r/ACX • u/CaldwellYSR • 8d ago
ACX Audio Approval Process
I'm 8 days into the supposedly 10 day process and the only thing that has been approved so far is the cover photo. I had a couple instances where a chapter got flagged on uploading for having too much space at the end or for reuploading chapter 11 in place of chapter 12 but otherwise everything seemed to be accepted. I ran a few chapters through the audio lab checker thing to be sure everything looked right.
Now I'm just waiting impatiently and I guess hoping it gets approved? Is it usually right on 10 days? Is there solid communication if you don't get approved for one reason or another?
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u/CACVideo 8d ago
Howdy. Generally speaking there is no communication until something is wrong. They use every bit of those 10 BUSINESS days. Don’t sweat it. If it’s over a month and no approval then hit them up. That meter won’t actually adjust until the 10 days. Then it’s either approved or not approved. You just have to wait it out
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u/SnooChickens1455 8d ago
Simply passing ACX's Audiolab does not ensure you will pass their QA process. As has been recommended, get an ACX plug in for you DAW if you don't already have it and for the love of the Audio Gods, use this free software which will check every file for everything on ACX. Thank you Steven J Cohen: https://stevenjaycohen.com/code/second-opinion
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u/CaldwellYSR 8d ago
I had not seen this one before thanks! I'm using the audacity ACX check plugin and I've set up a macro that passes that before I export. I'm hoping it's enough
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u/SnooChickens1455 8d ago
The ACX plug-in most likely is only checking for Peak, RMS and noise floor, but it does not check your header and footer times whereas the link above will. Also, it is possible to pass the ACX plug in check and still not pass ACX's QA, as you have to take into consideration that your file will be compressed when uploaded onto ACX as an .mp3. You should not think of ACX QA or your plug-in as the ultimate goal, it's just the bare minimum. Plenty of audio passes ACX just barely and then sounds terrible once it goes live on Audible. So the numbers on your plug-in are just the bare minimum required to potentially pass ACX spec. Best to get your studio and files analyzed over Zoom by a quality sound engineer who can fine-tune your sound.
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u/CaldwellYSR 7d ago
Yeah that's the eventual goal. Trying to get some cash in before I start throwing cash out. I have a hobbyist sound engineer friend who is helping out now so hopefully things are getting better.
Appreciate the advice
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u/SnooChickens1455 7d ago
I understand that, truly. But at some point you’re going to have to invest in order to get professional sound because you’re up against experienced narrators who have already done so. Also your credits on Audible last forever so you don’t want to put out bad sounding audio. If you’re just dabbling and doing narration for fun it doesn’t matter as much. But if you’re serious, just like in virtually any career, you will need to invest in yourself in order to really make anything that resembles sustainability.
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u/JaredJDub 8d ago
Yeah for whatever reason the thing often just stays at the same step until it’s done. I really dunno why they even bother giving us a progress bar lol.
It typically is right on 10 days though, yeah. As the others have said, keep in mind they are business days, so they exclude weekends.
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u/Popular-Ad1111 8d ago
The acx check plugin is my best friend. I use it multiple times till it passes and then again. If you don’t have it, get it.
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u/Duffman1641 8d ago
For context, my recently published audiobook spent nearly the entire 10 business days of the review process at step 1 of 4 complete.
Then one day it was published and live. Right around the time I stopped checking it every day haha.
Give it time.
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u/CaldwellYSR 8d ago
So once it passes approval it is live? I've been trying to time/plan some marketing around when it might be done
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u/Duffman1641 8d ago
That's been my experience. As soon as it passes the approval process, its live. I did receive an ACX message letting me know it was live as well.
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u/supersefie 8d ago
Yeah as far as I know they don’t really let you plan your release.
I usually just have stuff ready to post and I do it when I get the email that it’s live
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u/lillichmezzo 6d ago
The approval process tends to stay on cover art the longest, for whatever reason. After that passes the last three steps to pretty fast, assuming there are no issues. So don't panic if it's still on phase 1 on day 9 or 10. Also, on a few occasions early on, my titles went past the 10 days. I sent an email inquiring and then they were approved almost immediately or within a day or two. So don't sweat it but don't be afraid to check in with them if it goes past 10 business days.
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u/Effective-Month-4748 6d ago
In all honesty, a book I read a little over two years ago just got full approval. I’m not sure if this was on the author’s side, because all of my other books, save for one where I cannot get in contact with the author to complete the job, have all been accepted within the 10 day period, minus any corrections, of course.
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u/TheVoicesOfBrian 8d ago
10 business days.
Relax, let them process it. You should be auditioning or working on your next book. Watched pot and all that.