Forget soundtracks, how about booktracks – get sound effect on eReaders with new, nifty technology.
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Booktrack’s are now giving sound effects and ambient sound to the text of e-books, just launched for ‘The Power of Six’ by Pittacus Lore – a first in the publishing industry.
Booktrack, the New York start up backed by Peter Thiel, the co-founder and former CEO of PayPal and a Facebook director, is bringing audio effects to a host of books including classics like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre and Romeo and Juliet, allowing readers listen to chinking of china cups Mr Darcy’s tea parties or Peter Pan and Tinkerbell flying into action.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, Peter Pan, The Three Musketeers are also on the way soon.
The fledgling tech company has partnered with HarperCollins, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Park Road Post (maker of The Lord of the Rings) and Full Fathom Five and is backed by New Zealand’s Ministry of Science and Innovation and has a research centre based there.
Booktrack represents “a first in the publishing and music” and a new genre of entertainment: soundtracks for books,” it said.
‘In the South’ by Salman Rushdie comes with music from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Jay McInerney’s ‘Solace’ Booktrack is also due October.
Other “respected authors” will be jumping on the Booktrack train so possibly expect audio from ‘Out of Oz’, the feline miaows of ‘I Am Maru’ or even the wizardly magic of Harry Potter’s broom, soon.
The clever technology automatically recognizes an individual’s reading speed and paces the soundtrack with the corresponding text.
“It’s difficult to imagine a movie with no soundtrack; yet, until today, the technology did not exist to synchronize music and sound within an e-book,” Paul Cameron, Booktrack’s co-founder and CEO, said.
Users can “now instantly replicate a movie-like sound experience and fundamentally transform their reading experience – it’s jet fuel for e-books,” he adds.
Readers can access editions on iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch via the Apple App Store and downloading e-books powered by Booktrack.
But not to worry Androids – Booktrack will be coming soon to the platform and “other devices”, the company said, and since Kindle are meant to be adding an Android tablet later this year, it is likely to be included in the mix.
The soundtrack for The Power of Six Booktrack includes more than 70 originally scored compositions and includes contributions by Stephen Gallagher, an award-winning composer and sound editor.
“It’s always exciting to witness the creation of a new form of media,” said Booktrack investor Peter Thiel.
“Booktrack’s technology promises to captivate readers in a way that will seem intuitive in hindsight, and compelling ever after.”
Other prominent Booktrack investors and advisors in Booktrack include Mark D’Arcy, Facebook Director of Global Creative Solutions, and Derek Handley, CEO The Hyperfactory, is company Chairman.
Booktrack also has developed an “equitable business model” and will share profits with participating authors, composers, and musicians.
“In the coming weeks and months, Booktrack will also create editions of leading authors’ stories, as well as many beloved classics,” the New York based firm said.
