Audiobook using Audition CC2019: How to bring audio into ACX requirements?

Report · Dec 05, 2018

I have been editing an audiobook using Audition CC2019. There are 52 chapters. The audio levels with each chapter vary but are generally consistent. ACX -- the publishing company for audiobooks -- has a requirement that all submissions have an RMS value between -18db and -23db, with a peak no higher than -3db, and a sound floor of -60.

I've run a batch process through the Match Loudness panel, and get a consistent peak of -3.5db, just below the ceiling, but my RMS Values are all too high, ranging from 26 to over -30db.

Anybody with experience in Audiobooks out there with a method that will bring this audio into compliance with ACX?

Thanks for your help.

Report · Dec 06, 2018

The basics are in this thread: ACX audiobook submission requirements 60dbRMS, -3db & -23db -18db RMS

Report · Sep 14, 2020

Hi, Steve ~

I relaize this is an old thread, but I have a similar issue and am not seeing the solution. I have a sound floor of -72db after processing my audio (Parmametric EQ, Dynamic Processing - ave peak and 2:1, normalized to -3db, De-noise and De-click with izotope). ACX says that my RMS is too low by 5.3db. I ran another EQ, adjusting my low pass, which brought my noise floor up to the required -60db, but it did not adjust the RMS. I tried adding compression, but that did not change the RMS much, either. This is my 6th audiobook and I have never had this issue before - and nothing has changed in my set-up, so I am VERY confused as to why this is suddenly a problem. I record into Adobe CC and have an MK4 for a mic, an Apollo Twin as my interface into an I-Mac. Any help would be MUCH appreciated. Thank you.

All the Best ~

Annie

Report · Nov 19, 2019

Quite frankly, I run my final audio through Audacity. There is a Nyquist prompt that someone developed that puts your audio in compliance with ACX. It's not quite perfect, I need to limit it. There is also an add-on that then runs an ACX check on your audio and tells you if it's all set to go.

I don't see that there is anything similar for the Adobe products.

Report · Mar 15, 2020

Wow that would be GREAT to have such a feature in audition!

Report · Mar 16, 2020

Yes, but if you read the thread linked to above carefully - especially now the last post in it - you'll realise that there's rather more to it than can be 'fixed' by an app. In fact the app isn't really helping you at all; you don't know what it's done, and if the results still don't meet the requirements you're a bit stuffed. Actually understanding the process, and knowing what it is you have to tweak is a much better way forward.

Report · Mar 16, 2020

Thanks for keeping the dialogue open!

What if I explain to you my workflow and also maybe send you one or two of my audio files?

You could then let me know if I am on the right path with my working process in order to be compliant with the ACX requirements?

Report · Mar 16, 2020

Dear Steve and dear Audition users,

I have found this tutorial on youtube explaining how to meet ACX requirements with Audacity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnutKoBzmpA

I have followed the instructions :

1. I installed Audacity, and the two plug-ins : check ACX and RMS-Normalise,

2. Followed the three simple steps explained in the clip (The instructions are on https://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Audiobook_mastering)

Effect > Filter curve... > Manage > Factory Presets > : Low roll-off for speech > OK.

Effect > RMS Normalize: Target RMS Level -20dB > OK.

Effect > Limiter: Soft Limit, 0.00, 0.00, -3.50dB, 10.00, No > OK.

3. run the plug-in : Analyze > ACX-Check.

Boom! Diagnostic : My file meet the requirements!

DONE! PERIOD!