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Newbie Guide to LibriVox & Recording
If you need an even more basic overview, read About Recording for LibriVox.
If you already know how to record mp3 files, you may prefer How to Record for LibriVox.
If you want to record ... ( YAY! )
Get a microphone and free editing software.
Learn how to use both in our 23-minute Audacity 101 tutorial.
Then volunteer for a project and Read to the World!
Table of Contents:
- Newbie Guide to LibriVox & Recording
- Overview
- Recording Setup
- Tech Talk for Non-Tech Folks
- When you're ready to start recording
- After you have made your first contribution
- Want to know more?
- Going Further
Overview
LibriVox's objective is "To make all books in the public domain available, for free, in audio format on the internet." - About LibriVox There are three key ways to help.
> > Recording is easier, harder, and more fun than you'd think! how-to equipment software
You'll need equipment (usually a $30-50 USB mic) and software (usually Audacity - free) and a computer and time. And an enjoyment of reading aloud to others. Everything created at LibriVox is given to the public domain.
> > Editing help is always in demand! Audacity FAQ great guide
If you enjoy computers and shaping things, you may enjoy editing. Most folks at LV use the free, open-source program Audacity (Windows, Linux, Mac OSX).
> > Prooflistening may be the best way to understand LibriVox! forum guide
Nearly every LV recording is prooflistened (so we can remove repeats or gaps before a book is catalogued). Even a little prooflistening exposes you to LV's diversity of projects and readers, gives you ideas about your own projects, and makes the LV community come alive as nothing else can.
Welcome! You are now part of How LibriVox Works!
Recording Setup
Have everything? Great!
How To Record for LibriVox is the page you ought to see.
Not yet set? The typical recording setup used by most volunteers at LibriVox is a USB mic plugged into a computer running the free audio program, Audacity.
Microphones
Perhaps the cheapest mic widely used at LV is the Logitech USB desktop microphone (PN 980186-0403) for about $30US - very satisfactory for the price! Opinion: the sound is more digital and not so rich as the Samson mics ($50-90), but it's not so edgy or harsh as the headset models. A recommended first, economy mic.
The Logitech headsets are very widely used (especially the 250 for ~$40US; and the 350 for ~$50US; the models are proliferating). Some models are surprisingly uncomfortable to wear (the 250), but some folks like the headset convenience for keeping the mic location consistent and the hands free. Opinion: the sound is inferior to the cheaper, desk-top mic by Logitech. For the extra money, consider investing in a higher quality Samson mic.
The Samson mic is a popular "upgrade" among volunteers who love recording. (Q1U ~$50US, C01U about $90US)
Other equipment is noted in User-Recommended Equipment.
Recording/Editing Software
Most LV volunteers use Audacity -- version 1.2.6 is quite stable (doesn't crash much), but the beta version, 1.3.3, has several vital features and filters though it isn't so stable as 1.2.6. Recommended: download both and use 1.3.3 only when you need its extra features, and save often.
Audacity 1-2-3 is a guide to help you step-by-step: download, install, and test Audacity with a first recording. If you have a built-in mic, try it out. If you have ordered a microphone online and are waiting for it, you can download and install Audacity while you're waiting for the mic to arrive.
See Software We Use for other recommendations and some tips about software you may already have.
Tech Talk for Non-Tech Folks
Many people worry that they are not 'technical' enough to manage the recording side of things. But it isn't that difficult - else there wouldn't be so many of us doing it! The vast majority of LibriVox volunteers
do not have a technical background.
Some folks use other recording setups, but this guide focuses on the most direct route to recording for LibriVox -- recording into a computer, editing on a computer, and sending files over the Internet.
Learn How
On the Audacity 1-2-3 page is a triple-trial tutorial called Testing! Audacity 101. You will begin by plugging in your mic (if you don't have a mic but want to start learning Audacity, use the sound file provided on that page), and you'll end by sending a complete little test of your recording setup (or, again if you don't have a mic yet, you'll know all the basics of recording and editing in Audacity).
When you're ready to start recording
If you need or would like some feedback on your technical setup etc, it's a good idea to start by submitting a 1-Minute Test to the "Listeners & Editors wanted" subforum for constructive criticism (CC) - on how to do this, see also the FAQs there.
When you have all your equipment and software set up, you are ready to start recording for real. These are the steps to take:
Step 1. Find a project and 'sign up' for a reading part
Read through the sub-fora in the section "Volunteers Wanted" to find a collaborative project that interests you. There are numerous collaborative projects open and looking for readers at any time of the day or night, in numerous languages:
Readers Wanted: Short Works and Poetry: this usually includes a Poetry Collection and a Short Story Collection, but also things like a Short Mystery Collection, Short Ghost Story Collection, Short Non-Fiction Collection, Long Poems Collection and many many more. For most of these collections, readers can pick a poem, story or essay of their own choice to contribute.
Readers Wanted: Books: whole books being recorded by multiple readers, where you can contribute one or more chapters.
Readers Wanted: Dramatic Works: plays or dramatic recordings of books, where you can contribute in the cast.
Carefully read the first post in the thread of the project that interests you - this contains all detailed instructions specific to this project, and shows you which sections or parts are still available.
Hit "Post Reply" at the top left of your screen. This will add a post to the 'thread.' Leave a message for the Book Coordinator indicating which part you'd like to read, and check back later for the reply. The Book Coordinator will leave a reply for you in the same manner, and tell you that you have successfully 'claimed' the part.
Please Note: It is recommended that you do not put any important information in the subject line of your reply to a post. You'll notice throughout the forum, that the subject line is so small that no one sees the subjects of individual replies. If, for example, you put the chapter number you would like to claim in the subject line, and not the post, your book coordinator will likely have no clue what you're talking about.
For many of the collections in the "Short Works" forum, you do not need to 'claim' anything. Just follow the instructions in the first post, and pick a poem, story or essay you like (as long as it's in the public domain).
Step 2. Now you can go and create your recording!
For detailed instructions, see HowToRecord. That page also contains information on how to edit your file after the recording. Hopefully you will now have a file that is ready for LibriVox. You'll need to go back to your project's intro post and ensure that the ID3 tags and the file name for the .mp3 file are all correct.
Step 3. Upload your recording
See the guide on HowToSendYourRecording.
Step 4. Post your contribution
To let the book coordinator (BC) of your project know that your contribution is available, again hit "Post Reply" while you are in the project thread. Write the section number, the url (the one the uploader has given you), and the duration (in min:sec) and size (in MB) of your recording in your post. If it is your first contribution to Librivox, also include the name that you would like to show up in the catalogue.
Step 5. Edit after prooflistening
All recordings are "prooflistened" to catch repeats, big stumbles or long pauzes. For some specific projects, the recording is even checked against the text. The notes from the "proof-listener" will be posted in the project thread or in a specific prooflistening thread for the project. For more information, see GuidesforProoflisteners. Keep an eye on the status of your recording once in a while, in the "Magic Window" of your project.
If the prooflistener caught some mistakes, his/her notes will be entered here. Please edit your recording and resubmit the new version.
If the recording is marked "PL-OK" or just "OK", it means that it is all set for cataloging as soon as the whole project is done. No further action from you is required.
Once the project is complete, it will be catalogued. You may want to know what will happen to your file when you've sent it to your coordinator! Here's an overview of the LibriVox recording process and some other useful information.
How to get help
Contact your Coordinator via PM (private message, an option on the forum) or by posting a reply in your project's thread. Or post a message in the Need Help? forum and you'll be sure to get some advice!
After you have made your first contribution
You have done it! You have contributed a recording! If you enjoyed doing that, please come back for more. You have several options now:
Contribute another section to a collaborative project, as detailed above.
Launch your very own project - see the New Projects Launch Pad. Read the stickies there for details on how to do this. Your options are:
Going Solo: record a whole book on your own.
Note for first-time recorders: Reading a whole book, as many of us have discovered, is often more time-consuming than one thinks. We therefore strongly encourage you to read a chapter for one of our collaborative projects before you start a solo project.
Become the book coordinator of a collaborative project: book, play or short works collection. See also HowToBecomeABookCoordinator.
Want to know more?
Why not just browse around this wiki, more information is added all the time. Or read the forum - the FAQ is a good starting place!
Advice from Readers -- includes troubleshooting help
Going Further
If you're curious or adventuresome, take a look at the section of the LibriVox forum where other volunteers describe their own "recording studios". You will see a wide range, in terms of both the types of equipment and the cost.
The cable with 1/8" mini plugs on both ends can be used for other purposes. Let's say you have a tape player and audio cassettes of music or books on tape which you'd like to listen to on your computer or digital audio player (ie, MP3 player). You can use the same procedure described above to do this, using this cable to connect the cassette tape player to the computer.