Apple Books Digital Narration

What Apple Books Digital Narration is

Apple Books Digital Narration creates audiobooks from ebook files using speech synthesis. Linguists, quality control specialists, and audio engineers contribute to production, and authors can listen to voice samples before choosing a voice type suited to their genre. To apply, the ebook must be available on Apple Books, the applicant must own audiobook production rights, and the book must be in English. Apple evaluates file quality, content compatibility, and editorial suitability. Complex formatting, extensive foreign-language words, graphic novels, poetry, and cookbooks are cited as compatibility concerns. Digitally narrated titles are distributed through Apple Books and labeled “Narrated by Apple Books.” Processing and quality checks take one to two months after submission, and preorders are not supported. Production and distribution are free, with wholesale pricing terms for sales and no exclusivity requirement. Authors and publishers retain audiobook rights and may produce or distribute other versions. Apple describes digital narration as a complement to professional narration and says it will continue to grow its human-narrated catalog. Preferred production and distribution partners are Draft2Digital, Ingram CoreSource, and PublishDrive.

Who it suits

The program suits independent authors and small publishers who want to create an audiobook from an eligible English ebook without managing conventional audiobook production. It requires the ebook to be on Apple Books and the applicant to own audiobook production rights.

Limits

The program accepts English books that are available on Apple Books and whose applicant owns audiobook production rights. Preorders are unsupported, and processing and quality checks take one to two months; file quality, content compatibility, and editorial review also apply.

Getting started

1. Make the ebook available on Apple Books.
2. Confirm that you own audiobook production rights.
3. Submit the English ebook for review.
4. Listen to voice samples and choose a voice type.
5. Allow one to two months for processing and quality checks.
6. Distribute the approved audiobook through Apple Books.

Verdict

Choose Apple Books Digital Narration if you own the audiobook rights to an eligible English ebook and want free production for Apple Books distribution. Look elsewhere if you need preorder support.