Audiobook mastering online: even voice and −19 LUFS
Audiobooks and voiceovers are not music. What matters here is not loudness or thickness but an even, intelligible voice that does not tire you after an hour, the same level across every chapter, and a quiet noise floor. Platforms like ACX/Audible set explicit loudness and noise requirements, and a raw microphone recording usually does not meet them.
We added an Audiobook preset to Magic Master — a speech chain tuned specifically for narration.
What an audiobook needs (and what the preset does)
- Loudness around −19 LUFS. This lands inside the RMS −18…−23 dB range platforms accept, and it is noticeably quieter than music's −14 LUFS: the voice sounds calm and even. The preset converges the recording to the target.
- A quiet noise floor. Gentle noise reduction removes constant noise (fans, hiss), and a rumble filter cuts low-frequency hum and rumble from the desk and breathing.
- Clarity without harshness. A light presence lift (2–5 kHz) makes diction crisp, while a smoothed top end avoids sibilance and fatigue on long files.
- No reverb. The voice stays close and dry — exactly how an audiobook should sound, with no "room" effect.
- An even level. Moderate compression evens out loud and quiet phrases so the listener never reaches for the volume.
Master an audiobook in 3 steps
- Upload a chapter — WAV or MP3, right in the browser, no software to install.
- Pick the Audiobook preset — target −19 LUFS, noise and rumble cleanup, an even voice.
- Download the result — a file at a consistent level. Master every chapter with the same preset so loudness matches.
A recording tip
Even the best mastering will not replace a quiet room: record in a soft space (curtains, a rug, a wardrobe tame reflections), keep a steady distance from the mic, and watch your noise floor. The cleaner the source, the better the result.
Ready to prepare an audiobook? Upload a chapter — your first file each day is free. Related: Podcast mastering · What is LUFS.
Questions and answers
What loudness should an audiobook be?
For calm narration, aim for around −19 LUFS integrated, which falls inside the RMS −18…−23 dB range used by platforms like ACX/Audible, with peaks no higher than −3 dBTP and a quiet noise floor. That is quieter than music and podcasts, so long listening does not fatigue. The Audiobook preset in Magic Master levels the recording exactly to −19 LUFS.
How do I remove noise and rumble from a narration recording?
The Audiobook preset applies a rumble filter (cutting low-frequency hum and rumble) and gentle noise reduction to lower the noise floor, and lifts speech clarity. No reverb is added — the voice stays close and clear, exactly what long narration needs.
What format should I deliver an audiobook in?
Most platforms accept mono or stereo and usually require every chapter at the same loudness. Master each chapter with the same Audiobook preset and the level will match. WAV and MP3 export are available.
How much does audiobook processing cost?
Your first basic master each day is free (UTC), no card needed. A full PRO master is 1 token = 1 chapter/file, paid in rubles via YooKassa.
Upload a track — a finished master in seconds.
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