Audiobook Publishers Key Terms

Hone audiobook publishers key terms and make your book sing

By A Antonow

Audiobooks can be music – or a great story – to publishers’ ears. However, whether you are dealing with a publisher to create your own audiobook or you want to work in the publishing field, it is important to understand that there are many types of audiobooks and many production options. Learning key terms can help you understand all your options.

Audiobook

An audiobook is a book that is recorded in audio form rather than printed. Listeners listen to an audiobook rather than reading it.
Try: WiseGEEK has a comprehensive definition of the audiobook.

Audiobooks on tape

Audiobooks on tape are audiobooks that are sold on cassette tape. Originally, most audiobooks were on tape, but now very few new audiobooks are recorded in this format.
Try: Audio-Books-for-Everyone.com has a comprehensive explanation of what audiobooks on tape are.

Books on CD

Books on CD are a type of audiobook format in which audiobooks are recorded onto a compact disc (CD) and are sold in stores. Books on CD often include a booklet and cover art in a shrink-wrapped jewel case, much like a music CD.
Try: Spoken Books Publishing has a useful definition of books on CD, comparing that format to downloaded audiobooks.

Narrators

Narrators are the voice actors who speak out or read out the text that listeners of an audiobook will hear. Narrators must not only get every word correct, but must also add appropriate emotion to their performances and must pronounce everything very clearly.
Try: Interactive Voices has a detailed description of what a good audiobook narrator does.

Audiobook digital formats

Audiobook digital formats are the formats or types of files that audiobooks can be recorded in. Usually, digital file formats allow the audiobook to be compressed and made available online or for use on mobile devices, such as iPods.
Try: Kitabe has an explanation of audiobook digital format and a comparison of the most commonly used formats.

Audiobook downloads

Audiobook downloads is a type of audiobook format where listeners access an audiobook through their computer, rather than from a CD or tape. The listener transfers the audio file to his or her computer and then can copy it or transfer it to another device. Audiobook downloads are among the more popular forms of audiobooks today, since many listeners like to hear audiobooks on their mobile devices and online downloading is a very convenient way to access audiobooks.
Try: Random House has an easy-to-understand explanation of audiobook downloads.