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Sorry for the slow reply. I forgot this thread was here. haha. In answer to your question, it really depends on the reader. Some do just straight, flat readings, some dramatize them, and some kinda fall in between where they add character and personality to the reading, but don't go overboard with it. As for the tags, I'm not sure what you mean. In regards to the mechanical readings, they sound not unlike stephen hawking, although some digital readers can do a better job of reading the book than others. If you go up to my site and wander over to my youtube channel, I've posted Lion in the Wind, which was done with a mechanical reader, and then two others after it, Manna and Christian, that were professionally read, and each by different readers. So those should give you a good idea of what they will sound like.
Now, if you go through ACX for your professional readings, you do have a choice over who you get. Again, the more you offer the better the quality of reader you will have auditioning for you. I lucked out on my three books that I got good readers who were willing to work at my price point in all three cases. However, they were the diamond in the coal mine so to speak as the rest of the auditions were garbage. Now, you may end up being just as fortunate. However, you're more likely to find yourself needing to go up a bit in price before you start getting the really good readers. Mine was $80/hr. Some I know had to go all the way up into the $250/hr level to get a decent reader.
Now, here's the catch though. If you plan to sell your audiobooks, spend the money and get a good reader at ACX to do your book justice. If you plan to give it away for free, use a mechanical reader. I myself give all my books away for free, regardless. However, I did separate out 4 of my books for special attention. Hence why they got professional readings. The rest, nah, mechanical all the way. Although I did throw a bone out there to my readers by saying, "If you want these professionally read, toss me some money. If not, then well, all you're getting is the mechanicals." So far nobody has sent me a dime, so all they're getting at this moment is the mechanicals. :P
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