Publicity posters for amateur audio drama Ling Zhi Qiyue (literally meaning "spirits' agreements"). [Photo provided to China Daily]

Platforms of versatility

With the large and ever-growing number of audio drama enthusiasts, many groups have been founded. A group is made up of various talent, including planners, directors, playwrights, post-production specialists, voice actors and designers, and they can produce audio dramas by themselves.

A typical scenario might play out like this: A planner who likes an online novel will contact the author to ask for copyright and permission to make a nonprofit audio drama. The planner will then find a playwright to write a script, a director and suitable voice actors.

Guided by the director, the actors will voice their roles separately at home, then post-production specialists will combine all the recorded audio materials, and add sound effects and background music to complete the creation of an audio drama. To promote it, publicity posters are designed.

Li Yang is a member of Echo of Wings, a group established in 2005.He says he joined the group to "meet more people who share my hobby, gain a sense of belonging, and get more dubbing opportunities".

Besides online groups, campus societies also attract enthusiasts. For instance, Zero CV Club was established at the Central South University in 2013 as a campus-based dubbing group, with members performing in audio dramas, games and so on.

Jiang Ruohua, 26, a member of the club when he was a student there, has many fond memories. "I met many friends at the club, even my girlfriend, who is now my fiancee."