How to Create ACX-Approved Audiobooks Every Time with Audacity (Including RMS)

How to Create ACX-Approved Audiobooks Every Time with Audacity (Including RMS) | Step-by-Step Guide

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Күн бұрын

www.kraken.media/
www.spokespersonvideos.com/
00:00 - Intro to recording audiobooks with Audacity for Audible ACX
00:27 - Step 1 - Downloading Audacity
01:00 - Step 2 - Configuring Audacity for ACX Audible requirements
01:46 - Step 3 - The correct Audacity Settings for ACX Audible Audiobook requirements
02:34 - Step 4 - Enable and monitor mic recording levels
03:09 - Step 5 - Recording an audiobook with Audacity
03:42 - Step 6 - Editing your audiobook in Audacity for audible
04:17 - Step 7 - Checking audiobook RMS with ACX Check
05:14 - Step 8 - Use audio compression to fix your audiobooks RMS for audible acceptance
06:12 - Step 9 - Exporting with the correct settings and format
06:44 - Conclusion
🎧 Learn how to create a captivating audiobook using Audacity and ensure it gets accepted by ACX and Audible every time! 📚🔊 In this comprehensive guide, we'll walk you through each step, using only free tools throughout the entire process.
🔴 Get started with Audacity: Download and install Audacity from the official website (link in the video). Follow our step-by-step instructions to set up Audacity for optimal recording quality and audio settings.
🎙️ Record like a pro: We'll guide you through recording your audiobook, including essential tips for maintaining a consistent tone and pace. Discover how to set your microphone levels correctly to achieve studio-quality audio.
🎧 Edit and refine: After recording, we'll show you how to edit and polish your audiobook to perfection. Remove mistakes, gaps, and background noises seamlessly for a professional listening experience.
🔊 Meet ACX and Audible requirements: Learn how to check your audiobook's RMS values using the free ACX Check plugin (download link below). We'll also demonstrate compression techniques to adjust audio levels and ensure compliance with ACX and Audible guidelines.
📝 Exporting for success: Once your audiobook meets all the technical specifications, we'll guide you through exporting it as an MP3 file, ready for upload to ACX and Audible.
Whether you're an aspiring author or a seasoned content creator, turning your written work into an audiobook opens up exciting new possibilities to reach a broader audience and connect with listeners worldwide.
📌 Follow our comprehensive guide to create a compelling audiobook using Audacity and free tools. Share your unique story with the world and join the booming audiobook industry!
🎉 Like this video if you found it helpful and consider subscribing for more content on audio production and creative tips. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave them in the comments below. Happy audiobook creation! 🎧📚
🔗 Download ACX Check Plugin: plugins.audacityteam.org/anal...
🔗 Audacity Download: www.audacityteam.org/
Thank you for watching! Enjoy creating your audiobooks and remember to share your success stories with us in the comments below. Stay tuned for more exciting content, and we'll see you in the next video! 🎬🎧

Пікірлер: 97

@ibrahimmustapha7202 8 ай бұрын

This might be the first explanation i've come across which has actually helped me get an audio file to meet ACX requirements. Cheers man!

@KrakenMediaPro 8 ай бұрын

Thanks, glad it helped :)

@kovgupta 4 ай бұрын

I am shocked, how come you don’t have enough likes and followers with respect to other people telling the same stuff. Of all the people i listened. Only you made complete sense. 🙏🏻thanks. God bless you sir.

@johncollier8935 15 күн бұрын

Fantastic explanation of what is necessary to meet ACX requirements, as well as, useful tips in editing the audio samples. Top Job!

@AlexRickel 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for making such an easy to understand yet highly informative video!

@paxnominus 7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for making this video! I'm about to head into my very first ACX project coming off of KZfaq narrations and it was overwhelming at first how different things are.

@wolfesound 5 ай бұрын

Thank you so much! You explain with clarity and ease. Much appreciated!

@RichChristianTV 7 ай бұрын

Thanks for the great explanation and awesome assistance with this ACX issue!

@beasleydad Ай бұрын

Took a few tries for me to get things right, but this video has been invaluable.

@DonovanVeraVO 2 ай бұрын

Very detailed and concise! Thank you.

@tmgbookseries 24 күн бұрын

Preferences seem to have moved. I just searched under HELP to find it. Great video

@KrakenMediaPro 21 күн бұрын

Yeah, software be like that sometimes. You make a video and then the next day they push an update lol

@ldsledge608 10 ай бұрын

Excellent explanation. The best I have seen

@KrakenMediaPro 10 ай бұрын

Thanks, Glad you you think so :)

@mariedoherty14 6 ай бұрын

This was wonderful, thank you!

@ashtonpacker-pudlo3997 3 ай бұрын

This was so helpful! Thank you!

@JessicaLHyten 5 ай бұрын

Very, very helpful. Thank you so very much!

@ShelleyJWhitehead 5 ай бұрын

Thank you. Great information for my first steps.

@77shoemanable 8 ай бұрын

Excellent Tutorial !

@KrakenMediaPro 8 ай бұрын

Glad it helped!

@user-ef3ec5sj2s 4 ай бұрын

NIce! Even I can follow and understand this guide.

@lisahatfield2642 7 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for teaching me how to do this. I also really appreciated the video about h is to reduce reverb!

@KrakenMediaPro 7 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful!

@HHO-VO 6 ай бұрын

Incredibly helpful! Thank you sooooooo much!

@KrakenMediaPro 6 ай бұрын

You are so welcome!

@businesshomeschooling 2 күн бұрын

Very Helpful ❤

@bradsmith6283 24 күн бұрын

Bloody fantastic video! Thanks so much :)

@KrakenMediaPro 21 күн бұрын

My pleasure!

@TheLucygoleby 4 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for awesome video. Could you please explain how to fix noise floor? My file passes peak level and RMS level but says noise floor is too low? Thanks

@damselncontrolyas5766 2 ай бұрын

This is fantastic. Is there a way to rerecord a section? Like can I go back and redo it? Or would I just clip and delete and then record again that way?

@BlackDragonNationalPresident 5 ай бұрын

Good stuff!

@leilanieheater9116 Ай бұрын

Thank you Sir for this informative and helpful video. I want to do an audition for acx and able to qualify with their requirements. Thanks for your info and knowledge

@HaveMonkeyWillDance 6 ай бұрын

Very helpful, instantly subscribed and recommended. One question; what happens if your audio book is on the long side, like over 20 hours? Does ACX still cope with that? In the specs I saw something about max time being 13 hours. Thanks again. Cracking site.

@ReplayRIP 4 ай бұрын

Great video! Maybe you can help with a vicious circle I keep getting trapped in... every time I fix Peak Level I ruin RMS Level and then vice-versa. I have tried adjusting RMS within the full spectrum of acceptable levels (-23 through -18) but I always go back and forth and can't find that goldilocks spot. Is there an effect where I can enter both target levels?

@isabelledu Ай бұрын

This is such an amazing step-by-step tutorial! Thank you! Question for you and anyone else who has an idea of how to go about it - I'm having trouble with installing the ACX check plug-in. It pops up with the message "There is no application set to open the document 'ACX-Check.ny'". I have Audacity 3.4.2 and macOS Sonoma 14.3. Any insight is greatly appreciated, thank you!

@kristelmarieparayo9998 7 ай бұрын

This is helpful!

@KrakenMediaPro 6 ай бұрын

Glad you think so!

@dhallbarrett 2 ай бұрын

Question: I just tried a sample like you mentioned to do and did the ACX check. The message back was: PEAK LEVEL -13.44 dB warning (too low-may be overly compressed or too quiet) RMS level -30.84 dB Fail (too quiet - RMS must be in range -23 to -18 dB) and NOISE FLOOR: -56.92 dB Fail (too noisy-noise floor must be below -60dB). It's just a test so I'm not so worried about the noise floor; I'll record in a quieter place for books. But how do I adjust the other? Also FYI; I'm using a Behringer UMC204hd and a APEX 210B mic through the behringer. I'm very new at this but want to get moving on a first audio book asap using Audacity. Thank you in advance!

@ThisGalTravels 2 ай бұрын

I like your explanations, but I'm still having problems getting it to pass the ACX check. I can get 2 values to pass, but not all 3. I'm recording directly onto a DJI wireless mic (I'm a travel vlogger) and when I import the audio, I can't get all of the setting to the proper level, even following your instructions. I've tried different gain settings on the mic and the mic is pretty good quality. I can't figure out why it's not working. I'm recording in a very quiet room. Any thoughts?

@esignsmedia 3 ай бұрын

Very helpful generally, in regards to what to do and the ACX checker, and Peak level: -3.10 dB Pass, however this is an Incomplete tutorial without addressing constant bit rate and how to set the ACX specified RMS levels in range -23 to -18 dB. (RMS outside of the ACX specified RMS level: such as -26.29 dB with Fail due to being too quiet.

@boogeybeats5747 5 ай бұрын

bro this is the best video for acx books the best one I seen

@davidh.parish9670 2 ай бұрын

I'm recording each chapter of my book as a separate Audacity file and applying your technique to each chapter individually. Do I need to merge them into a single huge file and create a single .wav file or can I combine the chapters after they're created?

@TheBlackfordBookClub 5 ай бұрын

Thank you so, so much. Straight forward help. Shock! Horror! Thank you and Bless you.

@TurtleTimeVoiceOvers 4 ай бұрын

Is there a way to convert a CDA file to a JPG or PNG? ACX needs my sound files but only accepts those formats. The files were uploaded from a DVD. Thanks.

@HomebrewStew 3 ай бұрын

Is sample format "32 bit float" ok to use in place of 24?

@DiveaksshSchae 4 ай бұрын

Curious why you compress to 192 kbps and not 320? Is this a requirement from acx too?

@audiodude 2 ай бұрын

You can always upload your files to ACX Audiolab for a more detailed and accurate description sense it is what your author will be using when they upload

@ExposedByJools 2 ай бұрын

It doesn't prompt me to set the sample thing where do I do this?

@dhallbarrett 2 ай бұрын

I just finished watching and it shows when it's too low, but what if in my case, it's too loud; I can't seem to figure it out how to adjust it.

@rashazidan5421 6 ай бұрын

Sorry but on edit audio setting i have only two options speaker and Microsoft sound i couldnt find the option Yo told to select😞

@SparkTheGenius 5 ай бұрын

Does anyone know how to do this in Logic Pro? On ACX I'm getting the message: "RMS is too low. Raise the level of this file 2.1 dB."

@evaloveseli 4 ай бұрын

First issue for me, you said select Preferences under Edit (once I downloaded Audacity)...Went to Edit, there is no Preferences to select🤔... any suggestions?

@terrymacleod3871 8 ай бұрын

Please tell me where I can find in Audacity the ACX plug-in to insert into the Nyquist Plug-in installer?

@KrakenMediaPro 8 ай бұрын

There should be a link in the description to download it :)

@saliapotter9911 7 ай бұрын

Thank you for posting this video, the ACX check plugin will be helpful. But first I should mention that before I downloaded the plugin, I was able to hear myself clearly in a recording through my microphone. After watching this video and changing my settings to all of yours, my recordings sound terrible/unrecognizable like a bad interference? When I run the ACX check, here are my findings: Peak level is 42.67 db, RMS is 41.75 db and Noise Floor is 40.92 db. Now, obviously it's telling me that it's too loud, but I have no idea how to fix this or what went wrong in the first place. I tried moving some settings back to original status (like from mono back to stereo and 32 bit back to 24 etc). Any help is appreciated

@KrakenMediaPro 6 ай бұрын

Long shot idea, check your headphone volume. Is that -42.67 or positive 42.67?!

@daji1991 11 күн бұрын

I am struggling to adjust RMS level as it keeps giving me fail,can you please assist me ?

@garyclement2888 3 ай бұрын

I just started recording my first Audio Book with ACX.I'm using version 3.4.2- My original recording is with a RodeCaster 2, then edit the audio in Logic ProX, and I was able to export and all my numbers pass ACX Audio test with one fail- RMS is -23.7. What I also don't understand is that when I import files that are 24-bit into Audacity, it changes the files to 36bit float (automatically). I'm having issues, Can you do this with my version 3.4.2 so I can understand better how to fix my files to make them ACX ready.

@bryanddd 3 ай бұрын

When initially recording the audio, do you recommend using mp3 or WAV files? I know that ACX requires MP3 files but is it better to record and edit in WAV, and then export the final product to MP3? Many thanks in advance!

@KrakenMediaPro 21 күн бұрын

Record to wav, only render to mp3 when your are 100% happy and ready to upload

@vatoloco1528 5 ай бұрын

Isn't the rate supposed to be 16 bit, not 24?

@laurenchamblin1443 10 ай бұрын

Do you know if there is a different ACX Check plug-in for Macbook Air? I have never been able to download it :(

@KrakenMediaPro 10 ай бұрын

What do you mean, not able to download it? The device you are using shouldn't effect that?

@alyssathomas-ir4es 9 ай бұрын

Download the ACX tool at the link he shared. Then at 4:40, he shows the drop down menu for Tools/Nyquist Plug-In Installer. Once you select that, it will let you find the download. Idk if this helps but I it took me a moment on my MacBook, too.

@coachbriantrains 7 ай бұрын

My microphone level floats between 18 & 24 while I'm speaking. Is there a way to adjust that in order to reach the spec you recommend? Thx in advance.

@KrakenMediaPro 7 ай бұрын

You just need to raise the gain on your pre amp.

@coachbriantrains 7 ай бұрын

@@KrakenMediaPro Thank you 👊🏻

@TedJordan-ih7di 6 ай бұрын

If I've already recorded my audio at a of 4800 rate, can it be converted to 4400?

@KrakenMediaPro 6 ай бұрын

Yes, its called downsampling :)

@trippmehew 6 ай бұрын

I am using a ROD MIC USB POD. I am USBC to USBC on a macbook pro. Audacity is configured correctly. I have mic volume turned up. When I turn on monitoring I cannot HEAR or adjust microphone levels.? Is there a way to fix that?

@KrakenMediaPro 6 ай бұрын

Levels should be adjusted on your interface not in audacity. If Audacity is correct, it might be the gain on your interface is set to 0.

@trippmehew 6 ай бұрын

@@KrakenMediaPro - going from USB mic straight to Audacity. I dont have an interface?

@flair4crafts894 7 ай бұрын

Hi, so when I download the plug in is asking me which app should I open it with, so I choose Audacity, is that correct? Then I get a message saying: Audacity did not recognize the type of the file C:\users etc, etc I do not want to put in here the rest . Try installing FFmpeg for compressed files. also try file>Import>raw data. What? Did I open the file with the wrong app, I though since is an audacity plug in I should open it with Audacity but I get that message after that. Am confused Thanks for your help

@KrakenMediaPro 7 ай бұрын

You need to download it then tell audacity where to find it. You do that via the plugins manager. Once you have done that it should show up in the effects menu.

@TamaraE.222 6 ай бұрын

same happened with me so confused going to try what he said

@TamaraE.222 6 ай бұрын

once i told it where to open it, via audacity, it wont let me go back to change where it gets opened like you said to do @@KrakenMediaPro

@danao.2672 2 ай бұрын

settings dont work anymore..

@ahfimiwonawun 10 ай бұрын

What is too quiet for acx?

@KrakenMediaPro 10 ай бұрын

Any RMS lower that -23dbs is too quiet for ACX. The ACX requirement for RMS is -23dbs - -18dbs

@stratman01 6 ай бұрын

No reference here to noise floor issues. For commercial work, this is huge. Maybe not if one is just starting or just doing projects for personal use.

@KrakenMediaPro 6 ай бұрын

Yeah, you are right. This was geared more towards DIYers and so I was trying to keep it somewhat condensed. I will probably do a video on noise floors at some point.

@DrHumairaKaySath 4 ай бұрын

Can you use AI voice?

@dhallbarrett 2 ай бұрын

Apparently if you use AI, it's not going to be accepted. It specifically says NO AI

@calripplebear1293 7 ай бұрын

you don't really go over how to adjust the file in the event that it misses the mark for ACX's requirements, which it will likely do if you're new to this and haven't gotten this all set up.

@KrakenMediaPro 7 ай бұрын

This should cover most reasons for ACX failure. If you have a specific failure I probably already have a video on that topic, if not let me know.

@calripplebear1293 7 ай бұрын

@@KrakenMediaPro What I'm saying is-say you do a check and it does fail. You should explain for each failure item how to fix that. That's-I think- What someone coming to visit a video like this would expect it to show. Especially if they've already tried to submit a cllip and had it rejected.

@SoComposed 4 ай бұрын

So it doesn't need to be split into chapters? Okay....

@T8rocklgm Ай бұрын

That’s what I’m thinkin. My 3rd video trying to figure that out

@Orlaallen 5 ай бұрын

Audacity has changed and there is no preferences under edit any more!

@Kashafnaeem01 9 ай бұрын

Which AI voice tool should I use to convert a PDF into an AI voice, and which voice is used for a black man?

@Kashafnaeem01 9 ай бұрын

Can Ai voice be approved according to the ACX standards? Is there any issue with it?

@KrakenMediaPro 9 ай бұрын

ACX doesn't allow AI voices

@Mark_Thomas 9 ай бұрын

Don't use AI voices, ugh

@RageToOverCome 6 ай бұрын

I'm stuck on noise floor issues. If i get that right then the loudness isn't right and vise versa. So while this video did help it didn't in the same breathe.

@KrakenMediaPro 6 ай бұрын

What are you doing to control your noise floor? Noise reduction should have virtually 0 effect on the loudness.

@RageToOverCome 6 ай бұрын

@@KrakenMediaPro This video solved my problem. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/l9GZrdKquKjZo2g.html Floor noise is one of three criteria. Probably should have covered that in this video. You got 2 out of 3.