Traditionally, an audiobook has been a single voice inhabiting and sharing a story with the listener. Recent growth and experimentation is helping the medium grow beyond this definition…
Dual Narration
In works where the point of view (POV) may change at the end of a section or chapter, 2 or more narrators will split the job and narrate the sections associated with their character. Each narrator still voices all characters, since they are all telling the story from their own point of view. Two common uses of this method are in Romance (Chapter 1=Her POV, Chapter 2=His POV, etc.), and in Mysteries (Chapter 1=Detective POV, Chapter 2=Witness POV, Chapter 3=Criminal POV, etc.).
Though more narrators are being hired for a single project, this method is only marginally more complex than a traditional, single narrator production. Notably, the Audio Engineer needs to match or blend the sound of multiple recording environments to create a cohesive experience for the listener.
Duet Narration
In works where 2 or more narrators interact throughout the story, each narrator will always voice the lines and thoughts of their own characters. This method is also used commonly in both Romance and Mystery (like Dual Narration), but is a much more labor intensive process, since more parties need to be part of all recording sessions, the process tends to be much slower. And, in the end, the Audio Engineer needs to make editing multiple takes, between potentially disparate recording environments feel like a flowing conversation with continuous flow.
Full Cast (Cinematic) Audio
In works where 1 or more actors are cast, and dialog indicators (i.e. said, questioned, answered, grumbled, muttered, gasped) are removed from the text, and sound effects (FX, Foley Art, etc.) become tools to help further the narrative, the production becomes more “cinematic.” In many ways, these productions are embracing the classic concepts of old-time radio theater and updating them for modern audiences. These projects are the most complex, with recording schedules and timelines that seem more like movie production.
If your work falls into any of these categories, or somehow seeks to blend them, feel free to contact us. We can help you understand what it would take to help realize your story; bringing it to a new, fast-growing market that is hungry for high-quality content.