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Guidelines for Audiobook file production

Guidelines for Audiobook file production

Consistency is Key: To ensure the best user experience, Bokbasen, has established guidelines for submitting audiobooks. All measurements in this document are mainly in RMS but you can use LUFS if the values in LUFS equals the measurements in RMS. To ensure quick and automated processing of the files, it is important that the rules for naming, max length on files and zipping of the files are followed. Here’s what you need to know:

Technical Specifications

  • File length: Each chapter, poem, story, intro, outro, and instruction must be their own file, no longer than 120 minutes. If a chapter contains a poem, story, or short story, the sections before, after, and including the interpolation should be combined into a single file.

  • Segmenting: If there are no chapters, split the book into segments of 30-120 minutes each.

  • Room-Tone: Bokbasen recommends that it should be around 1 second at the beginning of a chapter and 3  seconds at the end of a chapter.

  • Mono or stereo: Bokbasen accept both Mono and stereo but use either mono or stereo sound across all files for a single ISBN.

  • Sample Rate: 44.1kHz.

  • Bitrate: Files should be submitted with CBR at 128kbps for mono or 192kbps for stereo.

  • Peak Value: No higher than -1dB to avoid distortion.

  • Noise Floor: Less than -60dB RMS or -62dB LUFS.

  • Average Volume: Bokbasen recommends an average volume of between -23dB and -18dB RMS or -20 to -23db LUFS.

Recording Tips

  • Sound Quality: Ensure files are free of extra sounds like microphone pops, static, background noise, mouse clicks, mouth noise, and outtakes.

  • Copyrighted Content: Disclose any copyrighted sound effects or music in Meta.

  • AI Narration: If using AI as a narrator, disclose it in Meta under Narrator as “Virtual Voice”.

  • Equipment: If recording at home Bokbasen recommend investing in a proper USB microphone and headphones. Avoid using built-in microphones on laptops and phones.

By following these guidelines, you can ensure a smooth submission process and a high-quality listening experience for your audience.

Contact and Support

For questions or technical assistance regarding audiobook submissions, please contact Bokbasen support or use the form in Bokbasen Meta.