Prior to the QC process, the average audiobook has an error every 10-20 minutes.
Our job is to make sure the listener never hears them.
Below is a list of common errors we look for.
Examples of Errors & Issues
Correct Statement
“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”
Diction/Delivery
Clipped words/Missing consonants - The quick brown [fo] jumps over the lazy dog.
The “X” sound is missing on the word “fox”
Off-Mic Delivery - The quick brown fox [jumps over] the lazy dog.
The words “jumps over” are delivered off-mic
Intent - The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog[?]
Sentence is read as a question instead of a statement
Edit/Technical
Distortion - The quick brown fox [jumps] over the lazy dog.
The word “Jumps” is distorted
Repeated Text - [The quick-] The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
The editor has left both takes in the recording
Spacing - The quick brown fox [......] jumps over the lazy dog.
There is too much space between the words
Misread
Omission - The quick brown fox jumps over the [lazy] dog.
Reader omits the word “lazy”
Addition - The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy [red] dog.
Reader adds the word “red”
Substitution - The quick brown fox [leaps] over the lazy dog.
Reader says “leaps” instead of “jumps”
Noise
Room Tone - The quick brown fox [jumps over the lazy dog].
The air conditioner turns on mid-take
Mouth Click - The [quick] brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.
There is a sharp mouth click on the word
Mic Pop - The quick [brown] fox jumps over the lazy dog.
There is a mic pop on “brown”
Pronunciation
Wrong Pronunciation - She prefers [chianti] over other Italian wines.
Reader says “chee-AHN-tee” instead of “kee-AHN-tee”
Correct Version - She prefers [chianti] over other Italian wines.
Reader says “kee-AHN-tee”
Inconsistent Pronunciation - The [clapboards] on the [clapboard] house were falling off.
Reader switches between “CLAP-board” and “CLAB-erd”
Correct Version - The [clapboards] on the [clapboard] house were falling off.
Reader says “KLAB-erd” both times
Wrong Language - In Madrid, la [guerra] was on everyone’s mind.
Reader says Italian “GWEHR-ah” instead of Spanish “GEHR-ah”
Correct Version - In Madrid, la [guerra] was on everyone’s mind.
Reader uses Spanish “GEHR-ah”