Collection: Equipment Hire

Familiarise yourself with your recording device:

• Ensure that you have the recorder on the highest quality setting: If you are recording on an Olympus recorder, for example, you should use either the standard play (SP) setting or the high quality (HQ) setting. This makes it easier to transcribe a recording.
• Ensure that you are recording in a suitable audio format: With some recorders, you can record audio in various formats, such as .ds2, .dss, or .wma.

Here at Pacific Transcription, we find that .wma is the best format to use for recording and making a transcript of audio interviews.

• Ensure that you have all the necessary recording accessories available: It is handy to have a spare recorder battery to hand, just in case.
• You may also prefer to use a power adapter if there is a nearby power outlet.
• It is a good idea to make sure that you know where the pause button is before you start recording – this is very useful, especially if you are unexpectedly interrupted during your interview.
• Remember to un-pause, when recommencing recording.

Once you have organised your recording equipment, find a suitable location to conduct the interview.

• It is best to avoid recording interviews where there is a lot of background noise, such as busy public places, coffee shops, or environments where there is a loud air conditioner, construction noise, trains, etc.

Background noise can negatively impact the quality of the recording and therefore the quality of the transcript of your interviews.

Phone interviews can be recorded using a speakerphone or an inexpensive external telephone pick-up microphone:

• Test the speakerphone first to make sure your recorder can pick up good-quality audio.
• Ensure that you do not place the recorder too close to the speaker.

Alternatively, you can use an inexpensive microphone, such as an Olympus or Philips telephone pick-up microphone.

• One end fits into the ear you hold the telephone to, and the other end plugs into your recorder, capturing excellent audio from both speakers.
• This can simplify the process of recording your interviews when your interviewees are not in the same location as you.

Online video/audio calls can be recorded from your computer without external equipment:

• Programs such as Skype, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams have a 'record' function within the platform.
• You can also record audio using your computer’s stereo mix function.

One of the benefits of recording your interviews using an online conference recording app is that the video helps transcribers identify who says what: this feature is very helpful where speaker identification is preferred.

Ensure the recorder is equidistant from participants and not too close to you:

• If anything, sit further away from the recorder, as the interviewee’s response is most important.
• Try not to move the recorder once it is in place.

Small ambient noises can obscure speech:

• Remind participants to try not to rustle paper, click pens, or drum their fingers on the table during the interview.

To assist with accurate speaker identification for the transcript:

• Ask participants to state their name each time they speak, as it is not always possible to identify speakers from audio alone.
• If you require speakers to be identified, it is useful if someone present can keep a speaker log.
• Encourage participants to speak one at a time.
• If aside discussions or laughter occur whilst you are recording your interview, wait for it to quieten down before you ask your next question.
• Laughter in particular can drown out what is being said and create uncertainty in a voice recording transcript.
• Small ambient noises can obscure speech.
• Remind participants to try not to rustle paper, click pens, or drum their fingers on the table during the interview.
• Use hand gestures to let speakers know you are listening.
• Don’t hesitate to repeat key sentences for clarity: It is better to do this during the interview than struggle with indistinct audio after the interview.

Contact the Pacific Transcription Enquiries Team for information on engaging Pacific Transcription to transcribe your recordings for you.

Pacific Transcription is a world leader in transcribing interviews, focus groups, meetings, and all other types of audio and video recordings for clients across the research, academic, legal, medical, insurance, financial, and media sectors.