Hints for Oral History
Oral History Interview Recording Options & Checklist
Recording Options
Whenever possible, you should try to make two recordings of your interview. One recording should be on a laptop and the other recording should be on a phone or some type of other digital recording device. Make sure that both devices are recording once you begin the interview. Before the interview, test the software, app, and/or devise you plan to record. Make a test recording of at least 2 minutes, save it to your computer, and make sure that you can play it back.
Free recording software for laptops
Audacity (for Windows & Macs)[1]
Garage Band (for Macs only)
https://www.apple.com/lae/mac/garageband/
Voice Memo (for Macs only—comes standard in newer Macs, iPads, & iPhones)
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206775
Free recording apps for phones
Cube Call Recorder (for Android usersà Google Play Store)
No Notes (for iPhone usersà Apple Store)
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/call-recording-by-nonotes/id522637615?ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Recording Tips
Phone Interviews
Record with both a phone recording app and either recording software on your laptop or a digital recorder. In order to record on either a laptop or digital recorder while using the phone recording app, you’ll need to be on speaker phone. On the one hand, this will worsen the sound quality of your voice on the phone recording app, but the sound quality of the interviewee’s voice will be unaffected on the phone recording app. On the other hand, your voices will come through clearer on the laptop or digital recorder, while the sound quality of the interviewee will not be as good on the laptop or digital recorder because they are on speaker phone.
Confirm with your interviewee that they can hear you on the speaker phone. Make sure to place the phone directly next to the backup recording device, either a laptop or digital recorder (the phone itself will be recording the call through your recording app), so that the speaker of the phone is aimed at the laptop’s/recorder’s microphone.
In Person Interviews
Record with both your laptop and a phone or other digital recording device. Note that iPhones & iPads can use the Voice Memo app like a microphone. Place all recording devices in the center of the table between you and the interviewee. Arrive early to test out the recording devices with your partner/groupmates and see where the best position for the devices is so that all voices can be heard clearly.
Checklist for Phone Interviews
1.- Email your interviewee a couple days in advance to remind them of the time of the interview, to confirm their phone number, and to send them the release form. Ask if they’d prefer to mail it back to you or sign and scan it back to you.
2.- At least one day before the interview, send your interviewee the list of questions you plan to work from or a list of topics you plan to ask about.
3.- The day before the interview, test and re-test your recording options. Make sure you have enough space on your phone and/or laptop to save an approximately 1-hour recording.
4.- On the day of the interview:
--make sure all recording equipment is fully charged. Bring charging equipment with you to the interview room and plug in all of your devices.
--make sure you have the interviewee’s phone number.
--mute all other devices (other partner’s or groupmate’s phones, especially).
--test a short recording on each device and play it back to test the volume levels.
--once the phone call begins, be sure to introduce yourselves and make some small talk before diving right into the interview.
--MAKE SURE TO PRESS RECORD BEFORE THE INTERVIEW BEGINS
Checklist for In Person Interviews
1.- Follow steps 1-3 above under Phone Interview Checklist
2.- Select a designated location for interviewing that is quiet and will be undisturbed during the interview by other people (or pets!).
3.- Ask if the interviewee is comfortable, needs water, etc. before the interview starts.
4.- Make sure all recording equipment is fully charged. Bring charging equipment with you to the interview room and plug in all of your devices.
5.- Before the interview begins:
--mute all other devices (other partner’s or groupmate’s phones, especially).
--test a short recording on each device and play it back to test the volume levels.
--MAKE SURE TO PRESS RECORD BEFORE THE INTERVIEW BEGINS
[1] Note: you will need export the Audacity file from the software to your laptop after you finish recording. Select Fileà Export and choose the destination. Make sure to export the recording as a WAV file.