Everything you need to know about creating audiobooks. From AI narration to professional recording—learn the fastest, most affordable way to produce your audiobook.
Create Your AudiobookMaking an audiobook involves converting written text into spoken audio. Modern authors have three options: hire a professional narrator ($2,000-$5,000), record yourself (time-intensive), or use AI narration (fastest and most affordable at $15-30 per book). This guide covers all methods with a focus on AI-powered audiobook creation.
Compare your options for audiobook production
Follow these 6 steps to create a professional audiobook in minutes
Ensure your book is in EPUB format. If you have a Word document, PDF, or text file, use free software like Calibre to convert it. Clean up any formatting issues.
Go to AudiobookGen.com and click 'Upload EPUB'. Drag and drop your file or click to browse. The system analyzes your book structure and prepares it for narration.
Listen to samples from all 6 AI voices. Each has a unique character—from warm and friendly to professional and authoritative. Pick the one that matches your book's tone.
Choose Standard quality for faster processing ($9.99) or HD for enhanced natural intonation ($14.99). Adjust reading speed if desired—slower for complex content, faster for light reading.
Click 'Create Audiobook' and wait 5-15 minutes. Our AI processes your book chapter by chapter, maintaining consistent quality and proper pacing throughout.
Download your complete audiobook as an MP3 file. Upload to Audible via ACX, distribute through Findaway Voices, or sell directly on your website.
Remove headers, footers, page numbers, and any text you don't want narrated. Clean manuscripts produce better audiobooks.
Ensure your EPUB has proper chapter markers. This helps listeners navigate and creates natural pauses in narration.
Match the voice to your content. A warm, friendly voice works for self-help; a professional tone suits business books.
Use our voice preview feature to hear how your specific text sounds before converting the entire book.
Common questions about making audiobooks
Costs vary widely: Professional human narrators charge $200-$400 per finished hour (a 10-hour audiobook costs $2,000-$4,000). AI narration through AudiobookGen costs approximately $15-30 for a full novel, making it the most affordable option for authors and publishers.
Yes! You have three options: 1) Record yourself with a quality microphone and audio editing software, 2) Use AI narration services like AudiobookGen for instant conversion, or 3) Hire a professional narrator through ACX or similar platforms. AI narration is the fastest and most cost-effective for most authors.
With AI narration: 5-15 minutes for any book. With self-recording: approximately 2 hours of recording and editing per 1 hour of finished audio. With professional narrators: 2-4 weeks from booking to final delivery. AI narration is by far the fastest method.
For AI narration (recommended): Just your book file (EPUB, PDF, or text) and an internet connection. For self-recording: A quality USB microphone ($100-300), quiet room, and audio editing software. For professionals: Nothing—they provide their own studio.
Yes, audiobooks created with AudiobookGen can be sold commercially. You retain full rights to the audio output. Many authors sell AI-narrated audiobooks on platforms like Audible, Google Play, Apple Books, and their own websites.
Modern AI narration has reached remarkable quality. Our HD voices use advanced neural technology that many listeners find indistinguishable from human narration. AI narration is particularly well-suited for non-fiction, educational content, and authors who want to offer audiobook options affordably.
AudiobookGen accepts EPUB files, the most common ebook format. If you have a manuscript in Word (.docx), PDF, or plain text, you can easily convert it to EPUB using free tools like Calibre before uploading.
After creating your audiobook with AudiobookGen, you can distribute through ACX (Amazon's audiobook platform), which lists on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. You can also use aggregators like Findaway Voices or Author's Republic for wider distribution.
Key elements: Clear audio quality, appropriate pacing, natural-sounding narration, and proper chapter structure. AudiobookGen handles all of these automatically—our AI maintains consistent quality, appropriate pacing, and preserves your book's chapter structure.
Yes, but you'll need to convert the PDF to EPUB first. PDFs often have formatting that doesn't translate well to audio. Use Calibre (free software) to convert PDF to EPUB, then upload the EPUB to AudiobookGen for conversion.
Upload your manuscript and create a professional audiobook in minutes—no recording required.
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