Graphic Audio? Experience, reviews, input?

[Regina]

I am interested in trying out Graphic Audio: http://www.graphicaudio.net/

I am looking for experience and input with this vendor. Thanks!

[CatBookMom]

I have several books in the Serrano Legacy series (the first book is (Hunting Party) from Graphic Audio. The books are quite pricey (about $25US for a full book), and you have a limited time to download them from the site, so back them up carefully. I bought these because I love the books, and there are no single-narrator audio versions available.

I really enjoy them, with the various voice actors, sound effects, etc. I think they're very good and very well done, though this technique doesn't suit everyone nor all sorts of books.

[Regina]

This is exactly the information I was looking for! I didn't know that the download time period was limited. Thank you so much!

[CatBookMom]

I have to thank you - I think, lol! - for a couple of additional Graphic Audio titles in my collection. I just had to drop in at the site, and they jumped into my basket.

I got the first title in Vatta's War, Trading in Danger and started listening to it last night. I have tried the Audible version, but the Heroine's voice is so annoying that it's a DNF. The GA version also has an unusual voice for her, but I'm enjoying the story now.

One of my bookish friends at Ravelry likes the two GA series by Judith Saintcrow, but the heroine hasn't attracted me. I do rather like the Rogue Angel series in print, and I have the first book, Destiny Destiny from Graphic Audio.

[Regina]

OH! I will take a look at those, they look good. I love space opera. :)

I have been wanting to finish Eileen Wilks' World of the Lupi series Mortal Danger and these are only in audio at GA.

I also heard that Brent Weeks' works are so much better done by GA. I have been meaning to listen to his books from GA.

[Josh]

I listened to Civil War -- it was exceptional. The purchase/download from their website was easy and hassle free.

They are the tops.

[Regina]

Thank you!!

[Rebecca]

I like them but they are pricy. Wish they would put them on audible. It is an acted out novels not just narrated. With many actors.

[Carolyn F.]

I like them too, they are pricey but have sales every once in awhile along with some free downloads of short stories.

[Josh]

Anyone calling them "pricey" is ridiculously spoiled by Audible's absurd discounting.

$14 to download a 5 to 6 hour full-cast audio drama (complete with music and sound effects) is not expensive. At all.

[Regina]

I was just thinking (not the people are spoiled) but that the pricing seemed reasonable. I do think that audible and access to overdrive likely changes the context of how people think of pricing. Amazon is definitely able to artificially lower prices in a way that other vendors cannot. The one I want to buy is about $14, which is less than my monthly credit at Audible costs and is much less than I used to pay to buy CD audio books before MP3 existed. The production costs on these has to be high.

Anyone know if they are unabridged or abridged? I couldn't find that info on the site.

[Natalie]

Regina wrote: "I was just thinking (not the people are spoiled) but that the pricing seemed reasonable. I do think that audible and access to overdrive likely changes the context of how people think of pricing. ..."

For me- it's not so much the price. I need to know that whatever I'm buying is worth it. I gained this idea, when I used to buy albums, and only one song would be good- the rest of the album would be mindless drivel. $20 for 1 song I like is not worth it. I apply the same to audiobooks. I already have a list of audiobooks that I have already listened to from the library that I want to own.

So if it's good- yes I'll buy it. And at that point- it doesn't too much matter what it costs. If I am unsure (and cannot find it at my library), then the cheaper the better.

[Carolyn F.]

Regina wrote: "I was just thinking (not the people are spoiled) but that the pricing seemed reasonable. I do think that audible and access to overdrive likely changes the context of how people think of pricing. ..."

The ones I have listened to are unabridged. They do have some bundle deals on series especially good when you're talking about the Wasteland series which is huge!

[skinmaan]

If you think they are pricy you might want to check out their frequent overstock sales. These are CD titles, but typically run $5 plus shipping - a great way to find out if you like their wares. They also have several 1-hour samples of many of their titles and a few free, complete short stories.

[Bill (Just a)]

I didn't see anything that I was familiar with. I listened to one sample and the narrator attempt at a Western voice was too affected for my taste. It was only one sample however.

Anything I definitely should look at?

I did find a sample of "World of the Lupi". That sounded OK. I looked at some reviews. It appears it is "paranormal romance".

[Rebecca]

pricey because books are devided in at least two or more sections per book. not saying that they dont have a lot of value. I am a thrifty and addicted audio listener with over 500 audible titles. I look for most audio for my money and never waste credits.

[Rebecca]

vatta war by elizabeth moon, serrino series same author are excellent

[Susan]

They are adaptations of the book - edited to better suit the audio drama format. For example, they take out things like, "he said" or "she said" or "they shouted" because in these multi-voiced productions, it's obvious who's talking, shouting, etc. They do stay very close to the original story. The quality of their productions is outstanding.
Regina wrote: "I was just thinking (not the people are spoiled) but that the pricing seemed reasonable. I do think that audible and access to overdrive likely changes the context of how people think of pricing. ..."

[Regina]

I wanted to say thank you so much for your input. I have bought several Graphic Audio projections since my original post and I love them.

[Joe]

LOVE Graphic Audio. I've listened to probably 15-20 of their productions, especially a fan of the comic adaptations from Marvel and DC.

Nuclear Bombshell is another that is just fantastic. Richard Rohan is awesome as the narrator, and I actually kind of mimic'd his style in the latest book I'm narrating.

[Pj]

I personally expected to love Graphic Audio and ended up hating it. All the sound effects and music I found were really distracting and the shift between narrators and voice actors could be somewhat jarring, especially if you didn't especially like the voice actors' voices. In a lot of ways the format stifles the reader's imagination as they are forced to endure (often poorly selected or generic) sound clips. So far I have tried two graphic audio titles and do not plan to repeat the experience unless there is a book I really want to listen to and the audiobook performance is dreadful.

[Gary]

CatBookMom wrote: "I have several books in the Serrano Legacy series (the first book is (Hunting Party) from Graphic Audio. The books are quite pricey (about $25US for a full book), and you have a limit..."

How do you figure $14 is expensive? To see a movie with someone it's over twice that amount?

[Regina]

Ever since I posted this threat initially, I have been slowly working through one series. I do love how this series is done - I also don't think it is expensive. But I haven't branched out to other series. Which series do people love by Graphic Audio?