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ORAL INTERVIEW RECORDING EQUIPMENT NEEDS

This document, prepared by Dr. M. Iannozzi (2016) is based on Natalie Schilling’s Sociolinguistic Fieldwork (2013). It is a procedural document detailing how to record an oral history interview.  

1. The recording device

  • Must be stereo
  • Must use batteries, as in AA, or common batteries. A built-in battery pack is unreliable, cannot be helped if an opportunity arises and its battery is dead, and if the pack loses its charge over time with use, you have to usually purchase a whole new recorder
  • Must be able to record in .wav files not .mp3
  • .wav files are uncompressed, meaning they are essentially as natural as possible. This also helps to ensure that their format will be around for a long time. .mp3 has been around for a couple decades, but it is a type of compression, and may fall out of fashion like cassettes. Whereas, .wav files are just the sound files as they are, and so should be compatible far into the future
  • Minimum 16-bit sampling and 44khz 
  • This essentially has to do with how recording works digitally. A recorder that is digital does not capture sound “live”.  This of the analogy of watching a film. When we see something live, we see “all of it”. Whereas, when we watch a film, it appears to be a fluid piece of video, but in fact, it is actually hundreds of frames (snapshots ) taken in rapid succession. Recorders work in much the same way. The bit sampling is how many frames per millisecond. 16-bit is considered acceptable, but the absolute minimum for acceptable for high-quality audio. The 44khz is the “height” of the sound recorded that humans can hear. 
  • Must NOT be a solid-state recorder, must record onto an SD or ideally an SDHC card
  • Recording onto a solid-state means that if the device fails, or breaks, or whatever, the recordings are lost; whereas if the device holds an SD card then there is no issue (other than having to replace the recorder, but at least the recordings are safe). An SD card also allows the audio to be uploaded to most computers; whereas, a solid-state recorded directly onto the device requires software for the computer that downloads the recordings
  • Must have a display that shows recording levels, and an adjustable input volume
  • During recording, it is important to be able to see the sound levels. If you notice bars that are too low, “maxed out” at the top, or appear to not be moving in sync with speech then you should pause and make sure everything is working well.

2. A cloth or napkins

  • The recorder will sit on the table in front of the interviewee.  Placing the microphone on a hard surface may pick up reverberations. To avoid this, put a cloth underneath, to lift up the front end of the recorder. Also, interviewees might hit a table to make a point, tap their fingers, etc., so a cloth underneath will cushion the sound of any blow. 

3. A scanner wand (such as Magic Wand)

  • This is something that is absolutely fantastic to have in general, and essential for recording people who have treasured objects, that need to be copied.  Although a large, full-size scanner would provide a better scan, scanner wands are small and produce very good quality scans simply by running the wand over the image, document, etc.  Again, it is important to not have a solid-state saving method. It must save onto a micro-SD or some other way that is not only stored on the wand. 
  • This is also essential for scanning the consent forms. It is required ethics that the person interviewed be given a copy of their signed consent form. 

4. Extra batteries (just always have them)

5. A camera

  • The camera does not need a powerful zoom, as it will be used to take pictures of the interviewee and possibly, things in the room. 
  • The camera should not make a shutter noise to avoid distracting the interviewee.  
  • Again, never a solid-state, always an SD card. 
  • Ideally, one that runs on regular/rechargeable batteries (such as AA), so that you can always carry spares

6. A notepad and Pen

  • This is useful for writing down key details that are spoken or shown, that will not be conveyed during playback of the audio
  • In particular, this is useful when scanning or listening to a description of who is in a picture, or the content, etc.