How to Create an Audiobook with AI, a Comprehensive Guide to Choosing the Right AI-driven Audiobook Creation Tool

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the world of audiobook creation. With AI-driven text-to-speech technology, it’s easier than ever to turn your written content into engaging audio narratives. This emerging technology has become a hot topic in the current publishing industry, with AI-narrated audiobooks gaining widespread attention and recognition [1][2][3]. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of creating an audiobook using AI, discussing the pros and cons of popular AI-powered audiobook creation tools, as well as providing background information on each company to help you make an informed decision.

[1] AI Comes to Audiobooks / written by Thad McIlroy on PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/87762-ai-comes-to-audiobooks.html

[2] Synthetic Voices Want to Take Over Audiobooks / written by Tom Simonite on Wired

https://www.wired.com/story/audiobooks-synthetic-voices/

[3] Audiobooks – An Under-Served Market For Artificial Intelligence Voice Text And Voice Solutions / written by David A. Teich on Forbes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidteich/2021/12/14/audiobooks–an-under-served-market-for-artificial-intelligence-voice-text-and-voice-solutions/?sh=24e5eecd2c8d

1 Speechki
Speechki, founded in 2019, is an AI-driven audiobook production company specializing in creating high-quality audiobooks. The company has quickly gained recognition as the #1 audiobook production company in the US and has built strong partnerships with major publishers, University presses, and big publishers in Europe.

Pros:

High-quality, natural-sounding voices that enhance the listener’s experience
400+ voices, including 100+ American voices, with premium-level quality
Partnerships with major publishers, such as Bookbaby, MIT, Ingram, Bookwire, and Storytel, as well as many University presses in the US and big publishers in Europe
Recognized as the #1 audiobook production company in the US, with over 3,000 audiobooks created
Offers an A-Z production service, requiring only the title to create an audiobook
Audiobook creation delivery time within one week
Quality Control is included in the price, with several rounds of proofing: by AI, by a large internal team, and optionally by the client

Cons:

Does not support child voice or high-emotion expressions like laughing, crying, and anger
Pricing might be on the higher side for some users, especially for small projects

2 DeepZen
DeepZen, founded in 2018, is a UK-based AI-powered audiobook production company. The company has rapidly gained a reputation as the #1 audiobook production company in the UK and specializes in providing advanced algorithms for lifelike speech.

Pros:

Uses advanced algorithms to create lifelike speech, ideal for audiobook creation
Premium-level British voices, offering a variety of voice options
Recognized as the #1 audiobook production company in the UK, with over 1,000 audiobooks created
Offers an A-Z production service, requiring only the title to create an audiobook
Audiobook creation delivery time within two weeks

Cons:

Limited free trial, requiring users to invest in a paid plan to fully explore the platform
Some users may find the pricing structure complex, with various tiers and options
Supports only three languages, limiting its reach for some users

3 Auto-narrated Audiobooks by Google Play
Google Play, a digital distribution service developed by Google, is a popular platform for distributing and consuming various digital media, including books, movies, and music. Auto-narrated audiobooks is a new service that leverages Google’s expertise in AI to provide authors and publishers with an affordable and efficient way to create audiobooks.

Pros:

Cheap solution compared to some dedicated audiobook creation tools
Seamless integration with the Google Play platform, simplifying distribution and marketing for authors and publishers

Cons:

No experience in audiobook production, requiring 3+ years to understand all the obstacles in the publishing industry, with only 100+ audiobooks created
No A-Z production service, requiring users to hire an employee to understand how the Google platform works
Delivery time is around two months
Quality Control is the responsibility of the client

4 Apple Books Digital Narration by Apple
Apple Books is a digital bookstore and audiobook platform developed by Apple Inc. The platform offers a wide range of titles, and Apple Books Digital Narration leverages Apple’s AI technology to provide a cost-effective and user-friendly audiobook creation solution.

Pros:

Cheap solution compared to some dedicated audiobook creation tools
Seamless integration with the Apple Books platform, simplifying distribution and marketing for authors and publishers

Cons:

No experience in audiobook production, requiring 3+ years to understand all the obstacles in the publishing industry, with only 100+ audiobooks created
No A-Z production service, requiring users to hire an employee to understand how the Apple platform works
Delivery time is around two months
Quality Control is the responsibility of the client

Creating an audiobook with AI is a cost-effective and efficient way to transform your written content into a captivating audio narrative. As AI-narrated audiobooks gain traction in the publishing industry, choosing the right AI-powered audiobook creation tool becomes increasingly important for authors and publishers looking to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on this growing trend.

By considering the pros and cons of each AI-powered audiobook creation tool, as well as the company background, you can make an informed decision on which platform best suits your needs. Once you have chosen the right tool, prepare your manuscript and work closely with the platform to ensure the final product meets your expectations. With the right AI-driven audiobook creation tool, you can expand your reach, engage new audiences, and potentially increase your revenue as an author or publisher.

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Authors
Dima Abramov, CEO at Speechki
Mitchell Kim, CGO at Speechki

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