How Ideal Audio Processing Should Look Like

Audio editing is the "Achilles' heel" for aspiring voice-over artists and audiobook narrators. But ideally, it should not be the case.

Because audio editing is a technical thing, and it follows some linear steps.

You only need to master these linear steps once and never have to worry again.

It is like learning to swim. Once you learn, it is impossible to forget.

Whether it is audiobook or voice-over, the overall process is like this:

1. You learn to record in the ideal configuration

2. You save that recording for future use and editing

3. You clean up the recording just by looking at the waveform. If you have to listen back to every part of the recording to correct mistakes, you have recorded in the wrong way. Because some obvious issues are easily recognized by the waveform pattern.

4. You process the audio effects in just a click. Audacity Macro or Adobe Audition Preset is the way to do it. Your voice will have the same characteristics if recorded in the same microphone, same room, and same tone. You have to find a pattern and put together the necessary effects in a macro or preset.

5. If you have specific issues like Sibilance or mouth clicks, you need a good third-party plugin with the proper configuration of your audio.

6. If you have made mistakes on certain parts of the recording, re-record

7. You export the audio file following proper platform guidelines. You actually have to choose the proper settings during export, and your audio editing software will do the rest.

If you think of a voice-over that is 2 minutes long or less, it should not take more than 10 minutes to get the final audio from it.

If you consider audiobooks, then an hour-long chapter should be ready in 10 minutes. However, you must listen to the finished audio to spot any missing words or sentences.

This time frame is not from an audio engineering perspective but applies to average users.

If you can’t achieve this benchmark, you will most likely fail in voice-over or as an audiobook narrator.

Things are interesting when you are learning. However, once you get started and find yourself dwelling on simple things for hours, it is nearly impossible to keep the motivation.

The big question is how to get to that level of audio editing. The answer is simple: practice, practice deliberately.

The sooner you can get out of the technical difficulties, the better chance of your success.

Technical difficulties can be a bottleneck for voice-overs or audiobooks. You must get it done, and you should focus on other important areas to increase your chance for success.

For example, for voice-over, it is improving acting, making demos, doing auditions, etc.

The biggest task for audiobook narration should be familiarizing yourself with the book and reading it loud in front of the microphone.

If you find yourself doing other things most of the time for audiobook narration, you are doing it wrong.

The solution is to practice so that technical things take no more minutes than absolutely required.

It is not about becoming a technical wizard but about keeping your focus on important things.

I have many courses and tools to put me on the right track where you have to bear the responsibility of deliberate practice.

If you want me to guide you so that you can remove all the technical difficulties you are having now, I have 3 private coaching programs.

I will share a calendar link where you can book meetings with me at a time convenient to you.

If you do all 3, you will never worry about technical production for your voice-over and audiobooks.

» Audio Editing related Computer training ($197)

» DIY Voice Over demo ($297) (only for Voice Over)

» Premium Audio Editing Consulting ($697)

If you are looking for Buy Now Pay Later options, I offer part payments through Klarna. Please let me know, and I will send you the link.

Special Offer: If you purchase any 2 of the above 3 Consulting services and have spent more than $1000 so far on my courses, macros, presets, and training, you will have special access to me. I will jump into a 10-15-minute video call with you for any technical difficulties with audio editing or audio-related computer issues for the next 6 months. If you become eligible, I will send you a special email about this.