Comments on: Recording Phone Interviews

By: My Thought Spot » Missionary Talks 19: Peter Ard

My Thought Spot » Missionary Talks 19: Peter Ard — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:59:34 +0000

[...] Recording Phone Interviews [...]

By: IceMel

IceMel — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:50:30 +0000

Some cell phones/cell services (and VoIP systems) do not have sidetone. Those circuits shown above should isolate caller/speaker perfectly.
Radio Shack phone patches are pretty bad, but dyna-metric makes some clean ones (won’t solve sidetone problem though.) I’ve used a second phone to do the recording…but you invariably have to do some level tweaking to the recording.

By: dpeach

dpeach — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:45:14 +0000

Yes, you will have to check the laws in your state. Since I do this to record interviews, I always let people know they are being recorded. Otherwise I would have no reason for this set up.

Check with your local laws. Also, it is important to know the laws of the state where the person is you are talking with. Or, better yet, never secretly record a phone call.

By: Domain registration pay pal.

Domain registration pay pal. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:59:00 +0000

Nice detailed way to record a phone interview. I have one question if it is legal to do it unless you have permission. Not sure if it is allowed in some places.

By: dpeach

dpeach — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:00:25 +0000

I don’t know how to cut down on the “hearing your own voice” problem. I have since moved to a somewhat equally complicated method of using Skype. I record stereo into my digital recorder through my mixer. Just like I was attempting to do with the phone. But with Skype I am able to completely separate the two signals.

By: CheechLopez

CheechLopez — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:41:59 +0000

I have given this a shot (going through the mixer) and its not working all that well for me. I went out and bought all of the cable connectors from Radio Shack, but I think having to many connectors forces you to lose a lot of signal.

I did find this online: http://www.zzounds.com/item–MONIP400M

Its a Stereo 1/8 Inch to 2×1/4 Inch Y Cable that may cut down on the interference, but I have my doubts. Plus it costs $25.95.

I think I may have the issue that you are experiencing, I can hear the person speaking into the phone rather well (delayed a bit) but what they get on there end is an echo that I can not get rid of.

If anyone has any ideas, I’d be a very happy man.

Thanks!

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:00:43 +0000

The phenomena you are talking about, the sound of your own voice coming through the speaker is called side tone. The only way I’ve found so far to eliminate it when using POTS (plain old telephone system) is using what is called a digital hybrid. The cheapest one I’ve found is the inline patch from JK Auio for around $300 but it only knocks the sidetoen down about 20db the hae another product called the Broadcast Host that will know it down 50db but that one runs like $435 or so at B&H there are a couple of other models from other companies that people say are even better but for more money.I think Telos is one.

One way to go is to use one of the VoIP services that doesn’t have sidetone through the network but it seems you’ve figured that out though I thought Skype did have Sidetone.

Thanks though for the useful information

By: Kurt_eh

Kurt_eh — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 03:47:55 +0000

Unfortunately, we’ll never get the phone service to sound amazing. The phone service just isn’t designed for studio-quality sound.

By: Alan

Alan — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:49:28 +0000

Thanks for the info and details. I’m working on mine. The $20 radio shack adapter I’m using to record isn’t producing a good audio quality for me.