NLS Other Writings

Art and Science of Audio Book Production

Issued September 1995

Purpose

The reviewer ensures the artistic and technical quality of recordings by reviewing them for adherence to established procedures. The reviewer is the third member of the production team and cannot have been involved with the narration or monitoring of the master recording being reviewed. This requirement assures a different ear for the review process. The reviewer is a full participant in quality assurance procedures of master recording production.

Supervision Received

The reviewer works under the supervision of the studio director who assigns tasks, sets priorities, and provides guidance on matters of studio policy.

Requirements

Good vision and hearing.
Ability to listen effectively.
Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
Ability to work well with others and to accept critiques from the narrator, monitor, and studio director.
Sensitivity to the difficulties involved in translating a printed text to spoken communication, and an artistic appreciation of the written and spoken word.
Fluency in the language in which the text is printed.
Ability to use dictionaries and other reference sources.

Responsibilities

Reviewing recordings in their entirety for artistic and technical quality.
Verifying that side announcements, duration of sound tracks, and record level comply with established procedures.
Verifying that sound tracks are free from any audible disturbance.
Noting mispronunciations, omissions, substitutions, and transpositions.
Verifying consistency of characterization, pronunciation and narration style; and noting changes in energy level pacing, recording level, background ambience, and any other audible characteristic.
Making observations on artistic and technical qualities of the recording that could be improved, but do not require correction.

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