Nick McDougal on SoundBetter

* Consultation -1st consult free! * Narration; mine, other male or female voices, or yours * Editing * Mastering to industry specs; Audible, ACX, Author's Republic, Amazon * Any combination of services

Hello, and thank you for visiting my page.

I have a great ear - my background is in music performance. With careful attention to cadence, rhythm and tone, I will narrate your masterpiece, produce other male or female narrators, or edit your narration to reveal the magic of your story and capture your audience's imagination. Drawing on my business background, I inspire confidence in our working relationship with prompt and clear communication. I’ll collaborate with you to ensure your project is produced correctly to Audible standards, on time and on budget.

Audio Recording and Production: Recording in studio or remote recording from your home. Post production includes proofing, editing, mastering, quality control. Narration and project management are available by the hour or per project at a flat rate; à la carte or as a complete package. Take advantage of my free consultation. Let’s plan your success now!

Nick McDougal

Send me an email through 'Contact' button above and I'll get back to you asap.

Credits

12 Reviews - 1 Repeat Client

Endorse Nick McDougal

by Ad V.
Verified
Delivers good quality for a nice price.
by Ad V.
Verified
Quick to respond and delivers quality work.
by Butch Bryant
Nick is a consummate professional. He helped me a great deal with narrating my first audio book. He had valuable suggestions from equipment to delivery. The finished product was outstanding. If you're interested, the audio book is "While in Darkness There is Light" by Louella Bryant. Nick gets production kudos.
by Mary Catherine Jones
Nick is highly attentive to detail, a great communicator and a trusted collaborator. I trust him as a partner in the audiobook creation process.
by John Klar
Nick is professional, good-humored, and patient. He helped me feel very comfortable--a good skillset to produce a high quality product.
by Eliza Haun
Nick was a consummate professional from start to finish and wonderful to work with. He delivered ahead of schedule and was helpful and communicative throughout the whole process. We would highly recommend his services and look forward to working with him again.
- Chelsea Green Publishing Audio Team
by Tom Parks
Nick is skillful, knowledgeable, and pleasant to work with. He is attentive to detail and aims to please by adjusting his standards to the clients needs in a very diligent and professional manner. Highly recommended.
by Susan Shull
Enthusiastic recommendation of Nick for his scrupulous attention to detail, retaining standards beyond industry accepted levels when working with my husband on his audiobook and his generous support when I had to finish the project. Times were challenging and Nick never wavered in his quick response to questions and my calls for assistance, even beyond his area of expertise, shepherding these books through to publication on Audible. I heartily recommend Nick for anyone interested in friendly, detail oriented, state-of-the-art audio expertise and I would not hesitate to call on Nick again.
by Don Michael Stewart
Nick did an outstanding job on producing and narrating my audiobook. He was very professional both in work and communication. Did the work in a timely manner. Easy to work with. All in all, very pleased with Nick and his service.
by Mary Lu Harding
In my experience, good audio transcribers are hard to find. Nick stepped in and saved my day with excellent quality transcription. He is both good at what he does and a pleasure to work with.
by Peter Robinson Smith
I worked with Nick years ago. It was a wonderful experience. He was my recording producer and main editor and “lots” more! THIS latest project of Nick’s is perfectly suited for his talents and I’m confident saying it’s sure to be one more impressive additions to his list of successes.
by Megan Rule
Nick has done an excellent job narrating and editing our audiobooks. He has become a valuable part of my production process taking on multiple projects at a time. He goes above and beyond, consistently producing consistent high quality work. He is an absolute pleasure to work with. - Megan Rule, Digital Marketing & Audiobook Manager at Inner Traditions • Bear & Company

Interview with Nick McDougal

Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is your goal and your timeframe? What do we need to accomplish to complete your production?
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: Please describe your goal in detail. I'll advise you promptly as to how I can help you achieve your goal.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: I started as a performing musician in my teens and earned by living as a performer for several decades. Later I founded and managed a compact disc manufacturing business. Now I work out of my own studio.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: Detail oriented, conscientious, collaborative
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Anyone who's got a script or audio file ready for production!
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: Get it right at the mic. Get the sound right at the source.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Attention to details, while applying aesthetic and artistic sensibilities to the production.
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: I narrated, edited and mastered a 350 + page audio book recently. I produced an interesting, engaging narration, with excellent sound quality while completing the job within the client's budget.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: I'm currently editing and mastering an audio book. Some of the narration was recorded at different times in different environments, requiring careful EQ work.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: I have worked with both analog and digital. Digital workflows can be more efficient and cost effective now.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: The job will be done correctly.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: When I'm working in audio I feel as happy and excited as a kid playing in a sandbox. I also like being my own boss.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: How long will the job take, and what will it cost?
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Time - producing quality results takes hard work, and time.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: solar panels, batteries, laptop, headphones, mic
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Audio books, podcasts
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: I am a musician, and bring my keen listening skills to the project.
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Edit previously recorded narration for audio books and podcasts Mastering Narration
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: Discuss project, provide audition sample, agree cost and delivery date.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: I work out of my own studio, built to exacting standards to provide accurate monitoring.