Below, you will find information on:
Note: This complete 'How To' is also available in French here : http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Comment_devenir_benevole
Click on each of these topics to jump directly to the relevant section, or just scroll down.
PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE POSTING OR RECORDING!
How to Find and Claim a Chapter to Record
Welcome to the LibriVox readers' favorite forum, "Readers Wanted." Volunteering is as simple as posting a reply to the book you want to read. This message details how you can find and claim a chapter or section to read.
1. Scan through the list of titles in the Readers Wanted forum. Each title is a book that needs your voice.
2. When you see an interesting title, read the first post in the thread. That's where the book leader lists the chapters/sections of the book.
3. Check the list of chapters/sections to see which ones have been claimed (they'll have names next to them). Any without a name is open and you may claim it.
4. Click Post Reply (*) and write a brief note requesting the chapter(s) you'd like to read--it's OK to claim more than one, but it is recommended to start with only one or two.
5. As chapters/sections are requested, the book coordinator (BC) will update the original list by putting names next to the claimed chapters. Once your name is beside a chapter/section, you're signed up and ready to record! Please do not record a section before it has been assigned to you, to make sure the organization is in order and there aren't two people working on the same chapter at the same time.
6. Details on where to get the e-text, what to include in the recording, deadlines, and how to name and tag your files are all in that original post, so refer to it for all the information you need.
7. If you have questions, post them in the thread and someone is sure to help. You can also send a 'Private Message' to the book leader who can answer you directly, but we prefer to keep all communication about projects in the project thread.
Thanks for joining in the reading! Have fun recording.
(*) To post in the forums, you need to create an account. It takes only a few minutes and then you can log in and join all the discussions, as well as claim your chapters.
Welcome to the LibriVox readers' favorite forum, "Readers Wanted." Volunteering is as simple as posting a reply to the book you want to read. This message details how you can find and claim a chapter or section to read.
1. Scan through the list of titles in the Readers Wanted forum. Each title is a book that needs your voice.
2. When you see an interesting title, read the first post in the thread. That's where the book leader lists the chapters/sections of the book.
3. Check the list of chapters/sections to see which ones have been claimed (they'll have names next to them). Any without a name is open and you may claim it.
4. Click Post Reply (*) and write a brief note requesting the chapter(s) you'd like to read--it's OK to claim more than one, but it is recommended to start with only one or two.
5. As chapters/sections are requested, the book coordinator (BC) will update the original list by putting names next to the claimed chapters. Once your name is beside a chapter/section, you're signed up and ready to record! Please do not record a section before it has been assigned to you, to make sure the organization is in order and there aren't two people working on the same chapter at the same time.
6. Details on where to get the e-text, what to include in the recording, deadlines, and how to name and tag your files are all in that original post, so refer to it for all the information you need.
7. If you have questions, post them in the thread and someone is sure to help. You can also send a 'Private Message' to the book leader who can answer you directly, but we prefer to keep all communication about projects in the project thread.
Thanks for joining in the reading! Have fun recording.
(*) To post in the forums, you need to create an account. It takes only a few minutes and then you can log in and join all the discussions, as well as claim your chapters.
Last edited by Gesine on January 9th, 2006, 3:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
Recording Notes
Please read this post CAREFULLY, and follow these requests, it makes life SO much easier for the volunteers responsible for file management. Thanks!
1. META DATA
It is enormously helpful if you will:
- save your file with the correct file name (see the post where you signed up for your chapter)
2. FILE FORMAT
- please record your chapters in mono mode, with only one track instead of two (stereo).
- export your audio files to mp3 128kbps
- Make sure your "sample rate" is 44100 (the default for most recording software)
3. INTRO
- Please introduce ALL recordings for LibriVox using the introduction supplied by the Book Coordinator in the first post of every project thread. In general, the intro is something like this:
"[Chapter #] of [Book title]. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit: librivox.org"
- if you wish, say:
"Recording by [your name]"
- say:
"[book name], by [author name], (translated by [translator's name]), chapter [number and title]"
4. END OF RECORDING
- at the end of each chapter, say the outro specified in your project. In general, it s something like this:
"End of chapter [X]"
- at the end of the book, say:
"End of [book name]"
- if you wish, say:
"recorded by [your name], [city], [date]"
- leave 5 seconds of silence at the end of the file.
5. PLAYBACK VOLUME/BACKGROUND NOISE
(Check out http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Newbie_Guide_to_Recording#Recording)
Please listen through headphones and check your playback volume to make sure your recording is audible and consistent with other LibriVox chapters.
You can check your file's volume in 3 ways:
1. Using the Checker program. The volume will be in the "information" tab.
2. Using MP3Gain. Please do not use this to adjust your file; only to measure it.
3. Using the ReplayGain plug-in for Audacity. A little information on how to install and use it is here.
We aim for 89 dB, but generally anything between about 87-91 is OK.
-- If your volume is low, please be sure your microphone is properly selected by your computer and that you record with your input volume high enough (usually the 3/4 mark).
-- If it is loud and a bit distorted, it is probably "clipping," in which case, please record with a slightly lower input volume than the current setting.
If you have already recorded, and your volume is too low, please increase the gain or use the "amplify" function in your sound editing software. Check also for overt background noise -- a little is fine, but it shouldn't be so loud that it's distracting. To remove excessive background noise, try Audacity's noise removal filter. It's free, it's easy, and it improves your recording.
6. TRANSFERRING FILES [updated August 2013]
Please use the LibriVox Uploader:
http://librivox.org/login/uploader
![Image](http://librivox.org/img/login.jpg)
(Or if you have a BC or DPL login/password to the workflow, use that. If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
You'll need to select the MC, whose initials appear at the end of the project thread title and whose name is in the uploading instructions provided in the first post of the project thread. If in doubt, just ask!
Click the Browse Button; locate the audio file on your computer; click Upload
When the file finishes uploading, the screen will show a link to your file. Copy that link and paste it into a post on the project thread, along with the file length (minutes:seconds).
7. TIPS & ADVICE
For more tips on reading and recording books, see:
Newbie Guide to Recording or
About Recording
Please read this post CAREFULLY, and follow these requests, it makes life SO much easier for the volunteers responsible for file management. Thanks!
1. META DATA
It is enormously helpful if you will:
- save your file with the correct file name (see the post where you signed up for your chapter)
2. FILE FORMAT
- please record your chapters in mono mode, with only one track instead of two (stereo).
- export your audio files to mp3 128kbps
- Make sure your "sample rate" is 44100 (the default for most recording software)
3. INTRO
- Please introduce ALL recordings for LibriVox using the introduction supplied by the Book Coordinator in the first post of every project thread. In general, the intro is something like this:
"[Chapter #] of [Book title]. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit: librivox.org"
- if you wish, say:
"Recording by [your name]"
- say:
"[book name], by [author name], (translated by [translator's name]), chapter [number and title]"
4. END OF RECORDING
- at the end of each chapter, say the outro specified in your project. In general, it s something like this:
"End of chapter [X]"
- at the end of the book, say:
"End of [book name]"
- if you wish, say:
"recorded by [your name], [city], [date]"
- leave 5 seconds of silence at the end of the file.
5. PLAYBACK VOLUME/BACKGROUND NOISE
(Check out http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/Newbie_Guide_to_Recording#Recording)
Please listen through headphones and check your playback volume to make sure your recording is audible and consistent with other LibriVox chapters.
You can check your file's volume in 3 ways:
1. Using the Checker program. The volume will be in the "information" tab.
2. Using MP3Gain. Please do not use this to adjust your file; only to measure it.
3. Using the ReplayGain plug-in for Audacity. A little information on how to install and use it is here.
We aim for 89 dB, but generally anything between about 87-91 is OK.
-- If your volume is low, please be sure your microphone is properly selected by your computer and that you record with your input volume high enough (usually the 3/4 mark).
-- If it is loud and a bit distorted, it is probably "clipping," in which case, please record with a slightly lower input volume than the current setting.
If you have already recorded, and your volume is too low, please increase the gain or use the "amplify" function in your sound editing software. Check also for overt background noise -- a little is fine, but it shouldn't be so loud that it's distracting. To remove excessive background noise, try Audacity's noise removal filter. It's free, it's easy, and it improves your recording.
6. TRANSFERRING FILES [updated August 2013]
Please use the LibriVox Uploader:
http://librivox.org/login/uploader
![Image](http://librivox.org/img/login.jpg)
(Or if you have a BC or DPL login/password to the workflow, use that. If you have trouble reading the image above, please message an admin)
You'll need to select the MC, whose initials appear at the end of the project thread title and whose name is in the uploading instructions provided in the first post of the project thread. If in doubt, just ask!
Click the Browse Button; locate the audio file on your computer; click Upload
When the file finishes uploading, the screen will show a link to your file. Copy that link and paste it into a post on the project thread, along with the file length (minutes:seconds).
7. TIPS & ADVICE
For more tips on reading and recording books, see:
Newbie Guide to Recording or
About Recording
Last edited by Gesine on September 21st, 2006, 3:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
How to Become a Book Coordinator
Please read this page on the LibriVox wiki, which is regularly updated: http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/How_To_Become_A_Book_Coordinator
Please read this page on the LibriVox wiki, which is regularly updated: http://wiki.librivox.org/index.php/How_To_Become_A_Book_Coordinator
Last edited by Gesine on November 10th, 2006, 5:08 pm, edited 10 times in total.
What happened to a thread I saw here and which has disappeared?
Unless you were hallucinating, it's most likely that the thread was moved to another forum by an administrator. This can happen for two reasons:
- It was started here but is really much more appropriate in another place
- As part of the LibriVox recording 'work flow' (*) it progressed to another part of the process and was thus better placed further down the chain.
(*) See an explanation of this 'work flow' below!
Unless you were hallucinating, it's most likely that the thread was moved to another forum by an administrator. This can happen for two reasons:
- It was started here but is really much more appropriate in another place
- As part of the LibriVox recording 'work flow' (*) it progressed to another part of the process and was thus better placed further down the chain.
(*) See an explanation of this 'work flow' below!
Last edited by Gesine on January 9th, 2006, 3:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
The LibriVox Recording Process
Usually, the process works like this:
1) A book or shorter work is suggested in the Book Suggestions forum. From there, two things can happen:
a) Someone takes it up as a solo project and posts it in the Launch Pad forum
b) Someone takes it up as a collaborative group project, with several readers reading parts of the text. In this case, the Book Coordinator posts it in the Launch Pad forum.
2) Once someone agrees to read the book,
a) if it's a solo project, it starts in the Launch Pad and then moves to Going Solo, where the reader posts files and the dpl posts notes, until the project is complete
b) if it's a group project, the Book Coordinator liases with volunteer readers, who 'claim' parts of the work and post the completed readings off to the Coordinator. Once all chapters have been claimed, the project is moved to the Readers Found forum.
3) When the recordings are done,
a) the solo reader sends off the completed files to the meta coordinator
b) the book coordinator sends the completed files to the meta coordinator
4) Once the meta coordinator has the recordings, they are posted on archive.org and on the LibriVox catalogue, where they are available to listeners.
Usually, the process works like this:
1) A book or shorter work is suggested in the Book Suggestions forum. From there, two things can happen:
a) Someone takes it up as a solo project and posts it in the Launch Pad forum
b) Someone takes it up as a collaborative group project, with several readers reading parts of the text. In this case, the Book Coordinator posts it in the Launch Pad forum.
2) Once someone agrees to read the book,
a) if it's a solo project, it starts in the Launch Pad and then moves to Going Solo, where the reader posts files and the dpl posts notes, until the project is complete
b) if it's a group project, the Book Coordinator liases with volunteer readers, who 'claim' parts of the work and post the completed readings off to the Coordinator. Once all chapters have been claimed, the project is moved to the Readers Found forum.
3) When the recordings are done,
a) the solo reader sends off the completed files to the meta coordinator
b) the book coordinator sends the completed files to the meta coordinator
4) Once the meta coordinator has the recordings, they are posted on archive.org and on the LibriVox catalogue, where they are available to listeners.
What are the letters "ec," "jo," etc in the subjects of threads?
These are the initials of the MC who has taken on the coordination of that project. They are added by the MC.
Currently, these are:
alg1001 - alg1001
annise - annise
aradlaw - aradlaw
availle - Availle
bart - bart
carolin - Carolin
chocoholic - chocoholic
colleenmc - ColleenMc
cori - Cori
craigdav1 - craigdav1
darvinia - Darvinia
dii - dii
dlolso21 - dlolso21
ezwa - ezwa
hokuspokus - Hokuspokus
icequeen - icequeen
kathrinee - kathrinee
kayray - kayray
kazbek - Kazbek
kikisaulite - Kikisaulite
kitty - Kitty
knotyouraveragejo - knotyouraveragejo
leni - Leni
linny - Linny
lorda - Lorda
libraryanne - libraryanne
lynnet - Lynnet
m8b1 - m8b1
maryannspiegel - MaryAnnSpiegel
mightyfelix - Mightyfelix
philchenevert - philchenevert
rapunzelina - Rapunzelina
toddhw - ToddHW
triciag - TriciaG
What are 'meta coordinators' (MCs)?
Meta coordinators are administrators who set up projects in the database, give advice while a project is ongoing, and take over from the book coordinators (or soloists) when the project is completed. The MCs take the files and upload them onto the LibriVox catalogue. They are also available for questions, but it's a different role from that of the book coordinator. Essentially, where the book coordinator's work finishes, the meta coordinator's begins.
Who adds the initials?
The meta coordinators add the initials. Book coordinators and solo readers post their topics as usual, with subject "TITLE by AUTHOR." A meta coordinator will then 'claim' the project (i.e. agree to organise the metadata and cataloging) by adding his/her initials to the subject line. Other MCs will then see that the project is looked after, and book coordinators and soloists will know which folder in the Librivox Uploader to use for their files.
These are the initials of the MC who has taken on the coordination of that project. They are added by the MC.
Currently, these are:
alg1001 - alg1001
annise - annise
aradlaw - aradlaw
availle - Availle
bart - bart
carolin - Carolin
chocoholic - chocoholic
colleenmc - ColleenMc
cori - Cori
craigdav1 - craigdav1
darvinia - Darvinia
dii - dii
dlolso21 - dlolso21
ezwa - ezwa
hokuspokus - Hokuspokus
icequeen - icequeen
kathrinee - kathrinee
kayray - kayray
kazbek - Kazbek
kikisaulite - Kikisaulite
kitty - Kitty
knotyouraveragejo - knotyouraveragejo
leni - Leni
linny - Linny
lorda - Lorda
libraryanne - libraryanne
lynnet - Lynnet
m8b1 - m8b1
maryannspiegel - MaryAnnSpiegel
mightyfelix - Mightyfelix
philchenevert - philchenevert
rapunzelina - Rapunzelina
toddhw - ToddHW
triciag - TriciaG
What are 'meta coordinators' (MCs)?
Meta coordinators are administrators who set up projects in the database, give advice while a project is ongoing, and take over from the book coordinators (or soloists) when the project is completed. The MCs take the files and upload them onto the LibriVox catalogue. They are also available for questions, but it's a different role from that of the book coordinator. Essentially, where the book coordinator's work finishes, the meta coordinator's begins.
Who adds the initials?
The meta coordinators add the initials. Book coordinators and solo readers post their topics as usual, with subject "TITLE by AUTHOR." A meta coordinator will then 'claim' the project (i.e. agree to organise the metadata and cataloging) by adding his/her initials to the subject line. Other MCs will then see that the project is looked after, and book coordinators and soloists will know which folder in the Librivox Uploader to use for their files.