NLS Other Writings

Art and Science of Audio Book Production

Issued September 1995

Evaluation of Narration

Among many elements that must be considered when the narration of an audio book original master recording is evaluated, the following are judged to be the most important:

The narration skillfully conveys the sense of the text to the listener at all times, including the emotional level and other elements appropriate to the needs of the text.
The narration distinguishes narrative form from dialogue and characters from each other through effective use of timing, stress, emphasis, inflection, and other appropriate skills of the speech arts; and all character voices possess the same ease, flow, and vocal range as the normal narrative voice.
The narration is free of strained, unclear, inconsistent or overplayed accents, dialects, or character interpretations.
The narration is accomplished in a conversational manner free of stilted, mechanical, monotonous, or repetitive patterns of delivery that are not called for in the text.
The narration is accomplished at a pace that is appropriate to the needs of the text.

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Introduction

Art narration as art components skill enhancing factors accuracy evaluation

Science narration environment host environment ventilation original masters running masters quality assurance

Position Descriptions narrator monitor reviewer

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Posted on 2006-02-24