Text to Speech for Audiobooks
SpeechGeneration AI turns manuscripts into full-length audiobooks with 95+ AI voices. Studio+ voices offer emotional control for fiction — whispers, excitement, sadness. Publish to ACX, Findaway, or sell direct. Plans start at $5/month. 10,000 characters free.
SpeechGeneration AI converts book manuscripts into full-length audiobooks with 95+ AI voices, emotional control, and multi-voice character casting.
10,000 characters free • No credit card • Full commercial rights
Why Create Audiobooks with AI?
Professional audiobook narration costs $50-300 per finished hour. SpeechGeneration AI converts an 80,000-word novel to audio for approximately $30 on the Studio plan.
Fraction of Traditional Cost
Professional narrators charge $50-300 per finished hour (PFH). An 80,000-word novel costs ~$30 with AI on the Studio plan.
Ship Books in Days, Not Weeks
Generate audio in hours. Add 1-2 days for review and editing. Traditional narration takes 2-6 weeks per title.
Revise Without Re-Recording
Found a typo? Changed a chapter? Edit the text and regenerate. No scheduling re-recording sessions.
Find Your Perfect Narrator
Browse 95+ voices across genres. Deep male narrator for thrillers, warm female voice for romance, neutral for non-fiction.
AI Audiobook Narration vs. Human Narrators
| SpeechGeneration AI | Human Narrator | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per finished hour | ~$3 with Studio | $50-300+ |
| Production time (10-hour book) | 1 afternoon | 2-6 weeks |
| Revisions and re-records | Edit text, regenerate instantly | Schedule new sessions, re-pay |
| Voice consistency | 100% consistent across chapters | Varies by session and day |
| Multi-voice (dialogue) | Assign different AI voices | Hire additional narrators |
| Emotional range | Studio+ with emotional tags | Natural human expression |
| Distribution rights | Full commercial rights included | Depends on contract |
When to choose a human narrator: For prestige literary fiction, celebrity memoirs, or when a specific known voice is part of the marketing. AI narration excels for self-published authors, non-fiction, series with tight deadlines, and indie publishers scaling their catalogs.
Hear Audiobook Narration Quality
Compare voice tiers to find the right narrator for your book.
Economy
Click to play
Cost-efficient narration
Studio
PopularClick to play
Natural human-like narration
Studio+
Click to play
Expressive narration with emotional tone
How to Create an Audiobook with AI
Import your manuscript
Upload your book as PDF, DOCX, or TXT. Or paste chapters directly into the reader.
Cast your narrator
Preview 95+ voices. Pick the perfect narrator voice for your genre and audience.
Add character voices
Use multi-voice projects to assign different voices to dialogue and characters.
Export & distribute
Download MP3/WAV chapter files. Upload to ACX, Findaway, or your own store.
Pro tip: Structure your manuscript with clear chapter breaks. Upload one chapter at a time for easier editing and voice assignment. Use [pause:2s] between scenes for natural pacing.
Technical Details
Specs
- Input: PDF, DOCX, TXT, or paste text directly
- No per-generation character cap
- Max file upload: 10 MB
- Output: MP3 (WAV also available)
- 30+ languages (Studio), 70+ (Studio+)
- Multi-voice character assignment
- Emotional tags (Studio+): [whisper], [excited], [sad], [angry], [serious], [calm]
Distribution Format Requirements
| Platform | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ACX / Audible | MP3, 192 kbps, mono | -18 to -23 dB |
| Findaway Voices | MP3 or WAV | Varies by partner |
| Google Play Books | MP3 | Standard quality |
| Direct sales | MP3 or WAV | Your choice |
Audiobook Cost Calculator
~3.5 h
Novella (30k words)
~9 h
Novel (80k words)
~7 h
Non-fiction (60k words)
~35 min
Children's book (5k words)
An 80,000-word novel narrated with Studio voices costs approximately $30 on the Studio plan. The same book narrated by a human costs $3,000-5,000 at industry rates of $50-300 per finished hour.
AI Audiobooks for Every Genre
Different genres benefit from different voice tiers. See which works best for your book.
Novels, series, and genre fiction
The Problem
Self-published authors can't afford $3,000-5,000 for professional audiobook narration. Many books never get audio versions.
The Solution
Generate your audiobook with AI narration. Studio+ voices with emotional control bring fiction to life — excitement, whispers, tension. Publish to Audible via ACX.
Recommended Tier
Studio+ (2×)Emotional control for fiction.
Sample script:
[whisper] She crept down the hallway, her breath catching with every creak of the floorboards. [excited] Then she saw it — the door was already open.
Click to play
Business, self-help, and instructional books
The Problem
Non-fiction audiobooks need a clear, authoritative voice. Hiring a narrator adds months and thousands to the project.
The Solution
Studio voices deliver professional, authoritative narration perfect for non-fiction. Clear pronunciation of technical terms and proper pacing for instructional content.
Recommended Tier
Studio (1×)Professional authority.
Sample script:
Chapter Five: Building Habits That Last. The science of habit formation comes down to three components — the cue, the routine, and the reward.
Click to play
Picture books, chapter books, and educational content
The Problem
Children's audiobooks need engaging, expressive delivery. Multiple character voices make production complex and expensive.
The Solution
Use multi-voice projects to create distinct character voices. Studio+ emotional control adds the expressiveness children's content demands.
Recommended Tier
Studio+ (2×)Expressive, engaging.
Sample script:
[excited] Once upon a time, in a forest made entirely of candy, there lived a very grumpy bear named Barnaby. [grumpy] I don't like visitors, he growled.
Click to play
Backlist titles, series, and catalog scaling
The Problem
Publishers have hundreds of backlist titles without audio versions. Converting them all with human narrators is cost-prohibitive.
The Solution
Scale your audio catalog with AI. Economy tier for backlist; Studio for frontlist. Convert 10 titles for the cost of 1 human narration.
Recommended Tier
Economy (0.1×)Backlist at scale, Studio for frontlist.
Sample script:
Margaret set down her tea and considered the letter carefully. The handwriting was unmistakable — it belonged to someone she hadn't heard from in thirty years.
Click to play
Voice Tiers for Audiobook Narration
Based on Starter plan ($5/month for 60k characters)
Economy
0.1× multiplier
Backlist titles, draft previews, proof listening
- 15 languages
- Emotional control
~120 minutes
per month (Starter plan)
Studio
1× multiplier
Non-fiction, self-help, professional narration
- 30+ languages
- Emotional control
~12 minutes
per month (Starter plan)
Studio+
2× multiplier
Fiction, children's books, emotional delivery
- 70+ languages
- Emotional control
~6 minutes
per month (Starter plan)
Audiobook Math
Short story collection
~50k words • ~1 month
Full novel
~80k words • ~1 month
Non-fiction book
~60k words • ~1 month
Series (3 books)
~240k words • ~3-4 months
A typical novel is ~80,000 words (~400,000 characters). With the Studio plan ($30/month, 450k chars), you can narrate an entire novel in a single month. With Economy tier on Starter ($5/month), narrate ~600,000 characters — more than most novels.
Compare: Human narrator for 1 novel = $3,000-5,000
Publish Everywhere
SpeechGeneration AI audio is licensed for commercial distribution on all major audiobook platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I publish AI-narrated audiobooks on Audible/ACX?
Yes. SpeechGeneration AI audio is fully licensed for commercial distribution including audiobook platforms. ACX and most platforms accept AI-narrated audiobooks — check each platform's current AI narration policy as these evolve. See our Commercial Use page for full licensing details.
How much does it cost to create a full audiobook?
A typical 80,000-word novel (~400,000 characters) costs about $30 with Studio voices on the Studio plan. With Economy tier on the Starter plan ($5/month), you can narrate the entire book for about $10 across 2 months. Traditional narration would cost $3,000-5,000.
Can AI voices handle fiction with emotional scenes?
Yes. Studio+ (2×) voices support emotional tags — [whisper], [excited], [sad], [angry], and more. This is specifically designed for fiction where emotional range matters. Economy and Studio deliver professional but neutral narration.
Can I use different voices for different characters?
Yes. Multi-voice projects let you assign different AI voices to different characters. This is perfect for dialogue-heavy fiction. Choose distinct voices for each character — different genders, ages, and speaking styles.
What audio format do distribution platforms require?
Most platforms (ACX, Findaway) require MP3 at 192 kbps or higher, mono, with specific loudness standards. SpeechGeneration AI exports MP3 files ready for distribution. Some platforms also accept WAV for higher quality.
How long does it take to produce a full audiobook?
A 10-hour audiobook can be generated in a few hours. The main time investment is reviewing and editing — listening through to catch any pronunciation issues. Total production time: 1-3 days versus 2-6 weeks with human narration.
Can the AI pronounce character names and made-up words?
AI handles most proper nouns well. For unusual names or fantasy terms, you can spell them phonetically in your script (e.g., 'Ky-RA' for Kira). This ensures consistent, correct pronunciation throughout.
Is there a free trial for audiobook creation?
Yes. 10,000 characters free with no credit card — that's about 1 chapter or 5-7 minutes of audio. Test all three voice tiers to find the right narrator for your book before committing.
How does AI audiobook quality compare to human narration?
Studio+ AI voices are remarkably natural — many listeners can't distinguish them from human narrators in blind tests. However, human narrators still excel at highly dramatic performance, accents, and celebrity recognition. AI wins on cost, speed, and consistency.
Can I mix AI and human narration?
Yes. Some authors use AI for the bulk narration and hire a human for specific character voices or dramatic scenes. SpeechGeneration AI exports standard audio formats that integrate with any audio editor.
Related Resources
Text to Speech
Convert any text to audio online
PDF to Audio
Convert manuscript PDFs to audio
Commercial Use
Distribution rights and licensing
Text to MP3
Export audiobook chapters as MP3
AI Narration Guide
Tips for natural audiobook delivery
TTS for E-Learning
Narrate educational books and courses
EPUB to Audio
Convert eBook files directly to audio
Start Creating Your Audiobook
10,000 characters free — about 1 chapter. No credit card required.