ACX Audiobook Recording Studio in Los Angeles

ZOOM Recording Studio records audiobooks and long-form narration for ACX, Audible, and independent publishers at 539 S Rampart Blvd in Westlake, Los Angeles. Narrators, voice actors, and self-publishing authors use our rooms for projects ranging from single chapters to full-length titles. Both rooms are acoustically treated with consistent, low-noise floors suitable for the tight technical specs ACX requires.

Our engineers work with narrators daily. They understand the ACX submission checklist and will flag problems during the session rather than after you have uploaded 30 files. If you have recorded audiobooks elsewhere and dealt with rejection notices over room tone inconsistency or noise floor violations, you know why that matters.

ACX has specific requirements for audio submissions, and sessions at ZOOM are set up to meet them from the start. Our rooms maintain a noise floor below -60dB. Room tone is captured at the beginning of each session and verified for consistency across chapters so your submission passes the first time.

Recording runs at 24-bit/44.1kHz. Final files are delivered in ACX-compliant MP3 format (192kbps CBR, mono, per the current ACX audio submission requirements) or in whatever format your publisher specifies. If you are working with a distributor outside ACX that requires WAV or FLAC, we deliver that instead.

Long-form audiobook sessions use a punch-and-roll workflow in Pro Tools or Logic Pro X. When you stumble on a line, the engineer rolls back a few seconds and you pick up cleanly from the last good phrase. This keeps your flow natural and eliminates the tedious post-production splicing that eats hours in editing. Most narrators find they can record a finished chapter in roughly 1.5 to 2 times the final audio length using this method.

The primary vocal chain for narration is a Neumann TLM 103 large-diaphragm condenser through a Universal Audio Apollo interface, monitored on Yamaha NS10 and Dynaudio LYD 8 speakers. For narrators who prefer a dynamic mic (common for deeper voices or proximity-heavy reads), the Shure SM7B is available in both rooms.

Bring your manuscript (digital or printed). The engineer sets levels, captures room tone, and builds the Pro Tools session template for your project. You record chapter by chapter. Between chapters, the engineer reviews levels and confirms the audio stays within ACX specs.

At the end of the session, files are organized by chapter, labeled to ACX naming conventions, and run through a final quality check: peak levels between -3dB and -6dB, RMS between -18dB and -23dB, noise floor below -60dB. You walk out with files ready to upload. For multi-session audiobook projects, we keep your session template on file so pickup days match the original recordings exactly.

Engineered voiceover and narration sessions run at the standard room rate plus an engineer fee. ZOOM I (non-smoking) starts at $39/hr daytime. ZOOM II (smoking-permitted) starts at $49/hr daytime. The engineer add-on is $30/hr. Two-hour minimum on engineered sessions.

Audiobook projects often run 4+ hours per session, which qualifies for our extended-session rate: $35/hr on ZOOM I (Monday through Wednesday, or 6+ hours on weekends), $45/hr on ZOOM II. Overnight lockout (midnight to 9 AM) drops further: $16/hr ZOOM I Mon through Wed, $19/hr Thu through Sun; $20/hr ZOOM II Mon through Wed, $23/hr Thu through Sun.

For narrators working on a full-length title across multiple sessions, our prepaid packages save significantly. The Rising Star (16 hours, $499), VIP (30 hours, $879), and Icon (50 hours, $1,365) bundles bring the effective rate down to $27 to $31 per hour. Full rate card and packages on the pricing page.

539 S Rampart Blvd, Westlake, Los Angeles CA 90057. On-site parking included with every session. For narrators hauling mic stands, pop filters, or reference monitors, the lot is steps from the studio door. No metered street parking, no garage fees, no circling the block.

The studio is open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Overnight and late-night sessions work well for audiobook narrators who need quiet hours or want to take advantage of lower rates. The building sits one block south of Wilshire on Rampart, 3 minutes from the 101 (Rampart exit), 8 minutes from the 10. Call or text +1 (323) 616-1990 to confirm availability or ask about multi-day audiobook scheduling.