audio books...

...and a wonderful opportunity today to sit mouse quiet in a recording studio control room as book club buddy R narrated further chapters of 'One Hundred Names', the book she is recording at 'Visability', formerly Association for the Blind of WA.
In the building..and yes Guide Dogs were lolling in offices and romping in grassed areas...there are a number of areas including the Audio section with four recording studios.

E is the 'monitor'.
She begins the session with a voice check (so weekly chapter readings blend with those previously recorded) and monitors the proceedings, picking up on pronunciation, errors, sneaky intruding noises such as squeaking shoes and rumbling tums.
All the while recording R's reading.

When the narration is complete, a 'checker' listens to the entire audio book, picking up any errors, mistakes and external errors that may have snuck through.

This dynamic duo are just that, dynamic and very much on the same wavelength.
E, an opera singer and linguist  has a fine ear for nuance and R has an amazing ability to read in a way which absorbs the listener into the story within minutes of listening to her.

As we were leaving after the morning's reading, R introduced me to A who transcribes from books to Braille.
A very humbling morning experiencing the grace and dedication of volunteers who give so much of their time and talents.