I have submitted two recorded books to ACX. They are "pending audio review" which can take up to 30 business days. I will continue to produce my books, in THE STORY OF GLOPS series, for ACX. If something needs changing in the recordings, I now have the confidence that I can make the changes. I do not understand it, but I can do it.

Happy Independence Day! 
Happy 29th Anniversary to my husband! 
It's going to be a great weekend!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIUbR378w18 

​This has the best information of all in the Audacity to ACX videos!
 
ACX University: Setting Up Audacity: Part 4, Lesson 3
 
In Audacity, record in MONO, not stereo. Or save as Reduce to MONO.
 
Split screen for Audacity on left and book script on right, or for Audicity on lower screen and book script on upper screen.
 
Record narration. When you make a mistake, stop. Either record over it or start a new track to go back and fix it later. Use:
         Shift Z = undo
         Shift Y = redo
         Shift X = cut
         Shift C = copy
         Shift V = paste
         Shift K = copy all to end
         Shift J = copy all to beginning
 
Export Track as [filename]_raw.wav with Encoding: 32-bit (float)
 
Open Levalator
         Drag and drop [filename]_raw.wav into Levalator. Keep this file in case you need it later.
         Levalator will improve the file and make it much more even
         [filename]_raw.output.wav will be saved wherever the [filename]_raw.wav is
 
Remove the old track from Audacity.
Drag and drop the new [filename]_raw.output.wav back into Audacity. You can delete this file later.
         Select All (Ctrl A) and Effect >
                  Check Remove DC …
                  Check Normalize peak amplitude to Normalize to -3.0 dB
                  No check on stereo …
         Export as [filename]_final.mp3 with Quality of 192 kdps
because an mp3 file is what ACX wants.
Keep this file, also.

If you want to add sound effects, do it with this [filename]_final.mp3. When finished, export the narration and sound effects as:
         [filename]_final_wSE.mp3
         Bit-rate Mode = Constant
         Quality = 192 kdps
         Channel Mode = check Force Export to MONO
                  Click OKAY on next screen (It is about music.)
         Keep this file.
 
The [filename]_final.mp3 for narration or the [filename]_final_wSE.mp3 for narration with sound effects is the file to upload on ACX. ​

"So what is The Levelator®? It's software that runs on Windows, OS X (universal binary), or Linux (Ubuntu) that adjusts the audio levels within your podcast or other audio file for variations from one speaker to the next, for example. It's not a compressor, normalizer or limiter although it contains all three. It's much more than those tools, and it's much simpler to use. The UI is dirt-simple: Drag-and-drop any WAV or AIFF file onto The Leveler's application window, and a few moments later you'll find a new version which just sounds better."  (bold type is mine)
http://www.conversationsnetwork.org/levelator 

The opening screen in Audacity was rather intimidating. When watching videos from ACX University, or any other video on YouTube that explained Audacity, I soon began to see the screen as a digital recorder with controls similar to the old cassette players I owned "back in the day." 

ACX says that

There are all those terms and numbers that I didn't (and still don't quite) understand. My new friend, Wayne Hughes, understands, though. 
kbps = kilobits per second
MP3 = a way of compressing a sound sequence into a small file (much smaller than a wav file)
kHz = kilohertz, a measurement of audio frequency in data chunks per second
CBR = constant bit rate
room tone = specific quality of background noise during a live recording
dB = decibel, unit used to measure the intensity or pressure of a sound
dB peak values = maximum sound levels before distortion

There is always a "learning curve," but this was more of a "learning curl!"

For example: 192 kbps, mp3, bit rate at 44.1 kHz, -23 dB and -18 dB RMS, -3dB peak, and -60 dB noise floor. It all looked like the combination to a secret safe or the password for entrance into an important government facility.

Consequently, my first attempt at recording my narration, of the first book in The Story of Glops series, was an unacceptable flop. That dimmed my enthusiasm a bit. Education is usually the key, so I decided to learn all I could and get help from someone who could and would help.

ACX is the Audiobook Creation Exchange launched by Audible, Inc. about 10 years ago. Audible is an Amazon company. Audiobooks produced through ACX are sold through Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. Each recording for a book must meet certain, specific criteria to assure excellent, high-quality audiobooks. That, in turn, leads to satisfied audiobook listeners.

​

My husband, Glenn, calls it my hideout, because it reminds him of his boyhood hideout made with blankets and quilts over a card table.

Attempt one: Using the entire spare bedroom as a "recording studio" failed. I used quilts, a matress pad, a bedspread, and sheets on all hard surfaces. I added an old egg-crate mattress around my laptop and Blue Yeti USB microphone. That did not deaden enough extraneous sounds. Plus, the room could not function in any other manner.

Attempt two: Shrinking the size of the "recording studio" to a corner of the room seemed like a good idea. Although it was slightly better, it was not sound proof enough for good recordings.

Attempt three: Using a closet. What about claustrophobia? I wouldn't know until I tried it. I was able to make space in a different closet for luggage that was stored in the spare-bedroom closet. Throwing away a few items, including useless, empty boxes, was painless. The closet was only three feet wide and I had no desk that would fit. I did have the adjustable stand for my music keyboard and a removable computer-keyboard shelf from a desk. Add one very small, folding chair. Perfect fit!

I used the same quilts, matress pad, bedspread, sheets, and egg-crate mattress on all surfaces, over, under, and side to side. Voilà! One small, 3' x 4.5' dead-sound room. Although it is not very pretty, it is effective. As for claustrophobia? The door knob is only 12" from my left shoulder, and I take frequent breaks from recording.

No solution yet.

I am moving on to the next project, which is making audiobooks. 

I have tried several times to get this blog to appear on Author Central, also. I even re-entered each separate blog, here, for Amazon to recoginze. Even though the pop-up said the blog was connected to Author Central, it has not shown up. Of course, I have to wait a day or more to know if the most recent attempt works. It is not a matter of "drag and drop" or "copy and paste." If it were, I would do that. 

I will keep working on it. In the meantime, does anyone have any words of wisdom to share with me about how to get it done?

Balaam: The Story of Glops, Short Story 5a is ready for you and anyone else who wants a FREE copy. 

This is the back-cover blurb:
   “How can I get rid of these people before they start a war?” King Balak asked himself. He was talking about the Israelites.
   God’s people rested in the country of Moab after forty years of wandering. They had won many battles against other nations. Balak, the king of Moab and Midian, hired the prophet, Balaam, to put a curse on Israel so the immigrants would go away.
   Some imaginary glops became friends with the prophet’s donkey. Together with Balaam, they went to the king. Amazing events took place during and after their trip. Read this short story to find out how God stepped in to make Balaam do what God wanted. 
    This is a short story in The Story of Glops series.

Get your own copy and tell your family, friends, and acquaintances about the FREE short story. ​You wil find it on my website: bettymreeves-author.com