Heads up: This is a plain-language summary, not official policy, and rules change often. Always confirm the current requirements with the official source linked in each section. BookZeta does not publish on your behalf and can't guarantee any marketplace will accept your book.
Audible audiobooks are typically distributed through ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) in supported regions. ACX connects rights holders with the Audible/Amazon/iTunes audiobook channels, and — importantly — it has a stricter, more technical set of requirements than eBook stores. Audio either meets the spec or it gets bounced back, so it's worth reading their rules carefully before you commit to a production.
What to check
- Audio submission requirements. ACX has specific targets for loudness (RMS), peak levels and noise floor, plus rules about file format and bit rate. Files that are too loud, too quiet, or too noisy are rejected even if the narration is great.
- Per-chapter file structure. Audiobooks are usually submitted as one file per chapter/section, each opening and closing cleanly, with consistent room tone.
- Opening and closing credits. ACX requires specific opening and closing credit content, and a separate retail sample that follows their sampling rules.
- Rights and distribution terms. You'll choose distribution and royalty options, which may include exclusivity to Audible or wider distribution. Read what each option commits you to before selecting it.
- AI-narration policy. Whether AI-generated narration is accepted can depend on your account, region and the program you're enrolling in, and this is an area that changes. Confirm the current policy on the official site before you rely on an AI-narrated file.
Practical tips
- Match your chapter structure in BookZeta to how you'll submit the files, so export lines up with what ACX expects.
- Listen to your exported audio on more than one device — earbuds, phone speaker, car — to catch problems mastering meters might miss.
- Keep your source files. If a chapter fails the audio check, you'll want to re-export or re-master just that file rather than the whole book.
Official sources
BookZeta exports audiobooks as M4B/MP3 — see Generating audiobooks — and audio generation costs Creation Points per chapter. Our exports give you a solid, well-structured starting file, but you're responsible for meeting the platform's current audio spec. If you're planning an Audible release, read ACX's requirements first so you produce to the right target from the start.