Audiobook Editing and Post-production
Quick Answer: Audiobook post-production includes editing (removing mistakes, mouth clicks, breaths, and long pauses), proofing (checking the audio against the manuscript for missed words, mispronunciations, and errors), and mastering (adjusting levels, noise floor, and EQ to meet platform specifications). Budget $75 to $150 per finished hour for post-production. Many narrators include editing and mastering in their PFH rate, but always confirm what's included before signing a contract.
Raw narration is never the finished product. Even the best narrators produce recordings with mistakes, inconsistent levels, and artifacts that need to be cleaned up before submission. Post-production is what turns a recording into a professional audiobook that meets platform requirements and sounds good to listeners.
What Post-production Covers
Editing. Removing flubbed takes, repeated sentences, mouth clicks, lip smacks, excessive breaths, long pauses, and any extraneous sounds. The editor assembles the best takes into a clean, continuous narration. For a typical chapter, this means reviewing every minute of raw audio and cutting or replacing the parts that don't belong.
Proofing (quality check against the manuscript). A second listener follows along with the manuscript while the audio plays, marking any missed words, added words, mispronunciations, or deviations from the text. This step catches errors the narrator and editor missed. Proofing is time-intensive (it takes approximately 1.5 times the finished audio length to do properly) but essential for accuracy.
Mastering. Adjusting the audio to meet platform technical specifications. For ACX, this means ensuring RMS loudness falls between -23 and -18 dBFS, peak levels stay at or below -3 dBFS, the noise floor is at or below -60 dBFS, the sample rate is 44.1 kHz, and the output is 192 kbps constant bit rate MP3. Mastering also involves EQ adjustments for tonal consistency, compression for even volume, and noise reduction if needed.
File preparation. Exporting each chapter as a separate audio file with the correct naming convention, adding opening and closing credits tracks, and ensuring all metadata is embedded correctly. ACX requires one file per chapter, plus separate credits files.
Who Handles Post-production
Narrator-included production. Many professional narrators (especially those charging $250+ PFH) deliver fully produced, mastered audio files that meet ACX specifications. Their rate includes recording, editing, and mastering. This is the simplest option: you receive finished files ready for upload.
Separate post-production professional. If your narrator delivers raw recordings or lightly edited files, you'll need a separate audio editor. Audiobook-specific editors and mastering engineers charge $75 to $150 per finished hour. They handle editing, proofing, mastering, and file preparation. This arrangement is common when working with narrators at lower PFH rates who record but don't edit.
DIY post-production. If you're narrating your own audiobook, you'll need to handle post-production yourself or hire someone. Free tools like Audacity and GarageBand can handle basic editing and mastering. Professional tools like Adobe Audition and iZotope RX provide more sophisticated editing capabilities. The learning curve is moderate, and producing ACX-compliant audio without experience typically requires significant trial and error.
What Good Post-production Looks Like vs What Does Not
Works well: - The finished audio sounds natural and clean. Edits are inaudible. There are no jarring cuts, clicks, or artifacts. The volume is consistent from chapter to chapter. - Every chapter meets the technical specifications of the target platform. Files pass automated QC checks on the first submission. - The audio has been proofed against the manuscript. No missed words, mispronunciations, or deviations from the text.
Red flags: - Audible edits where cuts are noticeable (sudden changes in room tone or background noise between sentences). This signals sloppy editing. - Volume differences between chapters. If Chapter 3 is noticeably louder or quieter than Chapter 2, the mastering was done per-file without checking consistency across the project. - No proofing step. Skipping the manuscript check means errors in the narration survive to publication. Listeners notice mispronounced names, skipped sentences, and word substitutions, and they mention them in reviews.
The Takeaway
Post-production is the step that turns narration into a professional audiobook. Confirm whether your narrator delivers fully produced files or raw recordings before you sign the contract, because the difference significantly affects your budget and timeline. If you're handling post-production separately, budget $75 to $150 per finished hour and ensure your editor is familiar with the specific requirements of your target platform. For the full process, see the Audiobook Creation guide.
Q: How much does audiobook editing cost? A: Audiobook editing and mastering by a separate post-production professional costs $75 to $150 per finished hour. Many narrators include editing in their PFH rate, so check what's included before budgeting separately.
Q: What software is used for audiobook editing? A: Professional editors commonly use Adobe Audition, iZotope RX (for noise removal and de-clicking), and Pro Tools. For DIY editing, Audacity (free) handles basic editing and mastering. GarageBand (free on Mac) is another entry-level option.
Q: How long does audiobook post-production take? A: For a professional editor, expect roughly 2 to 3 hours of work per finished hour of audio. An 8-hour audiobook typically takes 16 to 24 hours of post-production work, spread over one to two weeks.