# How to Create an Audiobook Using AI Voice Technology
*Last updated: June 16, 2025*
## Introduction
The audiobook market has experienced explosive growth, with recent industry data showing a 30% year-over-year increase in consumption. As this market expands, so does the technology available to create audiobooks. One of the most significant innovations has been the development of AI voice technology, which has revolutionized audiobook production by making it more accessible, affordable, and efficient.
AI voice technology (also called Text-to-Speech or TTS) has made remarkable advancements in recent years. While early synthetic voices were robotic and unnatural, today’s AI-powered voices leverage deep learning and neural networks to create narrations with natural intonation, appropriate pacing, and even emotional nuance. This technology has democratized audiobook creation, allowing authors with limited budgets or technical resources to produce professional-quality audio content.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the complete process of creating an audiobook using AI voice technology. From preparing your manuscript for optimal results to distributing your finished audiobook, you’ll learn how to leverage this cutting-edge technology to bring your written work to life.
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## Table of Contents
– [Introduction](#introduction)
– [Understanding AI Voice Technology](#understanding-ai-voice-technology)
– [Advantages and Limitations of AI Narration](#advantages-and-limitations-of-ai-narration)
– [Preparing Your Manuscript for AI Narration](#preparing-your-manuscript-for-ai-narration)
– [Choosing the Right AI Voice](#choosing-the-right-ai-voice)
– [Step-by-Step AI Audiobook Creation](#step-by-step-ai-audiobook-creation)
– [Advanced Techniques for Better Results](#advanced-techniques-for-better-results)
– [Editing and Enhancing AI-Generated Audio](#editing-and-enhancing-ai-generated-audio)
– [Distribution and Marketing Considerations](#distribution-and-marketing-considerations)
– [Future Trends in AI Audiobook Production](#future-trends-in-ai-audiobook-production)
– [Key Takeaways](#key-takeaways)
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## Introduction
The audiobook market has experienced explosive growth, with recent industry data showing a 30% year-over-year increase in consumption. As this market expands, so does the technology available to create audiobooks. One of the most significant innovations has been the development of AI voice technology, which has revolutionized audiobook production by making it more accessible, affordable, and efficient.
AI voice technology (also called Text-to-Speech or TTS) has made remarkable advancements in recent years. While early synthetic voices were robotic and unnatural, today’s AI-powered voices leverage deep learning and neural networks to create narrations with natural intonation, appropriate pacing, and even emotional nuance. This technology has democratized audiobook creation, allowing authors with limited budgets or technical resources to produce professional-quality audio content.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the complete process of creating an audiobook using AI voice technology. From preparing your manuscript for optimal results to distributing your finished audiobook, you’ll learn how to leverage this cutting-edge technology to bring your written work to life.
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## Understanding AI Voice Technology
AI voice technology has evolved dramatically from the robotic-sounding synthesized speech of the past. Today’s systems use sophisticated neural networks and deep learning algorithms to produce increasingly natural speech.
### How Modern AI Voice Systems Work
Modern AI voice generation uses neural text-to-speech (TTS) models that are trained on thousands of hours of human speech. These systems analyze text at multiple levels:
1. **Text Analysis**: The AI breaks down your text, analyzing sentence structure, punctuation, and context.
2. **Linguistic Processing**: The system determines proper pronunciation, emphasis, and phrasing based on language rules and context.
3. **Voice Synthesis**: Neural networks generate audio that mimics human speech patterns, including natural pauses, breathing, and intonation changes.
4. **Emotional Mapping**: Advanced systems can interpret emotional context and adjust the delivery accordingly, though with varying degrees of success.
The result is synthetic speech that increasingly resembles human narration, with natural-sounding cadence, appropriate emphasis, and contextual understanding.
### Current State of AI Voice Quality
As of 2025, AI voice technology has reached a remarkable level of quality:
– **Naturalness**: Top-tier AI voices have overcome the “uncanny valley” effect and sound convincingly human for most casual listeners.
– **Emotional Range**: While still not matching the emotional depth of professional voice actors, modern AI can convey basic emotions like excitement, concern, and reflection.
– **Language Support**: Most platforms offer multiple languages with native-sounding accents rather than translated voices.
– **Character Voices**: Some systems can now provide subtle differentiation for character dialogue, though dramatic characterizations remain challenging.
– **Pronunciation Accuracy**: AI systems have improved dramatically in handling specialized terminology, foreign words, and uncommon names, though they may still require guidance for perfect accuracy.
> **Pro Tip:** The quality of AI narration directly depends on the quality of your text formatting. Well-structured text with proper punctuation will produce significantly better results than poorly formatted manuscripts.
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## Advantages and Limitations of AI Narration
Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of AI voice technology will help you determine if it’s the right choice for your audiobook project.
### Advantages of AI Narration
1. **Cost-Effectiveness**:
– Professional human narrators typically charge $200-400 per finished hour
– AI narration can reduce this cost by 80-95%
– No studio rental fees or equipment costs
2. **Speed and Efficiency**:
– Generate a complete audiobook in hours rather than weeks
– Make corrections instantly without scheduling re-recording sessions
– Rapid turnaround enables quick market entry
3. **Consistency**:
– Maintains the same tone, energy, and quality throughout
– No variations due to recording on different days
– Perfect consistency across series or multiple books
4. **Flexibility and Control**:
– Make edits to the narration at any time
– Experiment with different voices before committing
– Adjust pace, tone, and pronunciation as needed
– Update audiobooks when text content changes
5. **Accessibility**:
– Creates opportunities for authors with limited budgets
– Enables audiobook creation in languages with fewer available narrators
– Makes niche content economically viable as audiobooks
### Limitations of AI Narration
1. **Emotional Depth**:
– Less emotional range than skilled human narrators
– May struggle with subtle emotional transitions
– Limited ability to interpret subtext and nuance
2. **Character Differentiation**:
– Less distinctive character voices compared to voice actors
– Challenges with maintaining consistent character voices
– Difficulty conveying character personality through voice alone
3. **Market Perception**:
– Some listeners and platforms may prefer human narration
– Certain distribution channels have policies regarding AI narration
– Some promotional opportunities may be limited for AI-narrated content
4. **Technical Limitations**:
– May struggle with highly specialized terminology
– Occasional mispronunciations requiring manual correction
– Less adaptable to unique narrative styles or experimental formats
### Ideal Use Cases for AI Narration
AI voice technology is particularly well-suited for:
– **Non-fiction books** with straightforward narration requirements
– **Instructional content** that benefits from clear, consistent delivery
– **Content with frequent updates** that would require re-recording
– **Multiple language versions** of the same content
– **Academic and educational materials** where clarity is paramount
– **Business and self-help books** with professional, authoritative tone
– **Backlist titles** that might otherwise never become audiobooks due to cost constraints
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## Preparing Your Manuscript for AI Narration
The quality of your AI-narrated audiobook depends significantly on how well you prepare your manuscript. AI systems rely on text formatting and structure to determine pacing, emphasis, and pronunciation.
### Formatting Guidelines for Optimal Results
1. **Clean Document Structure**:
– Use a single, consistent document format (.docx or .txt are typically best)
– Maintain consistent paragraph formatting throughout
– Remove extraneous formatting like colored text or highlighting
– Ensure chapter breaks are clearly marked
2. **Punctuation Optimization**:
– Use punctuation to guide the AI’s pacing and intonation
– Add commas where you want natural pauses
– Use periods to create full stops rather than run-on sentences
– Consider semicolons for complex sentence structures
– Use question marks and exclamation points appropriately to convey tone
3. **Text Elements to Remove or Modify**:
– Remove headers, footers, and page numbers
– Eliminate image captions unless you want them read
– Convert bulleted or numbered lists to paragraph format if they sound unnatural when read
– Remove URLs, email addresses, and other elements that don’t translate well to audio
– Convert footnotes to endnotes or integrate critical information into the main text
### Special Considerations for Different Content Types
#### Fiction-Specific Preparation:
– **Dialogue Attribution**: Ensure dialogue has clear attribution tags to help listeners follow conversations
– **Character Indicators**: Consider adding brief speech direction in brackets where emotional context might be missed
– **Consistent Name Usage**: Use the same character names consistently to avoid confusion
– **Scene Transitions**: Add clear breaks between scenes or consider brief transitional phrases
#### Non-Fiction Preparation:
– **Table and Chart Data**: Convert important visual data into narrative descriptions
– **References and Citations**: Determine whether to include these or omit them for better flow
– **Acronyms and Abbreviations**: Spell out acronyms on first use with the abbreviation in parentheses
– **Technical Terms**: Consider adding pronunciation guidance for specialized terminology
### Creating a Pronunciation Guide
For terms that might challenge the AI system, create a pronunciation guide:
1. **Identify Challenging Terms**:
– Uncommon names and places
– Technical or specialized terminology
– Foreign words and phrases
– Invented words (especially important for fiction)
2. **Create a Reference List**:
– List each term with phonetic spelling
– Find audio examples online if possible
– Test pronunciations on the AI system before full generation
3. **Implementation Methods**:
– Some platforms allow direct pronunciation guidance through their interface
– Others support Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) for precise control
– As a last resort, you can modify spelling in your text to force correct pronunciation
> **Pro Tip:** Most AI narration platforms allow you to generate short samples for free. Use this feature to test how your text sounds and adjust formatting accordingly before processing your entire manuscript.
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## Choosing the Right AI Voice
Selecting the appropriate voice is one of the most critical decisions in creating an AI-narrated audiobook. The right voice creates an immediate connection with listeners and enhances the content.
### Voice Selection Criteria
Consider these factors when evaluating AI voices:
1. **Genre Appropriateness**:
– Business books often benefit from authoritative, mature voices
– Self-help may work better with warm, encouraging tones
– Fiction requires voices that can convey emotion and maintain engagement
– Children’s content needs clear, friendly, age-appropriate voices
2. **Demographic Alignment**:
– Gender: Should typically match the author or main character
– Age: Should reflect the content’s tone and target audience
– Accent: Consider regional appropriateness for your audience
– Cultural nuances: Some voices may better represent certain perspectives
3. **Technical Qualities**:
– Clarity and articulation
– Natural-sounding rhythm and cadence
– Appropriate pacing (not too fast or slow)
– Pleasant timbre that won’t fatigue listeners over hours of content
4. **Emotional Range**:
– Ability to convey appropriate emotional tones
– Natural-sounding variation in delivery
– Appropriate expressiveness for your content
### Testing Voices Effectively
Before committing to a voice for your entire audiobook:
1. **Generate Multiple Samples**:
– Test 3-5 different voices using the same passage
– Include dialogue, description, and any challenging content
– Try samples from different chapters to ensure versatility
2. **Evaluate Across Content Types**:
– How does the voice handle dialogue vs. narration?
– Does it maintain energy during technical or complex passages?
– How naturally does it transition between emotional tones?
3. **Get Feedback**:
– Share samples with beta readers or your target audience
– Ask specific questions about voice quality and engagement
– Consider what demographic the voice appeals to most
4. **Listen in Different Environments**:
– Use headphones, speakers, and car audio if possible
– Test at different volume levels
– Consider how the voice sounds after listening for extended periods
### Voice Customization Options
Many AI platforms now offer customization features:
1. **Basic Adjustments**:
– Speaking rate (typically 90-95% of default speed works best for audiobooks)
– Pitch variations
– Emphasis levels
– Pause length between sentences and paragraphs
2. **Advanced Customization** (platform-dependent):
– Emotional tone mapping
– Pronunciation dictionaries
– Voice cloning or fine-tuning
– Character voice differentiation
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## Step-by-Step AI Audiobook Creation
Now that you’ve prepared your manuscript and selected a voice, you’re ready to create your AI-narrated audiobook. Here’s a detailed walkthrough of the process.
### Choosing an AI Voice Platform
Several factors should guide your choice of platform:
1. **Voice Quality and Selection**:
– Number and variety of available voices
– Natural sound quality and emotional range
– Language and accent options
2. **Technical Capabilities**:
– Maximum file size or text length
– Supported file formats
– Batch processing capabilities
– SSML support for fine control
3. **Editing and Enhancement Tools**:
– Built-in audio editing features
– Post-processing options (equalization, compression, etc.)
– Chapter management capabilities
4. **Cost Structure**:
– Pay-as-you-go vs. subscription models
– Per-word, per-minute, or per-project pricing
– Free trial or sample generation options
5. **Rights and Licensing**:
– Commercial usage rights
– Distribution permissions
– Content ownership terms
### Platform Setup and Configuration
Once you’ve selected a platform:
1. **Account Creation and Verification**:
– Complete registration process
– Verify usage rights for commercial content
– Set up payment method if required
2. **Project Setup**:
– Create a new audiobook project
– Configure basic settings (title, author, etc.)
– Set default voice and audio parameters
3. **System Configuration**:
– Adjust default settings for pauses, emphasis, etc.
– Set up any custom pronunciation dictionaries
– Configure output file settings (format, quality, etc.)
### Uploading and Processing Your Manuscript
1. **Document Preparation**:
– Ensure your manuscript is in a supported format
– Double-check formatting and pronunciation guidance
– Split very large manuscripts into chapters if necessary
2. **Upload Process**:
– Use the platform’s upload function for your document
– Verify text has imported correctly
– Check for any formatting issues or text conversion errors
3. **Processing Options**:
– Select between whole-book or chapter-by-chapter processing
– Choose audio quality settings
– Set narration style parameters
4. **Generation Time Expectations**:
– Small chapters (5,000 words): 5-15 minutes
– Full books (80,000 words): 1-3 hours
– Processing times vary by platform and server load
### Quality Control and Iteration
1. **Initial Review**:
– Listen to samples from throughout the audiobook
– Note any pronunciation errors or odd phrasing
– Identify sections that may need adjustment
2. **Making Corrections**:
– Fix any text issues in your manuscript
– Adjust pronunciation guidance where needed
– Regenerate problematic sections
3. **Final Verification**:
– Listen to chapter transitions
– Verify consistent volume and pacing
– Check that all content is included and accurate
> **Pro Tip:** Process your audiobook one chapter at a time initially. This allows you to catch and fix any issues before committing to the entire book, potentially saving time and resources.
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## Advanced Techniques for Better Results
Take your AI-narrated audiobook to the next level with these advanced techniques.
### Using SSML for Precise Control
Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) is a powerful tool for controlling how AI reads your text:
“`xml
I’m
Let’s begin our journey into
“`
Common SSML tags include:
1. **`
“`xml
“`
2. **`
“`xml
“`
3. **`
“`xml
4. **`
“`xml
“`
5. **`
“`xml
### Character Voice Differentiation
While AI voices have limitations with character performances, you can improve differentiation:
1. **Dialogue Tags and Context**:
– Add descriptive tags that help set the emotional context
– Example: “he whispered nervously” or “she declared confidently”
2. **Voice Switching** (if platform supports):
– Use different AI voices for major characters
– Maintain consistency by using the same voice for each character
3. **Prosody Adjustments**:
– Use SSML to slightly adjust the rate, pitch, or volume for different characters
– Be subtleโminor changes often work better than dramatic ones
3. **Character Prefacing**:
– Consider briefly noting character changes: [John:] “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
– Remove these markers in post-production if desired
### Handling Specialized Content
For content with unique requirements:
1. **Poetry and Verse**:
– Add appropriate pauses with `
– Consider slower reading rate for poetic passages
– Use emphasis tags to maintain rhythmic structure
2. **Technical Content**:
– Create custom pronunciation dictionaries for field-specific terminology
– Use `
3. **Foreign Language Passages**:
– Use `
– Consider alternative voices for extended foreign language sections
4. **Sound Effects and Music**:
– Mark positions for sound effects with timestamp notes
– Leave appropriate gaps for adding non-speech audio in post-production
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## Editing and Enhancing AI-Generated Audio
Even the best AI-generated audio often benefits from post-production enhancement.
### Basic Audio Editing
1. **Assembly and Organization**:
– Import all generated audio files into your editing software
– Arrange chapters in correct sequence
– Add opening and closing credits
– Ensure consistent file naming for easier navigation
2. **Error Correction and Cleanup**:
– Remove any synthesis artifacts or glitches
– Correct mispronunciations by regenerating specific passages
– Adjust any awkward pauses or pacing issues
– Ensure consistent volume levels across chapters
3. **Chapter Transition Smoothing**:
– Add appropriate pause length between chapters
– Ensure consistent tone and pacing between files
– Add chapter announcement if desired
### Audio Enhancement Techniques
1. **Equalization (EQ)**:
– Apply subtle EQ to enhance voice clarity
– Typical adjustments include:
– Slight high-pass filter around 80Hz to remove rumble
– Small boost around 2-5kHz for clarity
– Gentle roll-off above 10kHz to reduce any harshness
2. **Compression**:
– Apply light compression to even out volume levels
– Recommended settings:
– 2:1 or 3:1 ratio
– Soft knee compression
– Medium attack and release times
– Aim for 2-4dB of gain reduction
3. **Normalization and Limiting**:
– Normalize to meet platform specifications (typically -3dB peak)
– Apply a limiter to prevent any digital clipping
– Ensure RMS levels meet platform requirements (usually -23dB to -18dB RMS)
4. **Ambience and Presence**:
– Consider adding very subtle room tone for a more natural sound
– Extremely light reverb can add warmth (use with caution)
– Subtle saturation can add analog warmth to digital voices
### Adding Music and Sound Effects
While optional, tasteful audio elements can enhance the listening experience:
1. **Opening and Closing Music**:
– Brief music (10-30 seconds) to bookend the audiobook
– Ensure music is properly licensed for commercial use
– Mix at appropriate level (typically -20dB below narration)
2. **Chapter Transitions**:
– Short musical interludes between chapters
– Consistent sound effect to denote chapter changes
– Maintain consistency throughout the book
3. **Sound Effects** (for fiction):
– Consider minimal sound effects for key moments
– Avoid overuse which can distract from narration
– Ensure effects are properly mixed and balanced
4. **Background Ambience** (use sparingly):
– Subtle environmental sounds for specific scenes
– Extremely low level to avoid distraction
– Fade in and out gradually for natural transitions
### Preparing Final Files for Distribution
1. **File Format Requirements**:
– MP3 (192kbps+ CBR) for most platforms
– WAV or AIFF for archival masters
– M4B for enhanced audiobooks with chapter markers
2. **Metadata and Chapter Markers**:
– Add complete metadata (title, author, narrator, copyright, etc.)
– Include proper chapter markers for navigation
– Add cover art at required resolution (typically 3000×3000 pixels)
3. **Quality Control Check**:
– Listen to beginning and end of each chapter
– Check random sections throughout
– Verify on different playback devices
– Confirm all technical specifications meet platform requirements
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## Distribution and Marketing Considerations
Creating your AI-narrated audiobook is just the beginning; now you need to get it to listeners.
### Platform Policies on AI Narration
Different distribution platforms have varying policies regarding AI-narrated content:
1. **ACX/Audible**:
– Currently accepts AI narration but requires disclosure
– Quality standards remain the same as human narration
– May have specific categories or search filters for AI content
2. **Voices by INAudio (formerly Findaway Voices)**:
– Accepts AI narration across their distribution network
– No special restrictions beyond quality requirements
– Distributes to 45+ platforms including libraries
3. **Apple Books**:
– Accepts AI narration with proper disclosure
– Specific metadata requirements for AI-narrated content
– Same technical specifications as human narration
4. **Spotify and Other Streaming Platforms**:
– Increasingly accepting AI narration
– May have specific tagging requirements
– Same content guidelines as human narration
### Disclosure Best Practices
Transparency about AI narration is both ethical and often required:
1. **Metadata Disclosure**:
– List “AI Narration” or platform name in narrator field
– Include information in audiobook description
– Use appropriate categories when available
2. **Marketing Communication**:
– Be upfront about AI narration in promotional materials
– Focus on benefits rather than apologizing for AI use
– Highlight quality, consistency, and other advantages
3. **Sample Availability**:
– Make audio samples easily available
– Allow listeners to make informed decisions
– Showcase the quality of your AI narration
### Marketing Strategies for AI Audiobooks
1. **Positioning and Messaging**:
– Emphasize content quality and value
– Highlight advantages like consistent narration or quick availability
– Consider competitive pricing as a selling point
2. **Target Audience Considerations**:
– Non-fiction and educational content listeners often readily accept AI narration
– Technical and instructional content benefits from clear, consistent delivery
– Some fiction genres may require more strategic marketing
3. **Review Strategy**:
– Actively solicit reviews from listeners comfortable with AI narration
– Address any narration feedback constructively
– Use promotional codes strategically to build initial reviews
4. **Pricing Strategy**:
– Consider slightly lower pricing to reflect production cost savings
– Use promotional pricing to encourage initial adoption
– Bundle with e-book for added value proposition
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## Future Trends in AI Audiobook Production
The technology behind AI voice narration continues to evolve rapidly. Here’s what to watch for:
### Emerging Voice Technologies
1. **Hyper-Realistic Voice Models**:
– Indistinguishable from human narration
– Fully adaptive emotional expression
– Dynamic performance adjustments based on content
2. **Voice Customization and Cloning**:
– Author voice cloning for authentic delivery
– Custom voice creation with specific characteristics
– Hybrid approaches combining human and AI elements
3. **Multi-Modal Integration**:
– Synchronized e-book and audio experiences
– Visual elements timed with narration
– Interactive audiobook experiences
### Ethical and Legal Considerations
As the technology advances, important considerations emerge:
1. **Voice Rights and Licensing**:
– Clear frameworks for voice ownership
– Licensing models for voice use
– Compensation models for voice talent
2. **Disclosure Requirements**:
– Industry standards for AI voice disclosure
– Consumer education about AI content
– Transparency in marketing and distribution
3. **Quality Standards**:
– Evolving technical benchmarks
– Industry certification for AI narration
– Platform-specific guidelines
### Preparing for Future Opportunities
To stay ahead of the curve:
1. **Maintain Clean Source Materials**:
– Keep well-formatted manuscripts for future conversion
– Archive pronunciation guides and voice settings
– Document production processes for consistency
2. **Follow Technology Developments**:
– Subscribe to industry newsletters
– Join audiobook production communities
– Experiment with emerging platforms
3. **Build Flexible Workflows**:
– Design processes that can incorporate new technologies
– Consider hybrid approaches combining AI and human elements
– Plan for updating existing content with improved technology
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## Key Takeaways
– **AI voice technology has matured significantly**, offering increasingly natural-sounding narration that works well for many types of content.
– **Proper manuscript preparation is crucial** for optimal AI narration results, particularly regarding formatting, punctuation, and pronunciation guidance.
– **Voice selection should align with content type**, genre expectations, and target audience demographics for the best listener experience.
– **Post-production enhancement** can significantly improve AI-generated audio, bringing it closer to professional studio quality.
– **Platform policies vary regarding AI narration**, so research distribution options carefully and follow disclosure best practices.
– **The technology continues to evolve rapidly**, with ongoing improvements in naturalness, emotional range, and customization options.
– **AI narration offers significant advantages** in cost, speed, and flexibility, making audiobook production accessible to more creators.
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## Related Resources
– [Best AI Voice Generators for Audiobooks in 2025](/resources/articles/ai-voice-technology/best-ai-voice-generators-for-audiobooks-in-2025)
– [How to Create an Audiobook Using AI Voice Technology](/resources/articles/ai-voice-technology/how-to-create-audiobook-using-ai-voice-technology)
– [Can Listeners Tell the Difference Between AI and Human Narrators?](/resources/articles/ai-voice-technology/can-listeners-tell-difference-between-ai-human-narrators)
– [Is AI Narration Cheaper Than Hiring Voice Actors?](/resources/articles/ai-voice-technology/is-ai-narration-cheaper-than-hiring-voice-actors)
– [AI vs Human Narration: Which is Better for Your Audiobook?](/resources/articles/ai-voice-technology/ai-vs-human-narration-which-is-better-for-your-audiobook)
*Tags: audiobook creation, audiobook production, ai voice technology, voice, ai*