How to Train Your Voice to Make Audio Books

Read aloud. Since the bulk of your profession involves reading, doing so out loud will give you an idea as to where you stand. Take a fiction book of your choice and record yourself as you read. If you do not have access to a recording studio, a simple electronic recorder will do. After a few minutes, listen to the recording and see where your strengths and weaknesses lie.

Control your breathing. When recording a book, proper breathing is essential. If you stop to take frequent or irregular breaths, the finished product will seem amateurish and fragmented. To train your breathing, lie down on a flat surface. Put your hands on your waist and slowly inhale. Your stomach will rise as a result. Slowly breathe out for five seconds and repeat the exercise as much as possible. Eventually, this will become second nature and you can carry it on to your recording sessions.

Learn to convey emotion. In a book, characters experience various emotional states. Since you are not on stage, your voice is the only tool that can express these feelings. Record your voice as it distinguishes between things such as sadness, anger or happiness. Listen to the recording and note any issues you find. Work on increasing sincerity by becoming the character, rather than quoting her. If you wish, you can still incorporate body language to make the emotions feel more authentic.

Practice clarity. Obviously, your audio book will not be easy to listen to if you speak too quickly, mumble or obscure your speech in some way. Incorporate your breathing skills into this and carefully sound out the words at a steady, normal pace. Keep working on this, as well as the other steps. In time, you will master these skills and be ready to record your own audio book.