Pricing and Rates

Project based pricing.

Because every project is unique.

We offer flexible, value oriented pricing to fit the needs of each individual project. Using our talent or yours, we include four royalty-free music drops per hour.

Everyone wants the best price. Our mission is to go beyond that and offer the best value. The best value is a combination of quality and pricing. What that really means, is that no two projects are alike, so talk with us about your project...your needs, your concerns and your expectations. Contact us by phone or email.

All needs are not met with a "one price fits all" policy. We want clients to choose only those services that fit their budget and their needs. Talk with us about your needs, and we will help you stay within budget.

No surprises. We work with our clients so they are aware of timelines and pricing at every step of the way. We are proud of the fact that we clearly identify in advance all costs associated with every production.

How to save money--the truth about audio book production costs. The more you know about the process, the easier it is for you to estimate and control costs. The following information can help you predict and control the cost of your project.

The Voice Talent. In terms of finished product, different narrators may give similar results, but some require more direction from the producer, more re-takes, more editing and additional studio time. This is frequently true of celebrity readers and authors who are recording for the first time. This can have an unexpected impact on studio costs.

Value pricing. The foundation of our value pricing is the select group of narrators, producers and engineers we work with. These teams are skilled, efficient and accustomed to working together, which can save a significant amount of recording and editing studio time.

Music and Special Effects. As producers, we love these additions and enhancements--in some cases they make the difference between a production that's good and one that's very good. So, to help polish our productions, we offer four royalty-free music "drops" per hour. Adding additional "drop" tracks is very affordable.

If a client wants original music or special effects, we can draw on a large pool of skilled musicians and sound designers. By all means, use music and special effects, but be aware that used excessively or without planning, they can ambush your budget.

Too many Directors. Let's see…the publisher, an editor, an agent, the author and somebody's best friend all decide they are needed at the recording session to help the producer direct the narrator. They all have somewhat different visions of the way the reading should be done. What could possibly go wrong?

Group production parties may burnish egos, but they rarely improve a narrative performance. The usual results include spiraling costs from re-recording and additional editing time. We prefer to resolve these and similar issues during our pre-production and planning sessions--not when creative passions are in conflict and the studio clock is running.

Get a good estimate of the reading time! To control production costs, you start by knowing how long it should take to record your manuscript. This lets you compare the pros and cons of an abridgment, versus the cost of a full-length production. And, it will help you to decide on the appropriate packaging for the recording.

Here are some easy ways to estimate reading time: Read an average page of the book aloud at a normal pace. Multiply that reading time by the number of pages. This is one way to estimate how long it will take to read the book. Remember, however, that different individuals read at different rates. If your average page contains about 375 words, it will take about one hour to read 24 pages. Thus, a 240-page book would take about 10 hours to read. Page size and text layout vary…but as an estimate, it's probably within five percent either way, and most importantly, it gives you the information you need to make some decisions.

Here's another easy way to estimate reading time. If a book is on a word processing program, use the statistics function to find the number of words. In Microsoft Word, use the Tools pull-down menu and choose Word Count. The reading rate for professional narrators is about 165 words per minute. If you send us the word count and a description of the project, we will send you a quote.

Generally speaking, it will take about one hour to read 24 pages. Of course, this depends on page size and layout. One version of Elmore Leonard's "Mr Paradise," with lots of indented dialog and wide margins, read at more than 40 pages per hour.

And, of course, if you'd like us to do the word count or page estimate for you, we'll be glad to help, and we'll show you how we did it. Simply contact us.

And, for our customers, a few spiffs...We offer discounts on graphics, duplication and packaging through respected manufacturers. And we can assist in getting your book into low-cost or no-cost digital distribution networks to increase your sales reach.

What's the difference between pricing based on per hour or per CD rate? On a per minute rate, there is no difference between them.

What happens during a pre-production meeting? In pre-production we identify the scope of the project, agree on the talent, the delivery style and the use of music or special effects. We address pronunciation and language use. We establish communication channels and resolve questions regarding direction and goals of the project.

What about Podcasts? Podcasts are becoming more important as a communications and sales tool for publishers, publicists and distributors. We can work with you to create innovative and affordable podcast productions and strategies. Chapter podcasts are cost efficient ways to reach an audience, introduce a new author or series, and create buzz.

You must own the audio rights to the material we record and produce for you. We will ask you to certify that you own the audio rights to any material that we produce for you.

Talent price and availability disclaimer: Individual narrators may have performance or personal schedules that conflict with the recording dates of a project. Also, as independent contractors, the artists we work with may decline to work on any project, and in some cases may request a higher performance fee. Of course, talent fees are not subject to change once they have been negotiated.

Prices are subject to change, but not once a project has begun. We are committed to giving our best effort to every project, and to deliver full value and satisfaction to our customers. Our goal is to provide a wide range of affordable production and pricing choices, and to honor our customer relationships.

We work hard to make it easy for you. We answer phones. We return messages. We keep our customers informed of the progress of their project. We take delight in our work, and we would like to work with you.