Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Episode 5 : Audio Recorders – What You Need to Record a Life Story
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Episode 5 : Audio Recorders – What You Need to Record a Life Story
The recorder you need you may already have and others that you don’t know of.
Click to share on Twitter
This Episode 5 of Create Your Life Story will help you realise what you need to record a life story and the equipment that is open to you today.
When I first decided to start podcasting I thought that I would do it in the most economical way possible and use what I had. Things have changed in just 3 years. I was intending on using my iPod nano with a microphone that I bought to attach to it. Sadly it wasn’t good enough for a two up conversation but even back then I realised that it would have been suitable for an individual to record with.
I decided to upgrade to some better equipment that lead onto my home recording studio and a portable
recorder. Now however we have many new portable recorders built into all sorts of devises that you may not even be aware of.
Recorders come in many forms.
* Built into software that you will be using to edit your audio. This software is also a recorder and with the addition of a decent microphone can be all you need for recording the audio of a conversation.
* Portable audio recorders are the hand held purpose made recorders that have appeared in the last 5 years. Recorders like the Zoom H4 & H2, Edirol R-09HR, M-Audio MicroTrack and Sony PCM-D50. These recorders are specifically designed to be taken to the audio source for the convenience of recording while away from a studio environment. Most have built in microphones and the ability to accept external microphones. Some have phantom power for the microphones that are plugged in. They generally have removable SD memory cards for recording the audio to and simple plug and transfer systems to get the audio into the editing software. The great advantage is the mobility to take the recorder to the person and place where the conversation is most comfortable. They are discreet with little to disturb and distract from the conversation and can generally be, set and forget so as to allow you to get on with the conversation.
* Many MP3 players now have built in recorders that are surprisingly good. Although not a perfect solution without the ability to make adjustments for different environments and not being able to accept a microphone they do still allow you to record for minimal or no outlay.
* Mobile phone now have audio recorders that record conversations surprisingly well. As with the MP3 players it is the quality of the built in microphones that determines the quality of the recording. Take the time to understand the quality of the audio depending on the position of the microphone especially with two people and the surrounding environment.
* Video and still cameras often can record audio. Video cameras files will be large even with the lens cap on but once transferred you will need to separate the audio and video tracks so as to just work with the audio. GarageBand will accept video files where you can delete the image and just work with the audio. Still cameras have audio recording capabilities but these vary in length and quality of the microphones like MP3 players. Most are designed for audio note taking and only run for a minute or five depending on the camera. Worth investigating.
* If you don’t have equipment look into borrowing from your local community resources. Check out your local library, university or oral history club. Many of these organisations have have equipment available for use for these purposes.
* Do you have access to older systems. These are not the systems that you would consider purchasing but if you or your family have them lying around consider the viab...
View all episodes
By Ian KathThe recorder you need you may already have and others that you don’t know of.
Click to share on Twitter
This Episode 5 of Create Your Life Story will help you realise what you need to record a life story and the equipment that is open to you today.
When I first decided to start podcasting I thought that I would do it in the most economical way possible and use what I had. Things have changed in just 3 years. I was intending on using my iPod nano with a microphone that I bought to attach to it. Sadly it wasn’t good enough for a two up conversation but even back then I realised that it would have been suitable for an individual to record with.
I decided to upgrade to some better equipment that lead onto my home recording studio and a portable
recorder. Now however we have many new portable recorders built into all sorts of devises that you may not even be aware of.
Recorders come in many forms.
* Built into software that you will be using to edit your audio. This software is also a recorder and with the addition of a decent microphone can be all you need for recording the audio of a conversation.
* Portable audio recorders are the hand held purpose made recorders that have appeared in the last 5 years. Recorders like the Zoom H4 & H2, Edirol R-09HR, M-Audio MicroTrack and Sony PCM-D50. These recorders are specifically designed to be taken to the audio source for the convenience of recording while away from a studio environment. Most have built in microphones and the ability to accept external microphones. Some have phantom power for the microphones that are plugged in. They generally have removable SD memory cards for recording the audio to and simple plug and transfer systems to get the audio into the editing software. The great advantage is the mobility to take the recorder to the person and place where the conversation is most comfortable. They are discreet with little to disturb and distract from the conversation and can generally be, set and forget so as to allow you to get on with the conversation.
* Many MP3 players now have built in recorders that are surprisingly good. Although not a perfect solution without the ability to make adjustments for different environments and not being able to accept a microphone they do still allow you to record for minimal or no outlay.
* Mobile phone now have audio recorders that record conversations surprisingly well. As with the MP3 players it is the quality of the built in microphones that determines the quality of the recording. Take the time to understand the quality of the audio depending on the position of the microphone especially with two people and the surrounding environment.
* Video and still cameras often can record audio. Video cameras files will be large even with the lens cap on but once transferred you will need to separate the audio and video tracks so as to just work with the audio. GarageBand will accept video files where you can delete the image and just work with the audio. Still cameras have audio recording capabilities but these vary in length and quality of the microphones like MP3 players. Most are designed for audio note taking and only run for a minute or five depending on the camera. Worth investigating.
* If you don’t have equipment look into borrowing from your local community resources. Check out your local library, university or oral history club. Many of these organisations have have equipment available for use for these purposes.
* Do you have access to older systems. These are not the systems that you would consider purchasing but if you or your family have them lying around consider the viab...