The Four Agreements
Posted on March 4, 2015 by Scott Jacobi
As an ACX Producer, you’re responsible for editing, mixing, and mastering your audio, in addition to reading and self-recording. While you may possess both the artistic talent and the technical skill required to handle all of these tasks, you might find you prefer to focus on your performance. Other factors—like a tight production schedule or lack of a home studio—may require you to seek professional assistance. ACX independent contractor agreements can help ensure both parties are clear about what’s expected when it comes to things like due dates, payment terms, and ownership of the finished product. Here are the four types of agreements that ACX offers:
Audiobook Narration Services Agreement
Who it’s between: A studio and a narrator, a producer and a narrator, a narrator and a fellow narrator.
Why you may need it: You’re a studio or producer hiring a narrator, or you’re a narrator subcontracting another narrator to work on your multi-cast audiobook recording.
What you get: A professionally narrated audiobook with up to four rounds of correction (aka “pickup”) sessions.
Audiobook Engineering Services Agreement:
Who it’s between: A narrator and an engineer, a narrator and a studio, or a studio and a freelance engineer.
Why you may need it: You’re a narrator without a home studio, or a studio owner working with a freelance engineer.
What you get: A professional engineer to record your (or your narrator’s) performance and provide you with the raw recorded files ready to be edited and mastered.
Audiobook Editing Services Agreement
Who it’s between: A narrator, producer, or studio, and an audiobook editor.
Why you may need it: You’re a narrator or producer on a tight schedule, or you have a number of productions to complete back to back. Perhaps you prefer to focus on performing rather than audio editing.
What you get: Professionally edited and QC’d audiobook files, ready for mixing and mastering.
Audiobook Mastering Services Agreement
Who it’s between: A narrator, producer, or studio, and a post-production engineer.
Why you may need it: You’re on a tight schedule, or you have a number of productions to complete back to back. You’ve decided to focus on performing rather than mastering your audio.
What you get: A professional mix and master of your audiobook files, delivered ready for upload to ACX according to our Audio Submission Requirements.
Armed with one or more of our independent contractor agreements, you can do your best work and rest assured that your collaborators are keeping up their end of the deal. Be sure to download and use them the next time you need to outsource an aspect of your ACX production.
Have you outsourced the editing, mastering, or post-production of your audiobooks? Tell us in the comments below.