Audio Books

Little Tyler · 10-06-2009

I had an idea while surfing around Librivox the other day. What if we started a volunteer book reading and uploading service.

It's awesome to be able to listen to a book on your mp3 player while you're waking home, exercising, etc. But what if that book you were listening to was a *B story? Personally, i think that would be pretty sweet.

Here's the Idea. Any member with a voice recording service on their Computer reads a story and records it, then uploads it to the internet and posts the link on the sight under (hopefully) a made forum for this. (or perhaps under the Completed stories forum?) Then anyone that would like the story can easily download it and listen.

I realize that some people would not want their story Audio-book-a-tized, so for each story the reader should get explicit permission from the author.
________

Tell me what you think!

~~soren456~~ · 10-06-2009

I voted Yes. It's a good idea for those who would use it.

ajsco · 10-06-2009

Yes, yes, yes and...oh..YES.

Ben · 10-06-2009

If you want to do this then just start it. I don't really think this belongs in administrative stuff. If you do this then do it outside of adisc and upload the stories to say rapidshare and just have the author put a link to it in the top of the page.

Siege89 · 10-06-2009

I did undecided, I think its a good idea, I just dont think I would use it.

Takashi · 10-06-2009

I like it.

**Martin** · 10-06-2009

No new forum!!! Most of what I "read" are audiobooks. But I'm not interested in the stories on here so I have no opinion on this one.

**Charlie F** · 10-06-2009

When we discussed the idea of a podcast, I thought this kind of thing would have been good. Like including a chapter of a story or something into each one.
So I definitely like this idea!

Perhaps another necessary poll would be: would you listen to an AB audiobook?

Dawes · 10-06-2009

While I think this is a great idea, it can't be just anybody who reads these stories. Recording one's voice properly (even if you're just speaking) is an insanely difficult task that can't be done just by anyone, no matter what equipment they have.

1) They need to have a presence on the microphone. Almost 95% of us are probably boring as fuck to listen to for an extended period of time. Sorry about that, everybody who thinks they're the comedic shit -- it's just true! We may have no problem talking on Skype, but when you cut out the audience and it's just you talking to a microphone, it's easy to get lazy, and then easy to get boring. The person needs to have a personality that's interesting to listen to as they read. Don't just read the story -- speak to the listener.

2) The story needs to be good. I can think of maybe two stories that I've ever read on here that are worth putting into audio format, and even those would need refining to be prepared for public recitation. Many of them are difficult to read let alone comfortable to read aloud, and when you read a story aloud, you can really tell where it lacks in pacing and grammar. Most of these stories lack (save for those by our better authors) and are completely unsuitable for audio.

3) The reader better be a good reader. They need to be able to speak clearly and quickly, but not too quickly. They need to be able to take on different voices and characteristics as they read. They need to be able to interpret tension and other emotions in the story and recite in such a way that the listener gets the same experience. Please, please, we can't have people stumbling over their words or who are just damned straight-out boring or annoying to listen to reading these things.

4) Use a compressor. When you record your voice, compress it and use a pop-filter. I don't want to get my ears ripped apart with "P!" and "B!" The dynamics in the voice need to be good, but not so good that they're hard to hear. When you whisper, I need to hear it -- when you shout, I need to be able to hear it clearly. This is where the compressor comes in handy.

5) Don't give us your first take. Your first take is never the best one. Do it over again. Listen to what you did and improve it.

Do I think this is a great idea? I do, in concept, but I think it'll be immensely difficult to execute. Having done hours upon hours upon hours of vocal recording (in songs, in podcasts, in recitation of independent audiobooks) myself, I speak from experience in that this is no simple task. Can it be a simple process? Yes! Anyone can hit "Record" and go for it, but it'll suck asshole, and people will hate it. To make something truly listenable and charismatic, it does indeed take a sense of production and presentation. Audiobooks are often done in big studios and recorded by big-name actors (or experienced audiobook readers) for a reason -- it takes a lot of work and time to get that quality.

BabyGrizzy · 10-06-2009

Audio Books are dependent on the reader. If s/he is a good reader, then it can be a good book. Hell, Jim Dale (Harry Potter reader) is a great reader! He does all of the different voices, so I hear. I never get tired of hearing the books!

View Poll Results: Your Opinion?
Yes, good idea.	20	74.07%
No, not a good idea	2	7.41%
Undecided	5	18.52%
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll

10-06-2009	#1 (permalink)
Little Tyler Regular Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida, USA Age: 16 Posts: 262 Threads: 19 Gallery Uploads: 4 Reputation: 8	Audio Books I had an idea while surfing around Librivox the other day. What if we started a volunteer book reading and uploading service. It's awesome to be able to listen to a book on your mp3 player while you're waking home, exercising, etc. But what if that book you were listening to was a *B story? Personally, i think that would be pretty sweet. Here's the Idea. Any member with a voice recording service on their Computer reads a story and records it, then uploads it to the internet and posts the link on the sight under (hopefully) a made forum for this. (or perhaps under the Completed stories forum?) Then anyone that would like the story can easily download it and listen. I realize that some people would not want their story Audio-book-a-tized, so for each story the reader should get explicit permission from the author. ________ Tell me what you think!

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10-06-2009	#2 (permalink)
~~soren456~~ Regular Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Mass., USA Age: 21 Posts: 618 Threads: 15 Gallery Uploads: 1 Reputation: 16	I voted Yes. It's a good idea for those who would use it.

10-06-2009	#3 (permalink)
ajsco This is most infuriating Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Scotland (ADISC's furthest north member) Age: 17 Posts: 687 Threads: 15 Gallery Uploads: 3 Blog Entries: 1 Reputation: 15	Yes, yes, yes and...oh..YES.

10-06-2009	#4 (permalink)
Ben VIP Donor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 319 Threads: 22 Wiki Edits: 17 Reputation: 21	If you want to do this then just start it. I don't really think this belongs in administrative stuff. If you do this then do it outside of adisc and upload the stories to say rapidshare and just have the author put a link to it in the top of the page.

10-06-2009	#5 (permalink)
Siege89 Regular Join Date: May 2009 Location: USA Age: 22 Posts: 692 Threads: 49 Gallery Uploads: 3 Blog Entries: 22 Reputation: 9	I did undecided, I think its a good idea, I just dont think I would use it.

10-06-2009	#6 (permalink)
Takashi Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brandon, FL Age: 18 Posts: 2,159 Threads: 125 Gallery Uploads: 11 Blog Entries: 32 Reputation: 34	I like it.

10-06-2009	#7 (permalink)
Martin Little One Donor Senior Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The Netherlands Age: 18 Posts: 2,939 Threads: 62 Gallery Uploads: 128 Wiki Edits: 112 Blog Entries: 41 Reputation: 67	No new forum!!! Most of what I "read" are audiobooks. But I'm not interested in the stories on here so I have no opinion on this one.

10-06-2009	#8 (permalink)
Charlie F Free hugs Donor Senior Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: England, UK Age: 19 Posts: 2,903 Threads: 42 Gallery Uploads: 7 Wiki Edits: 49 Blog Entries: 99 Reputation: 98	When we discussed the idea of a podcast, I thought this kind of thing would have been good. Like including a chapter of a story or something into each one. So I definitely like this idea! Perhaps another necessary poll would be: would you listen to an AB audiobook?

10-06-2009	#9 (permalink)
Dawes Nummer Wun Hound Dog Donor Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Maryland, USA Age: 26 Posts: 1,517 Threads: 28 Blog Entries: 8 Reputation: 136	While I think this is a great idea, it can't be just anybody who reads these stories. Recording one's voice properly (even if you're just speaking) is an insanely difficult task that can't be done just by anyone, no matter what equipment they have. 1) They need to have a presence on the microphone. Almost 95% of us are probably boring as fuck to listen to for an extended period of time. Sorry about that, everybody who thinks they're the comedic shit -- it's just true! We may have no problem talking on Skype, but when you cut out the audience and it's just you talking to a microphone, it's easy to get lazy, and then easy to get boring. The person needs to have a personality that's interesting to listen to as they read. Don't just read the story -- speak to the listener. 2) The story needs to be good. I can think of maybe two stories that I've ever read on here that are worth putting into audio format, and even those would need refining to be prepared for public recitation. Many of them are difficult to read let alone comfortable to read aloud, and when you read a story aloud, you can really tell where it lacks in pacing and grammar. Most of these stories lack (save for those by our better authors) and are completely unsuitable for audio. 3) The reader better be a good reader. They need to be able to speak clearly and quickly, but not too quickly. They need to be able to take on different voices and characteristics as they read. They need to be able to interpret tension and other emotions in the story and recite in such a way that the listener gets the same experience. Please, please, we can't have people stumbling over their words or who are just damned straight-out boring or annoying to listen to reading these things. 4) Use a compressor. When you record your voice, compress it and use a pop-filter. I don't want to get my ears ripped apart with "P!" and "B!" The dynamics in the voice need to be good, but not so good that they're hard to hear. When you whisper, I need to hear it -- when you shout, I need to be able to hear it clearly. This is where the compressor comes in handy. 5) Don't give us your first take. Your first take is never the best one. Do it over again. Listen to what you did and improve it. Do I think this is a great idea? I do, in concept, but I think it'll be immensely difficult to execute. Having done hours upon hours upon hours of vocal recording (in songs, in podcasts, in recitation of independent audiobooks) myself, I speak from experience in that this is no simple task. Can it be a simple process? Yes! Anyone can hit "Record" and go for it, but it'll suck asshole, and people will hate it. To make something truly listenable and charismatic, it does indeed take a sense of production and presentation. Audiobooks are often done in big studios and recorded by big-name actors (or experienced audiobook readers) for a reason -- it takes a lot of work and time to get that quality.

10-06-2009	#10 (permalink)
BabyGrizzy VIP Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: California, USA Age: 16 Posts: 994 Threads: 78 Gallery Uploads: 37 Wiki Edits: 7 Blog Entries: 1 Reputation: 29	Audio Books are dependent on the reader. If s/he is a good reader, then it can be a good book. Hell, Jim Dale (Harry Potter reader) is a great reader! He does all of the different voices, so I hear. I never get tired of hearing the books!