Audiobook Production

Author-narrated: $79/hr (or $70/hr with 15-hr prepay). Typical 50k-word book: ~ $3.2k

Audiobook Production
Safe House Studios
Sydney / Ultimo


An audiobook lives or dies on whether the listener stays with you for 8 hours, not on how clean the file is. Safe House Studios is an audiobook production studio in Ultimo, Sydney, working with self-narrating authors and publishers on performance direction and pacing through the full read, then editing, mastering and delivering chapter files that pass aggregator QC the first time. Self-narrating or bringing in a narrator, either way we're directing the performance, not just pressing record.

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Audiobook Recording and Production

Safe House Studios provides end-to-end audiobook production—built for authors and publishers who want clean, consistent narration and a smooth upload process. Choose the level of support you need:

  • Author self-narration (in-studio, Ultimo): we direct your performance and keep pacing and tone consistent across every session, then handle editing, mastering and QC behind it

  • Post-production only (you supply the narration): bring us your recorded audiobook narration and we'll edit, proof-listen and master it to pass aggregator delivery standards

  • Voice talent option (professional narrator): want a narrator's voice instead of your own, we cast and manage a professional narrator for the project too

Open book with headphones placed on top, on a wooden surface.
Pricing Estimates & Calculator

Pricing (Per Finished Hour)

Most audiobook projects can be priced Per Finished Hour (PFH)—a flat rate based on the final duration of the audiobook, so you can budget upfront.

Quick estimate (Professional narration pace):
Word count ÷ 9,300 = estimated finished hours

Quick estimate (Self-narration pace — more realistic for first-time authors):
Word count ÷ 6,000 = estimated finished hours

Example (50,000 words):

  • Pro pace: 50,000 ÷ 9,300 ≈ 5.4 finished hours

  • Self-narration pace: 50,000 ÷ 6,000 ≈ 8.3 finished hours

Important: If you’re self-narrating, we still price hourly (because pickups and session time vary). The self-narration calculator on our pricing page is the most accurate way to estimate your project cost.

The Process

  1. Pre-production – word count, aggregator goals, pronunciations, chapter map

  2. Recording – in-studio (Ultimo) with engineer direction

  3. Editing – cleanup, pacing, consistency, removals of mistakes/outtakes

  4. QC / Proof listen – verify accuracy and continuity across chapters

  5. Mastering + Delivery – final levels, export, file naming, upload-ready package

Open book with black headphones placed on it, on a dark wooden surface.

ACX-Compliant Delivery + QC

We deliver chapter files that meet common retail-aggregator submission standards (ACX specs), including:

  • 44.1 kHz, MP3, Constant Bit Rate (CBR) 192 kbps+ACX+1

  • Loudness within –23 dB to –18 dB RMS, peaks not exceeding –3 dB, and noise floor ≤ –60 dBACX+1

  • Retail sample (1–5 minutes) and correct credits formatting ACX+1

Studio Location (Ultimo, Sydney)

Safe House Studios is located in Ultimo—convenient for Sydney CBD, Inner West, and surrounding suburbs. Sessions are engineer-led in a controlled recording environment focused on clean narration and consistency across long-form reads.

Looking for a Professional Narrator?

If you'd rather have an experienced voice bring your book to life, we can help with that too. We work with a small group of professional narrators across different styles and genres, so you can find the right voice before we start production.

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Author-Narrated

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ACX-Compliant Delivery

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Editing

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End to End Audiobook Production

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Author-Narrated 🎧 ACX-Compliant Delivery 🎧 Editing 🎧 End to End Audiobook Production 🎧

Produced by Safe House Studios

(Producer of Record)

Dont' Become A Writer by Shrikar Badri - audiobook cover
Book cover titled "Christ Before Creeds" with a split face of a man, half a realistic photograph and half a digital text pattern, on a black background.

  • Most professional projects are quoted Per Finished Hour (PFH). In Australia, a common fully-finished benchmark is AUD $300–$400 PFH, depending on scope and talent. If you’re self-narrating as a first-timer, hourly pricing is usually more accurate because pacing and pickups vary.

  • PFH means Per Finished Hour—a flat rate based on the final duration of the audiobook (after editing and mastering).

  • A common rule of thumb is 9,300 words per finished hour. Divide your manuscript word count by 9,300 to estimate your finished hours.

  • Yes. We offer engineer-led sessions with coaching and direction so your performance stays consistent across long-form narration. Self-narrated projects are typically quoted hourly.

  • Yes. We can do post-production only as long as we can review a short sample first to confirm noise, consistency, and editing workload.

FAQs

  • Yes. We deliver chapter MP3s and a retail sample aligned with common ACX requirements, including CBR MP3 (192 kbps+ at 44.1 kHz) and the standard loudness/peak/noise limits. ACX+1

  • ACX commonly expects RMS between –23 dB and –18 dB, peaks no higher than –3 dB, and noise floor ≤ –60 dB. ACX+1

  • ACX’s guidance is a retail sample between 1 and 5 minutes.

  • Typically: chapter/section MP3s, opening/closing credits, and a retail sample, with clear file naming and chapter splits for upload.

  • Yes. If you prepay 15 hours, your project is billed at $70/hr, and any additional hours (“top-ups”) are also $70/hr.

  • It depends on word count, narration complexity, and pickups. After we review your manuscript and a short audio sample (if supplied), we’ll confirm a timeline.

  • Word count, manuscript, genre, target platform (ACX or other retailers), whether you’re self-narrating or using a narrator.

  • Yes—your package includes a defined pickup allowance (we’ll specify it in writing). Additional pickups are billed hourly.

  • Optional. Quoted separately depending on whether it’s a standard audiobook or a more produced “audio drama” style.

  • Yes—your package will specify what’s included (pickups, corrections, and final approvals).