE. All you need is to pre-order a copy of the book.
**And, yes, E-BOOKS do count!**
▶▶ REGISTER HERE https://bit.ly/3rUsKRB
Or, by emailing your proof of purchase to: webinar@davidrogers.digital
📅 Timing & Deadlines 📅
DEADLINE to register is September 5.
INSTRUCTIONS on how to join the Masterclass will be sent the week of Sept 11.
MASTERCLASS will run online on September 19, 11:00am-12:30pm EDT (New York Time)
More details: https://bit.ly/DXR-Masterclass