Content Roundup: The best videos for creators from Audible’s YouTube channel

We’ve just finished releasing the videos from our latest season of ACX University (in case you missed it, you can catch up on all our new episodes here), and we already dreaming up our next series. But if you’re like us and can’t wait for our next season to keep learning, check out Audible’s YouTube channel—it may have been created with listeners in mind, but there are plenty of gems in here for authors and narrators to help you keep writing and performing at the top of your game. You may even see some familiar faces!

Here are our top content picks for indie creators from Audible’s channel:

Leigh Bardugo’s Ultimate Guide to Creating Fantasy Worlds | Watch time: 7:46

Leigh Bardugo, best-selling author of Ninth House and creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series), knows a thing or two about world-building. In this value-packed video, learn how to use research and ask “what if” questions to build unique, cohesive fantasy worlds, use a sense of power and place to establish the world for your listener, develop rules and characters for your new world, and how to push through roadblocks in your writing.

Lake Bell Demonstrates Vocal Efforts | Watch time: 8:52

This is a fun one, and great for any narrator looking to elevate their narration with vocal efforts. Voice artist extraordinaire Lake Bell explains "vocal efforting" (it’s like vocal foley), and how to use it to enhance narration and create immersive storytelling for all genres—no fancy equipment required!

Expert Sound Designer Demonstrates How to Make Stories Scary | Watch time: 8:04

Soundscapes and sound effects in audiobooks are growing in popularity, and they can be a great way to elevate your audiobook to audio theater—like a movie for the ears! Join expert Audible Studios sound designer Curtis McDonald to learn how to create a baseline with ambience, make your own sound effects using common household items, modify sounds using your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), and bring it all together for an immersive audio experience.

Kelly Rowland, Sara Bareilles, & Daveed Diggs Show Off Their Vocal Warm-Ups | Watch time: 5:02

If you enjoyed ACX University’s episode on vocal booth essentials, this video is a great next step in developing your pre-booth routine. Join these three vocal legends to learn how you can enhance your own vocal warmup before you hit the mic!

Master Voice Actor Puts His Skills to the Test | Watch time: 11:41

In this fun on-screen narration exercise, sought-after narrator Ray Porter shows how different attributes and context clues can change how a character is voiced. See how he does it, then use this exercise in your own audiobook preparation to experiment and find the right voices for your characters.

Character Complexity & Voicing Emotion with Vikas Adam | Watch time: 10:34 & 10:57

If you’re missing ACX University favorite Vikas Adam already, here’s a couple throwback videos from this accomplished narrator showing his behind-the-scenes process for character voice development. Learn how to layer complexity from context and how to voice emotion using physicality and an understanding of your characters to build rich character voices that resonate.

What’s the best piece of publishing or production advice you’ve ever gotten? What have you always wanted to know more about? Tag us on social @AudibleACX to share your favorite audiobook learnings and tell us what you want to see next on ACX University!