Funded by investors including Peter Thiel (co-founder and former CEO of PayPal), Booktrack is a unique tool designed for self-published writers and publishers to add soundtracks to their eBooks.
Booktrack offers a content creation and distribution platform that turns reading into an immersive movie-like experience with book soundtracks. Booktrack’s patented technology lets anyone add a synchronized movie-style soundtrack to an e-book or other digital text content, with the audio paced to each individual’s reading speed.
The tool lets you upload a book or write one within their platform. You can copy your existing work, type an original story, or use a royalty free text to get started… Perhaps even ramp up your author marketing: upload an introductory chapter to your work to create interest…
Then you can add music, ambient sounds and effects from Booktrack’s library of free sounds. The collection includes thousands of prerecorded tracks that you can use to layer into your text. You decide when the track plays for a reader. In reading a Sherlock Holmes example on the site, we heard spooky music, crackling fire, a storm when appropriate, howling wind, etc.
There are plenty of free books to read on the site, too, so you can get an idea of how the platform and the various sounds can be used.
An interesting concept? Check out the video below and Booktrack’s website, then tell us what you think. Would you put a soundtrack to your book? Would you read a book with a soundtrack in the background? We thought it would be distracting, but some of the soundtracks did enhance the reading experience. We especially see the potential for children’s and young adult titles… helping make books “come alive” for young readers.
Sounds great! Hope it’s as easy as it sounds. I’m going to try it.
Great – let us know how it goes 🙂
Hi there, great idea and sounds like a fabulous end result.
Fantastic! Can’t wait to try this with my memoir about Morocco. Just imagine the music!
Ooh, I like that!
Is there a way to place your own music? I am a composer and would love to link my books and music together. Thanks. 🙂
Good question Brenda and great idea! This I don’t know, but would suggest you reach out to them via their website and see!
Hey Brenda,
Paul here from Booktrack – yes you can add your own music or choose from over 20,000 free audio files.I would be interested in your feedback – it is easy to create and share, and being a writer and composer you will understand the power and emotion that a soundtrack brings to the written word.
Thanks,
Paul
Thanks for weighing in, Paul — loving this platform! Shari
Hi Shari,
Thanks for sharing this unique tool, and for keeping us on the cutting edge.