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KDP tests virtual voice-narrated audiobooks in the US
Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) will test virtual voice-narrated audiobooks in the US.
A post on the KDP community forum said it had begun a beta test on the technology which would allow KDP authors to produce audiobook versions of their e-books using virtual voice narration.
Authors can sample voices, preview and customise the audiobook before setting a list price between $3.99 and $14.99. They will receive a 40% royalty.
After publication, audiobooks will be live within 72 hours and distributed where Audible titles are sold. KDP authors can also choose to work with professional narrators and voice talent through Audible’s existing Audiobook Creation Exchange (ACX).
The post said audiobooks created by virtual voice will be clearly labelled and, as with any audiobook, customers can listen to samples.
The move is the latest in using synthetic speech technology. Earlier this year digital publishing company Bookwire partnered with Google Play Books to allow customers to produce auto-narrated audiobooks using its text-to-speech technology. Apple also soft launched a raft of audiobooks narrated by artificial intelligence to its Apple Books platform in January.
