TAPE RECORDERS - General Information
(excerpts from posts to Storytell)

Query: I'm starting the research phase of a book, and I have an interview with a key figure this weekend. I have never done this before - what kind of tape recorder is best for this purpose? What are your experiences?
Nancy F. 9/19/05
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Response: I use a digital recorder - mine is made by Sony, and I've been pleased with it. I purchased it at the beginning of the summer for a project that will require many hours of interviewing.

The recorder is small, and doesn't draw attention when it's placed on a table or counter. I also purchased a small external microphone for it (an extra $20) which really improves the quality of the sound.

The great thing about a digital recorder is that there is no tape to flip, so you never miss out on any of the conversation. Mine comes with different levels of recording quality: Standard play - which I have done most of my recording on - allows for over 9 hours of recording time. There is also a High Quality setting - which I have used in situations where I was concerned I might not pick up the sound as well as I would like - and this offers over 3 hours of uninterupted recording time.

The recorder came with software for my computer; when I want to transfer the files I just download them. I can then play back the files on my computer (which improves the listening quality) or I have the option of burning them to CDs. (If the interview is long, it may have to be divided and burned onto more than one CD.)

If you're shopping for a recorder of any kind, it's good to have a clear idea of what you want the device to do. So far, I've been pleased with my digital recorder. It's small, convenient, and easy to use.
Peg H. 9/19/05
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Response: There are micro-recorders, about the size of a garage door opener, which take micro cassettes, and will record an hour. I prefer these because they are small enough to take the focus off of the subject being recorded. A big clunky tape recorder on the table often alters the conversation. When folks are constantly aware that they are being recorded, they tend to speak to the machine, and the candor often suffers.

I simply tell/ask the interviewee that I am recording it so that I don't misquote them. It's not for them, it's for me and my memory. Turn it on, and ignore it best you can--meaning don't fiddle with it any more than you have to. I often place a notebook or papers next to it so it's not standing alone on the table. Experiment with sound levels before you get to the interview.

Most have a pause button, which comes in handy for bathroom breaks. I often jot down the starting time on a piece of paper in front of me, and then plan a break when the tape will run out and I have to turn it over. Best to do this while they are not there.

Minimizing the fact that they are being recorded really helps facilitate a much better interview. Some folks get freaky about being recorded. Others go into preaching or over clarifying their points because they are being recorded. If you don't make a big deal about it, most often they won't.
Greg L. 9/19/05
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Response: The most important advice I can give is to get very familiar with whatever recorder you use, try it out, practice, and listen back to the recordings before the real interview. Recording someone isn't difficult but it's still a skill. The most important part of the skill is to be absolutely sure that the machine is actually recording! It's a nightmare when you get home after an important and unrepeatable interview only to discover the recording doesn't exist or is fatally distorted or inaudible. In fact if you want to be really sure, use a second machine as well, as a backup in case of disaster.

I've used professional Walkman, microcassette ('dictaphone'), minidisc, and MP3 player. I highly recommend having a machine that can record for longer than you will need all in one go. Most recorders have Automatic Recording Level, which relieves you of having to set and monitor the loudness of the recording, though you still have to have the recorder close enough for clarity. External microphones avoid you recording the whine of the recorder's motor or hard disk. Watch the level-meter if there is one, to check the recorder is hearing the sound, though that doesn't guarantee it's recording it. And make sure you have fresh batteries that didn't get accidentally drained on the way there when something bumped the on-switch.

Microcassette dictaphones at half-speed (available on most machines) will record for one hour uninterrupted, though if you search very hard you MAY find 90 minute cassettes which will record 90' per side at half-speed. Microcassettes are reliable and you can see the cassette turning, which confirms it's working and tells you when it's stopped (if you notice - they don't click when they stop). But the quality is low and the tape is hissy, so any suddenly quiet speech can be hard to decipher.

Minidisc recorders (some machines can only play) can record at several reduced qualities which increase the uninterrupted time. If you get a model from the last year or two you'll be able to record for several hours non-stop, if you get the settings right. The quality is hiss-free and high, depending on the microphone, even with the lower settings. However, minidiscs are often complicated with poor usability so make sure you practice and verify how to work it. They have little or no visual confirmation that they are working, and the Sony ones record over what you've already recorded previously unless you specifically choose not to. Some come with USB port that enables you to download the digital recording to your computer. Why? Well if the recording is clear (ie the microphone is close to the interviewee) you can run it through voice recognition software and transcribe it automatically. Yay! This could be a great advantage, but don't rely on great results - it depends on the recording and accent and speech clarity.

Some MP3 players allow you to record too. Ipods don't, I think. My Rio Carbon is excellent, though it can only use its basic inbuilt mono microphone (which records the whine of the hard disk). However it would record for about 1000 hours non-stop if plugged into a USB power source. It has a manual recording level and meter. Again, with digital recorders you can easily transfer to your computer if wanted. I use mine all the time for note-taking, it's tiny, and I archive the recordings to computer for later voice recognition. With such a tiny device that also carries all my favourite music, it often lives in my pocket so it's always handy if I suddenly want to record something - an excellent tool.

There are digital voice-recorders/dictaphones/note-takers available which do much the same thing as MP3 players though only some can download to computer and some have very limited recording time. If you can't transfer the files to computer you may be stuck with a full recorder for as long as you want to keep the recording, though you should be able to play it through the headphone socket to your hifi cassette recorder for archiving. MP3 players can also be used for music of course and some are very cheap these days so I'd opt for MP3 - just check they can do voice recording.

Professional interviewers will always make a test recording with the interviewee and listen back to make sure the recording is okay, just before they start properly. It shouldn't be a problem or make for self-consciousness after the first couple of minutes because you should start with light chat and establish a rapport - that will quickly make the interviewee forget about the recorder if you carry on with eye-contact and attention.
Tim S. 9/20/05
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Response: Tim's advice is all great. Just want to add a few more options for you.
1. You can record in the iPOD. Griffin Technologies and Belkin both make mics that mount on the iPod and turn it into a recorder. It produces files that can then be downloaded to your computer as well as played back through the iPod. My experience is that the Belkin is a better quality mic, however the Griffin one allows you to attach a third option-- a lapel mic which gets you right to the speaker if you don't need to hear your questions.

2. In the last few weeks, both Samson and Blue microphone companies have started shipping Professional (i.e. Studio) quality microphones that are USB enabled. This means you can now plug a broadcast quality microphone directly into the USB port on your laptop and record directly into any audio editing software. Works on both Macs and Windows/PC environments. And they're suprisingly inexpensive for higher end audio. The Samson is about $80 and the Blue is about $140. Practically, it means you can record however long you need to, directly into your laptop. The software enables you to see that it's recording and you can also preset audio levels with ease. If you have no experience using audio editing software, there is a bit of a learning curve. But there are decent, easy to use freeware and shareware audio editing programs available for both operating platforms.

3. Here in the States, you can also buy an inexpensive USB enabled mic at Radio Shack. The quality isn't anywhere near what the Samson or Blue mics offer but it's as good as most cassette recorders, etc.

4. Also, Marantz makes a lightweight, but very sturdy field recorder that records directly to a flash card which you can then transfer directly to your computer. It has a built in mic and accepts external mics as well. The flash card option is new but otherwise this kind of set up is the industry standard for journalists doing field recordings.

5. A final option is if you already have a video camera, you can always use it and either just record the audio or extract the audio later. This is not the most practical approach but it could be the least costly if you already have this equipment.

Bottom line. Heed Tim's advice and make sure you're comfortable with whatever you're using. That way you don't have to sweat the technology and can concentrate on the discussion with your interviewee.
Nancy C. 9/22/05
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Response: I've just come across a website specialising in broadcast-quality portable solid-state recorders. In other words recording digital files to a high enough quality for publishing to CD or editing in a studio etc. If you are doing fieldwork, gathering stories, recording your own gigs etc. for later commercial use, you might like to check out the equipment available. These devices range from quite expensive, to very, but they have a couple of budget options that might suit. The descriptions will also reveal some of the shortcomings of cheaper devices such as MP3 players with basic voice recording facility - eg the need for a mic pre-amp. They also sell high quality digital voice recorders good enough for broadcast or publishing but not music, and a budget medium quality kit for reporting or oral history gathering.
http://www.solidstatesound.co.uk/

(This web page updated 11/5/05; 2/18/07)