Kate Battersby Words – Recording Tips

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Interview recording tips

In these notes I offer some practical approaches that can help keep transcription costs down. These are based on my personal observations over many years of transcribing oral history. To keep transcription cost to a minimum, there is no substitute for a good, clear recording that is well documented.

When considering this and other advice, always keep in mind the purpose and character of your project. Sometimes the guidelines must be set aside because the flow and spontaneity of your interview depends on a particular environment. Sometimes it is just not practical to eliminate all sources of noise, and sometimes it is even desirable to include it.

Finally, it is wise to look at expert advice on historical collection techniques, machinery and so on. Some excellent professional resources in these areas are shown at the foot of this page.

Background noise Develop your awareness of background sounds. They can seem insignificant in real life but may interfere strongly with speech when the recording is played later. Here are some examples: splashing water (creeks, taps, rainstorms, waterfalls) machinery (cars, trains, buses, aeroplanes, lawnmowers) rustling papers (notes, maps) contact with microphone (fingers, clothing, fidgeting) moving air (wind, breath) playing children, animals ringing telephones, chiming clocks crockery and cutlery music and videos		Positioning and volume Simple adjustments to the position of seating and equipment can be very helpful. Before you start, make and listen to a brief test recording of all participants, speaking naturally. Try to avoid the following: volume difference between interviewer and interviewee low overall recording volume participants too far away from microphone distortion caused by too-high recording volume one or more participants too close to microphone speech directed away from microphone echo in the room (typically caused by hard, shiny surfaces) more than one person speaking at one time variations in volume (eg participants moving around the room)		Time-saving tactics Do as the professionals do: follow good record-keeping practices. These will help you to maintain continuity, avoid confusion and minimise additional research down the track. For each session: before inserting each disk or tape, label with interviewee's name, date and disk/tape number at the beginning of each disk/tape, announce place, date and project title introduce each speaker by name when interruptions occur, pause the recording and when you start again provide a brief spoken acknowledgment of the break maintain notes on name and place spellings, acronyms, etc, when available at conclusion of interview, write total number of disks/tapes on each label (eg 'tape 1 of 4')
Beth M. Robertson's Oral history handbook provides excellent up-to-date information on interview techniques and recording technology suitable for oral history collection. It is available from the Oral History Association of Australia (South Australian Branch) Inc, website: www.ohaa-sa.com.au. To learn more about training workshops, access to equipment and other assistance for oral history collection in South Australia, contact the State Library of South Australia and the Oral History Association of Australia – SA Branch.