The complete guide to producing a professional audiobook from home — using free software.

Five parts covering every step from setup to Audible:

• Setup & Equipment — choosing a microphone (USB vs XLR), audio interfaces, essential accessories, room treatment & soundproofing, budget setups from $150 to $1,400+, and installing & configuring Audacity • Recording — project settings for ACX, microphone placement & technique, session workflow, managing takes & retakes, breath sounds & mouth clicks, pacing, tone & vocal endurance • Editing & Post-Production — the Audacity interface, removing mistakes, breath & mouth noise cleanup, noise reduction step-by-step, room tone management, EQ, compression & de-essing • Mastering to ACX Standards — the full ACX spec sheet, peak levels, RMS & noise floor explained, the complete mastering chain in Audacity (exact order), quality control checks, export settings & file naming • Publishing & Distribution — uploading to ACX/Audible, cover art requirements, pricing, royalties & exclusivity, Findaway Voices & wide distribution, marketing your audiobook, and selling direct from your own store

35 pages of practical, step-by-step instruction built from real audiobook production experience. No nonsense, no filler — just what works.

By JFK Løvlien | jfklovlien.com