'Shadows of the Banyan' — Literary Fiction Audiobook Production
Full audiobook production of a 12-chapter literary fiction novel — narrator direction, recording, per-chapter editing, ambient sound design for scene transitions, and ACX-compliant mastering.
The Challenge
A leading publishing house was producing the audiobook for a critically acclaimed literary novel set in 1940s Bengal. The book shifts between three timelines and two narrators (male and female). They needed: professional narrator direction to maintain consistent character voices across 8+ hours, subtle ambient sound design for timeline transitions (not a full audio drama, just gentle scene-setting), per-chapter mastering that meets ACX/Audible technical specs, and a 5-minute retail sample that hooks listeners.
The Approach
Pre-production: created a detailed pronunciation guide (Bengali names, places, historical terms), character voice map for each narrator, and chapter-by-chapter emotional arc notes. Directed two narrators across 6 recording sessions each, coaching consistent character voices and emotional delivery. Edited each chapter meticulously — removing mouth clicks, breath sounds, flubs, and long pauses while maintaining natural rhythm. Designed subtle ambient 'scene-setters' for timeline transitions: 1940s Bengal (distant tabla, river sounds), 1970s Calcutta (traffic, Rabindra sangeet radio), present-day London (rain, underground). Mastered all chapters to ACX specs (-23dB RMS, -3dB peak, -60dB noise floor).
The Result
Audiobook launched as an Audible Editors' Pick in India. Average listener completion rate was 94% — well above the 60% industry average. The ambient transition sounds were praised by reviewers as 'transporting.' The publisher subsequently commissioned two more audiobook productions.
Deliverables
“The subtle sound design for timeline transitions was a stroke of genius — it wasn't in the brief but Vivek suggested it, and it completely elevated the listening experience. Our completion rate speaks for itself.”
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