ACX Plugins for Audiobook

[Kareng]

Hi there, I am new to Audicity but would like to record an Audiobook. I have done a bit of research and found that I need to install plugins to make sure the quality is good enough. I have never installed plugins before. Please could someone tell me what plugins I need and how to instal them.

[Kareng]

I tried clicking Mac instructions on the wiki page but I get an error message.

[billw58]

The ACX Check plug-in is here.

Instructions to install Nyquist plug-ins (ACX Check is a Nyquist Plug-in) are here.

– Bill

[HalfNote5]

So, as someone who teaches a class on audiobooks, and has recorded several dozen:

NOT what you asked:

1. I’m sure you’ve been told, but treating your recording space is going to be essential for good quality sound. Basically make sure your voice (which goes out in a 360-degree sphere all around you) doesn’t hit the wall and bounce back into the mic too badly.
2. If you ARE in an echo/reverb-prone area, maybe consider using a dynamic mic instead of a large diaphragm condenser.
3. Don’t use your headset mic/laptop mic/plug your dynamic mic directly into the computer. Use an interface. You can get a 2i2 used for $60-ish.
   -Use a pop filter to eliminate plosives (whuffle sound on Ps.)
   -Use a shock-absorbing mic mount
   -If you have an interface with 2 or more inputs, get a mic splitter, and sial down the gain on track 2 as a safety track, if you want to be luxuriously unconcerned with gain levels.

All that out of the way, to answer your ACTUAL question:

1. NOISE REDUCTION
   When you’re done reading, you’ll want to first use the noise reduction plugin. It’ll remove the hiss that your equipment creates just by running. There’s an article on that (and how to use audacity’s) here:
   Making a great audition - Noise (Floor) Removal | Voice Acting Club

2. HI-PASS
   You want to get rid of the 60hz hum your electric lines create in the audio. Use the “Filter Curve” plugin, and make the graph look like this: (NOTE THE VALUES ON THE LEFT, AND ALONG THE BOTTOM. Make the points match those. (This also helps with some light plosives/pops.
   

   

3. TRIMMING
   While recording, set a SHORTCUT KEY to the “Add Label at Playback Position” option “Edit>Labels>Add Label at Playback Position” - You can do this in preferences.

If you tag that shortcut key every time you make a mistake, it makes it easy to use Alt+rightarrow to find all of your outtakes (errors) quickly and delete them.

4. ACX and Compression.
   If you have a very dynamic reading style (shouts/etc.) then your loudest and quietest volumes are probably very different. ACX does NOT like this. You need a consistent volume across the entire file. COmpression helps do this.
   Here’s a nice site to describe what it IS/DOES: the animated guide to compression — pATCHES
   But really, the thing to remember is to do it GENTLY and in STAGES. Applying multi stage compression works better than severe compression.

Applying it at 2:1 3 times is MUCH better than just applying 4:1 or 8:1. Use these settings to start and apply them a couple times, if needed:

5. NORMALIZING

Normalize your audio, based on peaks to about -2db (Effect>Normalize)

6. SAVING
   ACX expects the audio in Mp3, 192kbps constant bit-rate mono. Those settings are under File>EXPORT.
   

7. LUFS/RMS
   If you need a LUFS/RMS plugin (which you won’t after you get a feel for consistent audio volumes by looking) I recommend DPMeter II - A free plugin by ToneBoosters that I’ve had forever. You can google for it, but when you download it, you have to put it in the Plugins directory under Audacity’s program folder in C:|Program Files (x86)\plugins. Then you go to Effect>Add/Remove Plugins, and enable it.
   Interpreting it is somewhat arcane, but basically it’s making sure that “quiet voice” and “loud voice” aren’t at such different volumes that you’re going to blow someone’s head off if they crank the volume for the quiet part and you suddenly start shouting.

[HalfNote5]

P.S. All of these plugins are already installed in audacity, under the effects menu.
The only exception is the dpMeterII, which is really only necessary to determine LUFS/RMS (relative volume levels) before submitting to ACX.
If you use compression wisely, and make sure you have consistent volume levels, it won’t be an issue, largely.

NO:

YES:

This one is consistent all the way through, and has been normalized (increased) to -2db volume.

[HalfNote5]

P.P.S

Those images are NOT TO SAY you should RECORD with the gain that high. The lower gain in the first one is FINE, so long as it’s loud enough that you’re not losing audio. In fact, having the gain set as low as possible without sacrificing quality is GOOD.

But the FINISHED PRODUCT needs to be brought up to -3/-2db and it needs to be CONSISTENT in volume (hence the compression plugin.

If you’re used to working in other audio, it’ll start sounding too compressed, but it makes ACX happy, and it IS for use, largely, on earbuds. Don’t go TOO crazy with compression, but DO be sure it’s consistent. = )