Hey everyone, new to the sub. I’ve always been a reader, but in the last several years as I work with my hands, I’ve largely moved to audiobooks. However, many books I want to read are not available as audiobooks and also I’d like to redevelop the concentration needed to read a physical book.
I have been thinking about reading certain non-fiction books out loud so that I’m forced to not skim the words. Then I thought, “Who doesn’t like the sound of their own voice? Why not record the reading and then I can listen to it again at night or in the car.”
I’m wondering if anyone has done something similar and if they have any comments on their experience.
To be clear, no intention of selling the recording so not especially worried about sound quality. This is really about engaging with the text.
by ahoyhoy2022
9 Comments
Never done it before! If you aren’t planning to use the recording in the future maybe just mouthing the words will achieve the same effect. Used to do that when I just learned to read.
I used to do that in grad school- read notes or chunks of text outloud, record it, play it while in transit. Audio helps me process and recording/playback worked really well.
Audacity is free and you can cut mistakes as you go. I used to upload to Google Drive or One Drive and listen on my phone.
Your voice *does* sound different recorded, so you have to get used to that.
I don’t do it for me but I make audio versions of kids books for my 3yo daughter in the Philippines in 4 different languages
Never recorded. But I was active in reading out loud throughout my entire childhood/teen years. It was the best way for me to actually retain the info. I don’t read aloud anymore unless reading to someone but it definitely helped me a lot !!
Hmm never considered it
I used to do it when I was in college. I’d read and record text book chapters and listen to them over my long commute to school. Was a very helpful study technique since I was also working full time.
>“Who doesn’t like the sound of their own voice? Why not record the reading and then I can listen to it again at night or in the car.”
It’a a sidetrack but in my experience people like the sound of their own voice emitting from their own meatboneskull but hate recordings which capture the relatively thinner sound that makes it out into the wide world. Doesn’t matter how much people protest that they have nice voices actually, the discombobulation of what-a-person-is-used-to vs. what-gets-out-into-the-world is a real headcuss. You might be one of the lucky few with a voice so truly mellifluous that it would sound good played back through a tin can, even to you the speaker.
I read to myself out loud not infrequently, especially poetry. Got into the habit with older stuff like Gawain & the Green Knight and Beowulf, which felt like they wanted it.
Somebody at a workshop I was at recently said they use text-to-speech software to read what they’ve written, which helps flaws stand out better than just eyescanning all the time. In general reading a text outloud allows you to explore the flow, the general composition, better. It certianly highlights better quality writing.
I think a variety of ways of engaging with a text is best, it just seems to stir up the brain more.
It’s possible that humans read out loud for much of the history of the written word. I forget who it was, St Augustine or some other dirty faced 12th century so and so, who noted they were freaked the fuck out the first time they saw somebody reading in silence. The Torah in its original form had to be read out loud because it consisted of one complete line of consonants only, and reading it out loud, following the line with a little stick, was the only way to make sense of it. It’s not unnatural to read out loud, we’ve just decided against it for some reason. There might even be something magical about bringing words out into the air 😀
In your story you note that you’ve shifted to audiobooks because you’re working more with your hands atm, this new idea of yours doesn’t fit in those terms, you’re going to lose more time to recording audiobooks than just reading quietly. Still a fun idea though and worth a punt.
Oh yeah, I read to myself constantly if the language used is beautiful.
But I hate recordings of my own voice lol
I read aloud to myself all the time especially when the book I’m reading is good I just get the urge to read it aloud. It’s also good for improving my English skills since English is not my first language. I sometimes record myself when reading something good or even poetry. I usually use the recording app on my phone. And i can also listen to it later or share it with friends.