The Audiobook Post-Production Checklist: What Every Self-Producing Narrator Needs to Know
Publishing an audiobook is more than just reading your manuscript out loud—it’s a craft. Whether you’re a DIY narrator or working with a pro, the post-production process is what separates an amateur recording from a truly professional audiobook. At Green Plum Audio, we specialize in taking your raw audio and polishing it to perfection. Here’s a simple checklist to help you understand what happens in post and what you’ll need to get your audiobook ready for listeners.
4/21/20251 min read
✅ 1. Raw Recording Review
Before editing begins, every audiobook needs a quality check. Are the files complete? Are there any background noises, major performance issues, or missing lines? This step ensures nothing critical is missed.
✂️ 2. Editing: Clean & Tighten the Audio
This is where the magic begins:
Removing double breaths, clicks, pops, and mouth noise
Tightening up pauses between sentences and paragraphs
Cutting out retakes and false starts
A smooth edit helps keep the listener engaged without distractions.
👂 3. Proof Listening: Catching What You Missed
A fresh set of ears listens to your edited audiobook while following along with the script. This catches:
Misreads or missed words
Awkward phrasing
Technical glitches like duplicated lines or dropouts
It’s basically quality control with a fine-tooth comb.
🎚 4. Mastering: The Final Polish
Your audiobook must meet platform standards (like ACX or Findaway Voices), and that’s where mastering comes in:
Volume leveling and loudness normalization (usually -23 LUFS)
Noise floor adjustments
EQ and compression for consistency
Final file formatting (mono, 44.1kHz, 192kbps MP3)
At this stage, your audiobook is retail ready.
🗂 5. File Delivery
Once mastered, your files are labeled properly and delivered in the format required by your distribution platform. Most services require:
One MP3 per chapter
Consistent naming (e.g., 01_Intro.mp3, 02_Chapter1.mp3)
Opening and closing credits
Retail audio sample
🎙 Ready to Publish Your Audiobook?
Post-production can feel overwhelming—but you don’t have to go it alone. At Green Plum Audio, we offer editing, proofing, and mastering for independent authors, narrators, and publishers.
📩 Have a project in mind? Contact us today and let’s get started.