How to Become an Audiobook Narrator (From Home)

If you have no idea where to start audiobook narration, this guide is perfect for you.

If you are an author who wants to voice their own book, or a new voice-over artist who wants to try narration from home, you can follow the path in this article.

You don’t need a fancy booth or expensive gear. Start simple, learn the flow, and improve as you go.

The Big Picture (Start Here)

1. Find a quiet room. Quiet matters more than anything else. A closet with clothes, or a room with furniture in it, or hanging some blankets around you works. We will discuss more.

2. Use a decent microphone. Not the laptop mic or a cheap headset. Get a budget‑friendly mic at the start. Some examples are given below.

3. Record and edit in simple software. A free option is Audacity—it’s powerful and beginner‑friendly. It is good enough to narrate and publish an audiobook. Better software than Audacity exists, but those are paid software, and can be a bit complex for beginners. A detailed analysis is explained later in this article.

4. Upload a short sample to ACX (and similar sites). This gives you a quick reality check on where your audio stands and what to improve. Of course, you have to know about ACX audio requirements. Things will start to fall into place once you get started and get going.

Step 1: Choose a Quiet Spot/Room

• Pick the quietest room and time of day.

• Close doors/windows, turn off fans for the recording.

• Use soft things (clothes, blankets, curtains) around you to reduce echo.

You don’t need to build anything fancy. A little softness around you makes a big difference.

Step 2: Grab a Budget-Friendly Microphone

Here are popular starter mics people use for narration. Affiliate disclosure: the mic links below are Amazon affiliate links; if you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

• Samson Q2U (USB/XLR) – Forgiving in normal rooms, easy to use.
  Buy on Amazon

• Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB (USB/XLR) – Beginner favorite with a clear sound.
  Buy on Amazon

• Audio-Technica ATR2500X-USB (USB) – Simple plug-and-play option for clean voice.
  Buy on Amazon

• RØDE NT-USB Mini (USB) – Compact, straightforward, sounds great for the price.
  Buy on Amazon

• Audio-Technica AT2020USB+ (USB) – Well-known entry pick with a clear tone.
  Buy on Amazon

• Shure MV7+ (USB/XLR) – A step up if your budget allows, with room to grow.
  Buy on Amazon

Pick one, add a pop filter and a simple stand/boom arm, and you’re good to start.

Step 3: Choose Simple Recording Software

You’ll need software to record and tidy your audio.

• Audacity (free): Beginner‑friendly, widely used, and many first‑time narrators have published on Amazon/Audible using it under my guidance.

• Adobe Audition (paid) or Reaper (low‑cost): Great upgrades later, with more tools and long‑project stability—but you don’t need them on day one.

The goal right now is to start. Record a short sample, learn how it feels, and improve with each try.

Step 4: Record a Short Sample (2-4 minutes)

Read a page from your book (or a public‑domain text) in your quiet spot using your new mic. Keep it natural—like you’re telling the story to one person.

When you’re done, remove obvious mistakes and save the file. Don’t worry about advanced editing. We’re just getting a feel for the process.

Step 5: Check Your Audio the Easy Way

Upload your short sample to ACX (and similar sites) to see how close you are. This is the fastest way to understand where you stand:

• If it sounds roomy or noisy, move to a quieter corner or add more soft materials.

• If your voice feels too thin, sit a little closer to the mic and speak comfortably.

• If you get feedback, use it to fix only one or two things at a time.

Proof That Beginners Can Do This

Under my guidance, complete beginners have recorded, edited, and published their first audiobooks using simple setups and Audacity:

• Steven D. Webber (Author): Started from writing, learned a basic home setup, and published successfully.

• Michael Bridges (Voice Actor/Narrator): Set up a repeatable routine at home and landed multiple completed and in‑progress titles.

• Lisa (Author): Published her first own narrated audiobook at the age of 75

Their common secret: quiet room + decent mic + simple edits + steady practice.

Avoid These Easy Mistakes

• Recording with the laptop mic or a cheap headset.

• Waiting months to buy “perfect” gear. Start small and learn fast.

• Recording a whole book before you’ve tested a short sample on ACX.

• Ignoring the room. Even the best mic struggles in a noisy, echoey space.

FAQs (Beginner‑Friendly)

Do I need a studio? No. A small, quiet space works—closets are great starters.

Which mic should I buy first? Pick one from the list above. They’re popular for a reason. Add a pop filter and you’re set.

Is Audacity good enough? Yes. It’s free and many beginners publish with it. Later, you can explore Adobe Audition or Reaper.

How long until I can get paid work? Some beginners land a short project in a few weeks once they practice and post clean samples.

Where should I upload first? Start with ACX. It’s the quickest way to see how far your audio has come and what to improve next.

Your First 7 Days (Simple Plan)

• Day 1–2: Set up a quiet corner.

• Day 3: Get a budget mic and pop filter; set it up on a stand.

• Day 4: Install simple recording software (Audacity is free).

• Day 5: Record a 2-4 minute sample and tidy obvious mistakes.

• Day 6: Upload to ACX and listen to the result on headphones.

• Day 7: Make one improvement (room quietness, mic distance, performance) and record a new sample.

When you’re ready for more structure, use the Audacity Bundle for a guided workflow: https://shop.master-editor.com/products/audacity-bundle-beginner-to-advanced

Affiliate Disclosure

Some links in this guide are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting Master Editor!

Final Thought

Don’t overthink it. A quiet space, a decent budget mic, simple software, and one short sample are enough to begin. Start now—you can refine everything as you go.