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Originally Posted by LSM
I just finished listening to James Patterson's 12th book in the Women's Murder Club series. The second half of the book was littered with TV-like sound effects of car crashes, etc. What's up with all the noise? Is this something new in audiobooks? If so, I'm not a fan.
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I don't know if this is a trend, but it is something that is definitely out there. Big Finish audios have full sound effects, but they are more audio plays, so that is understandable. Graphic Audio (there is a pretty good deal from them in last week's Humble Bundle, BTW) adds sound effects and music to productions that are a cross between an audio play and an audiobook - they also have a full cast, but narration that leaves the flow of the story more like an audiobook. I seem to recall that Galaxy Press does similarly. Even Naxos Audiobooks has music between each chapter in most of their productions.
Some people would argue that they are enhancing the story with these things (Graphic Audio's tagline has always been "a movie in your mind"). Others will find the add-ons distracting. Personally, I think it's okay as long as the mixing is right - don't let the sound effects get in the way of hearing the book. That happens to me some in Big Finish titles - too much noise to hear the actual words being spoken. But, as with most things, opinions will differ.