Audiobook Glossary

On this page you will find terms and definitions for working with, and understanding, Audiobooks.

• Front Cover: this usually contains an image description of the front cover, the author's name and the title of the book. It is often not included in commercial productions.
• Title Page: the first or second section of an Audiobook. It can often begin with the name of the producer (e.g. "Blackstone Audio Presents…") followed by the title, author, and original publisher.
• Dedication: a section where the author dedicates the book to someone. It is usually one line in length.
• Acknowledgements: a section where the author thanks everyone who helped them write their book. It is usually a paragraph in length.
• Epigraph: a quote at the beginning of the book before the body content. This section often comes just before or after the dedication.
• Preface: a section is near the beginning of the book before the main story or content begins that covers the story of how the book came into being, or of how the idea for the book was developed.
• Prologue: an introductory section before the chapters of the book. This section name is found more in fiction titles, and often with books that also have an Epilogue at the end of the book.
• Introduction: an introductory section before the chapters of a book. This section name is found more in nonfiction titles.
• Chapter: The body content of most books are divided into sections that are called chapters.
• Parts or Books: Some books divide their chapters into grouped sections. These are called Parts or Books, and can include one of more chapters within them.
• Epilogue: a concluding section to the book. It serves as a final chapter to the book. It is often found in fiction titles that have a Prologue. Note: this is not the Sign Off.
• Conclusion: This is a concluding section to the book. It serves as a final chapter of the book. It is often found in nonfiction titles that have an Introduction. Note: this is not the Sign Off.
• Afterward: found near the end of the book and is a statement on the entire narrative. It generally covers the story of how the book came into being, or of how the idea for the book was developed.
• Notes by the Author: author statement about the book that expands on the ideas explored in its content.
• About the Author: This section gives a brief bio on the Author.
• Sign off/end credits: This is the section at the very end of an Audiobook. It will often thank the listener and repeat the information from the Title Page.

• Metadata: the information embedded in the audio-file. Ideally this contains information like track name, track number, publisher, author, narrator, copyright.
• Narrator: the person who's voice was recorded for the audiobook. Sometimes the narrator records their own voice and sometimes a sound engineer/studio records their voice.
• Mp3:an audio file format that is 'compressed' or smaller in file size than the WAV format. Mp3 is the standard format for audio distribution.
• WAV:an un-compressed audio format typically used when recording and editing audio.
• Daisy audiobook: Digital Accessible Information System. An audiobook format that enables audiobook readers more navigation when playing Daisy books in compatible reading systems.
• Media overlays: synchronized audio and text in an Epub3
• Enhanced Epub: an Epub3 with media overlays