In theory, research interviews could be recorded with any device — a phone, a laptop, or even a camcorder. But if you want to save big in the long run, it’s better to invest in a good digital voice recorder. These devices are specifically designed for recording long interviews at high quality, which makes the subsequent transcription process faster and more cost-effective.
Continue reading “7 Digital Recording Devices for Oral History Interviews”
Whether you need transcripts for lectures, conversations, dictations for articles or books, or just your own personal thoughts, nothing is more convenient than a portable recording device. In today’s plugged-in world, make sure your recorder has a USB port or an external memory card slot so the audio file can be easily exported and shared with your transcription provider. With that in mind, here are 5 affordable voice recording devices available for purchase on Amazon.
Continue reading “6 Essential Habits to Record Better Audio”
Holidays offer a perfect time for family to reminisce, and possibly to pass those rather embarrassing family stories around the holiday table along with helpings of stuffing and mashed potatoes. This year though, make sure to grab a recording device (digital recorder, iPhone, video camera — there are so many options), ask questions you’ve always wondered about the answers to, and listen to the stories while you have the chance.
Continue reading “StoryCorps – Eat, Drink, Be Merry, and Record?”
Thanksgiving is around the proverbial corner, and this holiday is typically a wonderful opportunity for friends and families to reconnect. People being together offers a perfect time for stories to be passed around the holiday table along with helpings of stuffing and mashed potatoes. The potential for these stories to be handed and passed from generation to generation is at a peak while everyone is together. What better way to collect, share, and save these stories from potentially being forgotten than by recording, archiving, and transcribing them for posterity?
We believe that StoryCorps’s The National Day of Listening is the perfect excuse to talk, listen, record, and transcribe.
We live in a special time when we’re not just able to orally pass stories down the line, but we’re also able ensure their archival longevity through the recording and transcribing of these personal and oral histories.
Take the time to find a quiet space, and set up your digital recorder. Test the device to make sure you are recording properly. Then, hit the record button and listen to and record the story. It’s that simple, and it will be a gift to read and listen to for generations. This year, StoryCorps suggests honoring a veteran, and offers suggested conversation starters right on their website.
Don’t lose out on your family history and question yourself after it is too late. We speak from our own missed opportunities.
Wishing you a peaceful Thanksgiving, and the opportunity to listen to, record and transcribe a new story never heard before.
In full disclosure, the Audio Transcription Center has partnered with StoryCorps on transcription of their audio recordings for their published books, Listening is an Act of Love, All There Is, and Mom , that we are humbled and proud to have participated in.
Michael Sesling Sandy Poritzky
Director Owner/President
michael@audiotranscriptioncenter.com sandy@audiotranscriptioncenter.com
(617) 423-2151 (617) 423-2151
“Practice. Study your recorder and your microphone and learn how they “listen” and record. Then, understand how to optimize the quality of your recording so you can adapt to any recording situation.” Doug Boyd PhD, Director, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries
“The most important thing to keep in mind when interviewing is that capturing the interviewee’s testimony is the primary goal. A recorder should therefore be placed 2 feet from the interviewee, pointed at their mouth.” –Robert Budd, Memories to Memoirs (He got his Master’s Degree in the field!)
“I have told people before in oral history workshops to go ahead and spend the extra money and get two separate microphones – one for the interviewer and one for the interviewee – and make sure they are both the best quality that you can afford.” –Anonymous (do to the aforementioned confidentiality concerns, this client/expert prefers to remain anonymous, but did want their thoughts to be included.)
“Even on days where you’re most excited to get the interview started, be sure to spend the additional time it takes to test all of your audio equipment – in that specific setting, with that particular individual – before you dive into your conversations.” —Samuel J. Redman, Academic Specialist and Lead Interviewer for the Rosie the Riveter World War II Home Front Oral History Project, Regional Oral History Office, UC Berkeley
“Do as much research as time and money allow to avoid superficial questions and answers and probable frustration of the interviewee.” –Sally Smith Hughes, Academic Specialist, Science and Technology, Regional Oral History Office, UC Berkeley“Know your recording equipment so well that you can be 99 percent focused on the interview and 1 percent focused on the equipment.”–David Dunham Project Manager, WWII Home Front Oral History Project – Regional Oral History Office, UC Berkeley Web/Video Director
Some of you have asked me why we still have information on our website about “going digital,” but clearly the fact that we still receive newly recorded audio on “old-fashioned” cassette tapes tells me that some people just don’t understand the importance of upgrading technology (on a lot of levels). After 44 years in business, we finally took the “tape” out of our name, because it’s all about the audio!
Today I’m writing about more than “going digital,” but I will also touch upon recording habits in general. Remember, just because you’re recording digitally does NOT mean that you will automatically have broadcast quality audio. (WHAT?! You’re thinking, ‘it’s digital, so it has to be better quality.’) There’s a lot involved in recording, and as the person conducting the recording, you need to stop and think about the details of recording for more than a couple of seconds. That’s right, we know that some of you already know these things, but do you truly take the time to learn your device before using it? I know that’s a very personal question, so think about it for a moment. You don’t have to share.
The quick points to remember:
First and foremost, it’s now 2011, so use a digital recorder! You can walk into any electronics store, or jump online and find one. Just do some research first. Remember, in 2004, 90 % of our clients used analog equipment to record their interviews. Now in 2011, 95% of our clients use digital equipment to record their interviews. You’ll have immediate access to your audio recording. Volume too low? There’s software for you to give the file a quick boost to increase the sound quality. Is your transcriptionist next door or across the country? It doesn’t matter where they are located, because you can upload your audio to them, and still have access to listen your audio. Imagine never having to spend shipping dollars again!!
You’ve purchased that device, but you really don’t want to delve into the box with the paperwork and all sorts of wires that are tucked neatly inside. Read the paperwork, and use the wires. Of all the wires in the box, use an A/C power-supply – it might be 2011, but batteries die quickly, so plug in when you can. For those times that you forgot it at home, bring plenty of backup batteries!! Seriously, go buy stock in the major brands, because you will always want to have an ample supply of batteries quickly within reach! You never know when you’ll have to record those unexpected longer interviews. Think of it as practicing “safe recording”!
Another important piece of equipment to use is an external microphone. Different situations require different types of microphones, so you’ll need to do a little studying up on what your recording environment needs. If you’re able, try more than one external microphone among the group, to be sure you have properly mic’d all of your speakers. This is especially important for any group larger than 3 individuals, and be sure to place these microphones as close as possible to the people who are speaking. Sitting at a long table with people at both ends of the table? Think about how the person at the end of the table will sound if there is only one microphone in the middle of the table. Murphy’s law also says that person will be your most verbal in the group. Conducting a one-on-one interview? Drop into Radio Shack beforehand, and grab a lapel mic. The difference in recording quality is remarkable, and you’ll thank yourself later (as will your transcriptionist).For a more detailed read, look over our recording tips page, and check out some of the other service providers we recommend as well.
Always remember your ultimate goals when you’re recording. If you’re going to have your audio transcribed, you want the best recording possible, so give your transcriptionists audio that they can transcribe both fast and accurately! If you can believe it, we’re telling you to spend a little more up front, that will save you money on a service we provide. Go figure…
