Albuquerque, NM (PRWEB) August 14, 2014
Most people think of audiobooks as a single reader narrating a book word for word in linear fashion, with a splash of music at the beginning and end of the book; the vast majority of audiobooks are produced in this manner. And now a growing number of consumers are listening to books by simply activating computer-generated speech.
Technology has opened up new ways to listen to books, to—in effect—mass-produce audiobooks. However, technology has also made possible digital audio workstations that facilitate multi-layer editing and help producers create realistic sound fx and compose and mix music that make it possible for the production itself to play a significant role in the storytelling.
And that is precisely what gave rise to Siren Audio Studios; the idea that audiobooks could be produced as an art form. By adding the elements of imagination and intrepid experimentation to the general audiobook production formula, an ordinary audiobook becomes entertainment on par with other art forms such as cinema, live theatrical performances, concerts, etc.
For example, the latest release by Siren Audio Studios, "Symptoms of Death," a Victorian mystery written by Paula Paul, a title that has been a bestselling mystery on Amazon and on Independent Bookseller lists, performed by actor/director/comedienne Jessica Osbourne, is an audiobook that defies the label “single reader narration.” Each of the characters—brilliantly depicted by Ms. Osbourne—was placed onto individual audio tracks in order to overlap the voices and thereby simulate a full cast performance. The process of individually tracking characters is not standard audiobook production, but "Symptoms of Death," with its cast full of colorful characters merited and benefited from a higher production standard.
All of Siren Audio Studios’ audiobooks were selected for production because they met the company’s mission to produce works that push boundaries. No project holds the title of pushing boundaries more so than "Angel in My Arms," an audio romance written for Audio Drama by Sarah Storme (romance)/aka S.H. Baker (mystery). This production allowed Siren to experiment further. The voices of the hero and heroine—using both their dialogue and their unspoken feelings—and the hero’s deceased wife, were woven together to portray what was happening in real time, providing a much better understanding of the characters’ motivations. Most of the sound effects in this production, as in all Siren’s productions, were custom-made, and the entire production was scored to complement the romantic theme. These techniques go far beyond typical audiobook production, but it is the norm for Siren Audio Studios.
Whether it’s humor, romance, mystery, literary or non-fiction, every one of Siren’s productions has been tailored to fit the mood and style of the story to create a richer, more fulfilling experience. Most people are surprised to learn that the process for creating an artistic audiobook is identical to that of film production—adaptation of the story (as in "Angel in My Arms"), recording individual scenes, creating custom sound fx, editing the work, and then scoring it.
Some compare artistic audiobooks to old time radio theatre—a valid comparison, but audio theatre has evolved, just as the film industry has evolved from producing silent movies.
Traditional audiobook production and books made audible through computer-generated speech have an important place in the market. Ease of production creates greater availability of audio versions, allowing greater access to the content of books and making it easier for book readers in general to integrate book consumption into their busy schedules. The latter benefit lends credibility to the argument that reading a book is like listening to the book, and very often, the book reader himself won’t remember whether he read the book or heard the book.
However, that argument does not hold true for all audiobooks. Artistic production of audiobooks has an entirely different purpose. It exists to celebrate the art of storytelling by exploring new and better ways to experience the story aurally.
So herein lies the real difference between the majority of audiobook production and artistic production: Those who listen to an artistically produced audiobook aren’t likely to ever be confused about whether they read the book or heard the book. No. Their confusion will stem from not recalling if they heard the book or saw the movie.
Siren’s titles can be purchased on Amazon, Audiobooks.com, Audible, iTunes, Spoken Ink (UK), Google Play and through institutional distributors EBSCO, Midwest Tapes, and OverDrive.
To learn more about Siren’s productions or leave a comment about this article, please visit Siren Audio Studios.
