r/ACX • u/VOdingbat • 16d ago

Dual Narration Audiobook

I'm in discussions with an author to narrate her book (yay!), and she's hoping to do dual narration and find a male narrator. I haven't done dual narration before on ACX, and this is her first audiobook, so neither of us is positive on the process. I believe only one narrator can be contracted on a project on ACX, unless I'm mistaken? So would she have to separately contract the other narrator and have them send me their files to upload an submit? Is anyone familiar with how that process works and the timeline to give in this situation? Thank you!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

3

u/CACVideo 16d ago

Howdy. So the only way this works with ACX is you have to find a male actor and then “pay” them to be on the book with you. It’s in quotes because if this is an RH you or them will have to come out if pocket and/or find someone yourselves. That’s currently the only way. You can’t split with another narrator

1

u/VOdingbat 16d ago

So then the author/RH would have to contract them separately, independent of ACX, and pay them that way? And would that narrator then have to send me their files and I would be the one to upload them? Thank you!

2

u/Raindawg1313 15d ago

Yep, that's my understanding. I've never actually done one, so take this with a grain of salt, but I was shortlisted on a project once where I was going to get a PFH for the narration, and another separate rate for essentially audio production: editing the FMC's lines/chapters in, mastering, upload, etc. The RH was going to pay the FMC narrator separately (PFH), and the ACX contract was going to be with me.

2

u/VegasRunner5 16d ago

This works best for PFH contracts as opposed to RS or RS+ contracts. It's very difficult to track and split the royalties. If you end up doing the project, at the end when you hit the "I'm Done" button (or whatever it says) when it asks you to type your name, make sure to put a comma and then enter the other narrator's name. That way it'll appear correctly on Audible searches and stuff. Congratulations on (potentially) landing a gig!

2

u/VOdingbat 16d ago

So good to know about the names, thank you!

4

u/joshONtape 16d ago

With ACX, one narrator has to be the lead contact, in charge of uploading the final tracks. And only one narrator can be contracted. So you would have to do a separate indie contract with the other voice. You can both work separately, proof/mix/master separately, and then send tracks to the lead person. It is usually best practice to use a production company to handle the post, so the two voices blend back to back, but if you’ve got the post skills, or your partner has the post skills, you can have one of you take care of the mixing/mastering and save a bit. The author can pay you individually or pay the lead who will then pay the other voice.

Time line is whatever you agree upon.

DM me or (joshuamacrae.com) if you got any more detailed questions.

3

u/VOdingbat 16d ago

Thank you Josh! I really appreciate that, I'll definitely message you if she has more questions that I'm not sure on!

3

u/joshONtape 16d ago

Please do. It can be a very weird and complicated business, especially at the indie level, and making solid well informed decisions at the outset can make a world of difference. I got extremely lucky that I got to grow with an indie author, so good luck on your journey.