It Takes Two: Dual & Duet Narrations are Spicing up Romance

[Repurposed from the Audible Blog for an ACX audience] If you’re a regular reader of the ACX Blog, you’re no doubt familiar with the stories of ACX creators who are taking audiobooks to the next level, pushing beyond the straightforward read to create an immersive experience for the listener, adding elements like music, soundscapes, and multiple narrators to bring the story to life. But if you’re new to audiobooks, it’s easy to find some of those extras a little daunting. The good news is, there are options for creating immersive audio that are both accessible and impactful, and one of the best bang-for-your-buck choices out there is dual or duet narration. This production trend is on the rise, especially with romance audiobooks, so we decided to share a post from the Audible Blog to help you learn more about the format and decide if it’s right for your next project. As an ACX Blog bonus, we’ve also added sections on how to use dual or duet narration for your ACX project, and the logistics behind each option.

By PATTY K RIVERA, WINNIE DE MOYA Audio storytelling has come a long way since the first recorded words, and nowhere is that evolution more felt than in romance. As the genre keeps growing, so do listener expectations. While having one performer is still common, there’s a growing appetite for styles that bring more feeling and intimacy to the story. Producers and authors are leaning into formats that are more personal and emotionally layered. It’s not just about what’s being said—it’s about who is saying it, and how. “Excitement around multicast performances, including two-narrator productions, just keeps growing in audio,” says Kat Jackson, senior director of Audible Studios. “Whether they’re recording together in the studio or collaborating remotely, professional narrators are incredibly skilled at playing off each other to bring a story to life as a pair, especially in romance.” In this post, we’re looking at two of the most popular double-narrator formats in romance: dual and duet narration. These styles are everywhere right now, and while they sound similar, they create very different listening experiences. We’ll break down what each one sounds like, why they’ve become so widely used, and what makes them so perfect for romance. What is dual narration? If you’ve ever fallen for a romance audiobook and found yourself fully obsessed with the back-and-forth between characters, chances are it was dual narration. This style pairs two narrators who trade off by chapter or point of view: So, when you’re in her head, for example, it’s her voice you’re hearing, and when the story shifts to him, so does the narration. It’s straightforward, but when the chemistry is there, it’s electric. My first dual performance was Royally Screwed, and I remember how intense it felt to hear both perspectives come to life like that. Dual narration has a way of pulling you in, especially when both characters have something worth saying. —Patty R. ACX tip: Dual narration is a great option for you if the two narrators you’re working with can’t record in the same space or on the same schedule. In dual narration, each narrator records their own chapters and then sends them to you (or a producer) to put together and submit to ACX. Even if your narrators aren’t recording together, it’s a great idea to have them send each other sample chapters so they know a little about the voice and narration style of the other storyteller. This can help keep the audiobook flowing and sounding cohesive (rather than disjointed), even though it’s being recorded in parts by two different narrators. What is duet narration? I still remember the first time I experienced duet narration. It was at the end of the first chapter in Rebecca Ross’s Divine Rivals, in which a letter came to life through the voice of the character who wrote it. The moment felt truly magical, and I instantly fell in love with the format. This style is a growing trend in audiobooks, and it’s especially popular in romance. Duet narration features two narrators performing the main characters’ voices throughout the story, often alternating during dialogue. This approach brings a new dimension to storytelling, whether it’s for dual point-of-view narratives or even single-person perspectives. Duet narration has found its way into various settings and stories, from Till Summer Do Us Part to The Grump Next Door. Many romance listeners have expressed their fondness for this format, and it’s easy to see why: Duet narration adds depth and authenticity to the characters’ interactions. —Winnie D. ACX tip: Duet narration is a great option if your narrators can work closely together, even sharing a studio space and recording their parts together so there’s a natural back and forth in the dialogue. That said, we know several narrator duos making it work at a distance—either recording together over video call or other remote recording software (we love Riverside.fm) or even working asynchronously, with each narrator recording their highlighted parts of the script and then handing their files off to a skilled audio producer to put the parts together seamlessly. If you opt for the latter option, consider having each narrator using an audio cue, like a clicker, to indicate where the lines for the other narrator should go to make assembly easier on the editor. As with dual, it goes a long way for narrators to send audio samples to each other before beginning so they have a character in mind to respond to when recording their parts. How to use dual or duet narration on ACX: So you might be reading this and thinking, “but wait—ACX only allows me to contract with one narrator per project on their site. How am I supposed to hire two narrators if I’m working on ACX?” It’s true that current ACX contracts only support one rights holder and one producer, but until that changes there are plenty of ACX authors that are finding ways to hire multiple narrators for their ACX projects, and there are ways to make it work for all parties: One option is to contract with one “primary” narrator through ACX, designating them the producer on the project—you would pay them the rate for both narrators through ACX, and they would handle the coordination with and payment of the other narrator(s), uploading the files to the site, and in some cases mastering and editing all the recording files for consistency. This works particularly well if you’re contracting with one of the production studios on ACX that has their own roster of narrator talent, or contracting with narrators that already work together. If you’re interested in learning more about how this works, check out our ACX University episode Three’s a Crowd, Four’s a Multicast to hear Will Watt talk about how he acted as the producer on Amy Daw’s project Payback (this video may be about multicasts, but it’s full of great insights and tips for those considering dual or duet narration, too). Another option is for you to contract with one of your narrators on the ACX site, then settle terms with your second narrator on your own, outside ACX. If you choose this option, it’s best to use pay-for-production for both parties to ensure fair and easy payment for their time, and you can always use the ACX Independent Contractor Agreements we provide for contracting with your second narrator, changing the terms to apply to the additional narrator. You can find these contracts here. So now that you’ve learned all about dual/duet narration, are you ready to try it for your next project? We’d love to hear about your audiobook ambitions, so tag us on social @AudibleACX to let us know all about your grand plans. Still need more convincing? Check out the original dual/duet post on the Audible Blog to hear some truly unputdownable examples.