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Law of One audio books - Parsons - 12-01-2015
I was re-listening to one of the computerized text-to-speech recordings yet again on YouTube when I started perusing the comments section. Several people there said they had difficulty understanding the computerized voice for various reasons including having some sort of disability. It occurred to me that we should have professional (or at least professional sounding) audio books created so the material would be accessible to a great deal of people who cannot read well (or at all) or have difficulty understanding a computerized audio transcript. Another added benefit would be for people who value the convenience of listening to the material in situations not possible to read (such as listening to audio books on long car rides, exercising, doing housework, etc etc). I think many people would be much more willing to listen to an audiobook than to actually sit down and read the text itself.
I know there are hurdles to overcome and it is most likely expensive (after briefly researching the cost). So I am proposing that this community could start a donation or even a kickstarter to fund the project. Due to the cost / added convenience of audiobooks and also the free availability of the text transcripts, I feel it would be appropriate to sell said audiobooks rather than provide them for free. In that case, all sales would go to LLResearch (of course). However, ideally I would like the audiobook to be free and distributed through peer-to-peer networking such as bittorrent or put up on YouTube if the costs to produce the audiobook were somehow mitigated.
Now the reason I am suggesting we hire a professional is because I know it is very difficult to have an end result that is clear and easy to understand. I would be open to the idea of someone from the community do the actual narration but I think it's underestimated how difficult it is to read clearly, concisely, correctly pronounce all vocabulary words, read at a good pace, with good variable tone (not monotone), and with good recording equipment in a noiseless background environment. Even a professional narrator will make mistakes that will cause them to re-read sections of a book that extend the overall creation time. After the book(s) are recorded, someone has to edit it all down which is a whole other can of worms that can take equally as long as it does to narrate the book.
So it is a great deal of work and/or cost to create.
{I would actually be willing to be the narrator if I didn't have some shortcomings when it comes to narration. I have a tendency to read too fast, become nervous / self-conscious, and my pacing can be all over the place (eg I have a tendency to end sentences early then stumble along). I do not have sufficient recording equipment although I would be willing to purchase a high quality microphone to connect to my computer (my headset may be sufficient quality) . I also would have challenges with background noise which would limit how many hours I could devote to the project (plus my computer fans may be picked up in the background). I suppose if anyone is interested, I could make a few sample recordings and see what people think.}
Edit: Another benefit of having professional audio books is we actually may end up with a significantly larger audience overall if they are published on websites such as Amazon/Audible
RE: Law of One audio books - The_Tired_Philosopher - 12-01-2015
I could see it being helpful. Definitely worth the consideration.
RE: Law of One audio books - Parsons - 12-01-2015
I have started narrating session 1. I will upload a sample in a couple days when I get the time.
RE: Law of One audio books - Plenum - 12-01-2015
Jim was in the process of narrating the whole Law of One as an audiobook.
I got to see the makeshift studio (with very professional equipment on loan from a friend) when I was there in September. Jim was also recording Living the Law of One and other of Carla's works.
I'll get the guys at L/L to make an official reply to this thread, so it clarifies where things stand.
RE: Law of One audio books - Steppingfeet - 12-01-2015
Hey Parsons,
I'm surprised you haven't heard about the audiobook. It's been all over the media for the better part of a year.
If "media" is understood to be L/L's Camelot Journal. And the Gatherings Newsletter we issued in May.
Here's the blurb about it in the May newsletter:
Quote:Audiobook
Two or so years ago, a good friend of ours, Sam W. who lives just a 1.5 hour drive from us, volunteered to help create an audiobook of the Law of One material. Being a broadcasting and media guy, Sam had some equipment he could loan, and selflessly offered to perform all the post-production editing work necessary to convert the recorded audio into an official audiobook.
The project was proposed to Carla and Jim, asking one to read the part of Questioner, the other of Ra. Both were enthusiastic, but due to her troublesome medical situation, Carla was unable to participate at the time, and Jim's time/energy were already claimed by her care, so we put it off until such time that Carla returned to health. With her passing, we presented the idea again to Jim, as both his energy and time have opened up. He fortunately indicated that he would love to do this, especially as it provided him a means to continue being of service to seekers, and to carry forward the work that he and Carla gave their lives to so completely.
We can't think of a better reader. Jim's enunciation is perfect and clear, his cadence steady, and his intimacy with the material second to none. He speaks with gravity and power, too, and may even carry subtle vibrations of Don and Carla into the recording.
And as of this writing, the project is officially and fully underway! We created a “studio” (studio herein defined as a basement bedroom dedicated to the purpose of recording which has blankets thumbtacked to the walls to help reduce sound reverberation) to record Jim reading The Ra Material. Sam brought his equipment and gave us a tutorial, and Jim has already sprinted out of the gates, recording the first seven sessions within 48 hours.
After that was written, Jim finished recording reading for all 106 sessions. Twice. He was so enthusiastic about the project, and saddened when it came to an end. (Though he continued to record audibooks of 101, ACH, Book V, and is now working on AWH.)
Our friend and volunteer, Sam, is busy listening and editing each and every session of the Ra audio that, even in its raw form, sounds amazing. Austin and I made a trip to meet with Sam a month ago to work out specifications of editing and left with an agreed upon template.
The audiobook is intertwined with the upcoming The Ra Contact: Teaching the Law of One book that we've been working on in tandem. When we put together a new introduction to the book (for legal reasons we can't recycle the old introduction), then we can record Jim reading it and be on our way to publishing the first part of the audiobook series.
Fingers crossed by spring.
: ) GLB
RE: Law of One audio books - Parsons - 12-01-2015
Wonderful! I'm relieved I didn't end up being the one who narrated the books. I recorded about half the first session and confirmed I have awful cadence/pacing. The end product sounds OK but it took me far too long and sounds somewhat forced / awkward. It's just not my forte. Even then, I can understand why Jim found it so enjoyable to record the LOO.
I'm very happy audio books will be released as I think they will be very beneficial to a lot of people (including myself).
Do you know if you will charge for the audio books? In either case, I would love to see them available on Amazon so they reach a larger audience.
Which reminds me: I think we should also have a paid kindle / ebook version of the Law of One books. Kindle / ebook readers have the advantage of remembering where you left automatically across multiple devices. Also you can read in a dark room and can highlight / make notes right from the reader app. I basically don't read 'analog books' anymore and I know many people are like me. Again, we can reach a larger audience and new generation of seekers if we can publish on Amazon Kindle / other ebook mediums.
RE: Law of One audio books - Steppingfeet - 12-01-2015
(12-01-2015, 02:58 PM)Parsons Wrote: I'm very happy audio books will be released as I think they will be very beneficial to a lot of people (including myself).
Ditto. I listen to audiobooks via Audible on while driving often. (I use to devour audiobooks while doing lawnservice work with Jim. The body was weedeating, but the mind was steeped in visiting new places and learning new things.) So I will be adding the Law of One books to the listening roster. I think many within the small readership will really enjoy the audiobook.
(12-01-2015, 02:58 PM)Parsons Wrote: Do you know if you will charge for the audio books? In either case, I would love to see them available on Amazon so they reach a larger audience.
Mos def.
PDFs of the original published volumes, and a PDF of the new book we're working on, will remain forever free.
(12-01-2015, 02:58 PM)Parsons Wrote: Which reminds me: I think we should also have a paid kindle / ebook version of the Law of One books. Kindle / ebook readers have the advantage of remembering where you left automatically across multiple devices. Also you can read in a dark room and can highlight / make notes right from the reader app. I basically don't read 'analog books' anymore and I know many people are like me. Again, we can reach a larger audience and new generation of seekers if we can publish on Amazon Kindle / other ebook mediums.
We've made mobi versions available (which can be uploaded to a Kindle) for free from the Law of One page:
http://llresearch.org/library/the_law_of_one_ebook/the_law_of_one_ebook.aspx.
: ) Glad you dig the project!